This morning I got up to take care of big Roger or Big Toots as the kids call him.
It's cold in the upper midwest. Yesterday morning was 1 degree. So I made some oatmeal for my flock at noon and when I tucked them in on the roost last night I noticed on big Roger's wattles some yellowing and swelling...touched by Jack frost and not in a pretty way! It's not his first go round this year and I'm filled with dread that this will be something that we battle all winter--I'm filled with dread but I'm also going to deal with it and try to prevent-- because that's what I do.
Coop is super well ventilated...Poop board is in place...so there is little to no humidity in that coop. The problem comes when I feed clingy moist food like oatmeal or fermented feed (which is soooo good for them) or if they are out in a misty sleety day with cold winds....You get the picture moisture from food or climate then cold. And he's just the breed for problems like this... So I need to watch the oatmeal thing now too.
This morning he had this issue with his wattles but they had reddened up again and the swelling remained slightly-- better than I thought it was going to be. He also needed his vent cleaned of general crustiness from his extra curriculars and a few misfires. So here we are on the kitchen counter with the north and the south end treatments.
I set him up there and he squatted immediately--submissive. Without an extra set of hands to hold him he was sooo Good for me. I couldn't get over it. Pulling the poo out of his hind feathers...everything. He was scared, shall we say "poopless" that he didn't even do that on the towel. I didn't like that he was probably scared but I'm glad he kept it respectful (as he usually does) although he's been known to bat my ankles on a rare occasion if I lead his hens away with a treat for example.
His treatments were pretty basic a little soapy warm water for the wattles and combs, then the vent. Then I put a topical antibiotic on his wattles and vent--even though not infected as it can act as an anti-inflammatory too, when needed.
I couldn't get over his wonderful submissive behavior (because he is the boss- a sweet one.) and I had to just share.
Thanks everybody!
Bragging Chicken Mom~
Bogtown Chick
It's cold in the upper midwest. Yesterday morning was 1 degree. So I made some oatmeal for my flock at noon and when I tucked them in on the roost last night I noticed on big Roger's wattles some yellowing and swelling...touched by Jack frost and not in a pretty way! It's not his first go round this year and I'm filled with dread that this will be something that we battle all winter--I'm filled with dread but I'm also going to deal with it and try to prevent-- because that's what I do.
Coop is super well ventilated...Poop board is in place...so there is little to no humidity in that coop. The problem comes when I feed clingy moist food like oatmeal or fermented feed (which is soooo good for them) or if they are out in a misty sleety day with cold winds....You get the picture moisture from food or climate then cold. And he's just the breed for problems like this... So I need to watch the oatmeal thing now too.
This morning he had this issue with his wattles but they had reddened up again and the swelling remained slightly-- better than I thought it was going to be. He also needed his vent cleaned of general crustiness from his extra curriculars and a few misfires. So here we are on the kitchen counter with the north and the south end treatments.
I set him up there and he squatted immediately--submissive. Without an extra set of hands to hold him he was sooo Good for me. I couldn't get over it. Pulling the poo out of his hind feathers...everything. He was scared, shall we say "poopless" that he didn't even do that on the towel. I didn't like that he was probably scared but I'm glad he kept it respectful (as he usually does) although he's been known to bat my ankles on a rare occasion if I lead his hens away with a treat for example.
His treatments were pretty basic a little soapy warm water for the wattles and combs, then the vent. Then I put a topical antibiotic on his wattles and vent--even though not infected as it can act as an anti-inflammatory too, when needed.
I couldn't get over his wonderful submissive behavior (because he is the boss- a sweet one.) and I had to just share.
Thanks everybody!
Bragging Chicken Mom~
Bogtown Chick
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