Maine

[Windy Bay Farm]

Sorry for your loss MT.

Between power outages and traveling for the holiday I haven't been on. Opened the coop up today and found a very small amount of blood on the feeder and door. No injuries that I could find at all...all running about, complaining about the snow, eating and drinking fine...weird huh???

I too see blood spatters on my feeder and walls sometimes and I've found a couple of girls with bloodied combs... I'm pretty sure there is a bully or two amongst my 13 girls but I can't figure out who it is... I believe they are pecking/beaking at the other girls' combs and causing them to bleed and once the poor girl shakes her head the blood spatters. No serious injuries as yet but if I catch the culprit responsible, Lord have mercy on her ! Lol

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We used so much wood the past couple days that about half our total winter supply is already gone.

I read that The Red Barn is serving our linemen for free while they are helping to restore power. What an awesome idea.

 

[quailtrail]

Thanks bucka and WBF! I will keep an eye out. The girls combs are tiny. My roo tho has grayish area on the back of his comb??? I was able to have a few let me pick them up today to really check them out.

So hubby is getting worried they are too cold. We are doing the Deep litter method, its dry, composting well, no odors. He thinks its too cold as they are huddled. I told him this is normal and how they keep each other warm. He wants to add a heating lamp. I'm so nervous about fires! There's plenty of room for me to stand up inside the coop...I'm 5'3. He's hoping it will help keep the water from freezing too. I'm so torn. I want them warm but safe.

I've been growing munga beans into sprouts...they eat some but don't seemnto care much for them...or strawberries either. I made them some hot oatmeal with grapes, strawberries, flax seed, left over broccoli, and some left over salad greens and sprouts. ..they picked all the strawberries out and left them on the ground!!

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Thanks bucka and WBF! I will keep an eye out. The girls combs are tiny. My roo tho has grayish area on the back of his comb??? I was able to have a few let me pick them up today to really check them out.

So hubby is getting worried they are too cold. We are doing the Deep litter method, its dry, composting well, no odors. He thinks its too cold as they are huddled. I told him this is normal and how they keep each other warm. He wants to add a heating lamp. I'm so nervous about fires! There's plenty of room for me to stand up inside the coop...I'm 5'3. He's hoping it will help keep the water from freezing too. I'm so torn. I want them warm but safe.

I've been growing munga beans into sprouts...they eat some but don't seemnto care much for them...or strawberries either. I made them some hot oatmeal with grapes, strawberries, flax seed, left over broccoli, and some left over salad greens and sprouts. ..they picked all the strawberries out and left them on the ground!!

That grayish area on his comb is likely a little bit of frostbite. Did you notice it only after all the cold weather we have been having ? Chickens can survive a little frostbite without it causing any harm. I wouldn't use a heat lamp but that's just my opinion. I would ensure that you have adequate ventilation in your coop, especially if you're using the DL method. Good, adequate ventilation will allow the moisture/humidity to leave the coop and thus reducing the likelihood of any severe frostbite on those cold nights. Just make sure the ventilation is setup properly so as to not cause a draft on the birds while they are roosting for the night.

I was reading this article earlier:

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/24309892/egg-lamp-could-have-caused-kalispell-house-fire

Just another reason why I'm not a fan of heat lamps.

 

[quailtrail]

That grayish area on his comb is likely a little bit of frostbite. Did you notice it only after all the cold weather we have been having ? Chickens can survive a little frostbite without it causing any harm. I wouldn't use a heat lamp but that's just my opinion. I would ensure that you have adequate ventilation in your coop, especially if you're using the DL method. Good, adequate ventilation will allow the moisture/humidity to leave the coop and thus reducing the likelihood of any severe frostbite on those cold nights. Just make sure the ventilation is setup properly so as to not cause a draft on the birds while they are roosting for the night.

I was reading this article earlier:

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/24309892/egg-lamp-could-have-caused-kalispell-house-fire

Just another reason why I'm not a fan of heat lamps.

I agree I am not a fan of the heat lamp!!! I've shared a lot of posts from the forum so he is willing to hold off.

The comb had a small area before, got better during the fall but now is bigger area. I haven't been able to see them as I get home well after they go into the coop. This week I've been on vacation so was surprised when I saw it. I will post some pics.

 

[quailtrail]

Hard to see but can make out the discoloration

 

[buckabucka]

It could be frostbite on the rooster. Kind of hard to see. Do you have just one rooster? Last winter, mine had spots both from frostbite and from sparring.

I would hesitate to use a heat lamp, not only because of fire hazard, but the birds won't acclimate to the cold so well, which would be an issue during a power outage. I never heat, but I admit to feeling really bad for the birds when it drops to 20 below. If I ever did add heat, I think I would buy a couple of panel heaters. I don't think they get so hot. In fact, I was thinking a panel heater might be nice on the wall under the kitchen table. My legs get so cold sitting there.

 

[dowgirl71]

I noticed a couple drops of blood on their waterer, this past fall, but never did find out who it came from. Nothing ever developed, thankfully.

 

[quailtrail]

It could be frostbite on the rooster. Kind of hard to see. Do you have just one rooster? Last winter, mine had spots both from frostbite and from sparring.

I would hesitate to use a heat lamp, not only because of fire hazard, but the birds won't acclimate to the cold so well, which would be an issue during a power outage. I never heat, but I admit to feeling really bad for the birds when it drops to 20 below. If I ever did add heat, I think I would buy a couple of panel heaters. I don't think they get so hot. In fact, I was thinking a panel heater might be nice on the wall under the kitchen table. My legs get so cold sitting there.

I agree to both no heat for them and keeping us warm lol!!! Funny he is fine with it now as I've shown him posts...guess he doesn't think i reallydid my research...but he is always freezing and I am not lol!!

Yes just one roo. He is so sweet amd calm

♡

♡ thr comb has been like this before in the fall and got better. One person posted to de-worm as they felt that was the issue. I did not see anything in their poop so decided not to medicate but did feed pumpkin. Was good for a bit. I will take some better close ups tomorrow.

 

[quailtrail]

I think I'm just becoming a paranoid new chicken owner. My EE and OE are 31ish weeks and obviously will have to wait for eggs now. I have one girl who they were unsure of EE or OE as her legs are two toned...she started showing a few spots of white a month ago...and now look at her...

Poor Miss Tubster...but she is so sweet now came right up to me today let me pet her and pick her right up!!! I was soooo excited first one to let me do so

♡

of course they all stood their watching. When I put her down they took off running...until I brought out some cut up apples lol!