Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[iamfivewire]

Welcome to BYC ande

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

My rooster had got some frostbite on the tips of his comb and a lil on the bottom of his wattle. It was black, but now is turning a beige, much lighter color. Should i put blu kote or anything on it? It doesn't seem to bother him, but i don't know. It's just him, none of the girls have any. 

I think I'd leave it. Get with @Leahs Mom, she dealt with a pretty serious case already this year and posted pics on TNCKTHREAD.

Thanks for reporting Scifisarah. Good to hear.

Ok, all you Farmer's Market/Artisanal Folks, I will likely be bugging you all soon for more info/advice/tips/techniques/etc/etc/etc. Forewarned is forearmed.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Just left Imlay city TSC, no pine shavings, but they have some at our feed store in town. The baby chicks and ducks were soooo adorable. I hung out forever and kept going back and looking, but boldly left with none. For Now! I've never done chicks so want to know what I'm doing 1st. Got the lil feeder, waterer, light with the red bulb, chick starter feed and pine shavings. Just need to figure what to put them in, the metal feed bin they had was awesome, but can't do $90 for it. I will only be getting 4 chicks.

 

[Trefoil]

In my neck of the woods the slight warm up has resulted in a more active predator (I probably should say potential predator) population. For the 2nd day in a row they have raided my grain bins (plastic garbage cans) I've gotten lazy over the winter and haven't been securing them closed. So far its been no big deal, they don't spill or foul it they just eat what they want and of course don't close the bins after themselves. I need to clean all the "old" eggs out of my fridge to give them some variety.Its been a hard winter for them and I really don't want to deal with a new batch of predators that will actually think they're going to score a chicken dinner.
Its supposed to be above freezing tomorrow YAH! I need to clean and re arrange my coops, I am so ready for spring.

 

[Brennigan]

Just left Imlay city TSC, no pine shavings, but they have some at our feed store in town. The baby chicks and ducks were soooo adorable. I hung out forever and kept going back and looking, but boldly left with none. For Now! I've never done chicks so want to know what I'm doing 1st. Got the lil feeder, waterer, light with the red bulb, chick starter feed and pine shavings. Just need to figure what to put them in, the metal feed bin they had was awesome, but can't do $90 for it. I will only be getting 4 chicks.

We have four chicks too. We have them in a Rubbermaid tote about 3 1/2 feet long and standard height we got from Menards for $18. They still only huddle in half, so I figure they have good room to grow. Welcome!! : )

 

[Brennigan]

Is beak trimming normal? I've been looking at two of my chicks with longer top beaks, but they've been eating/drinking fine. Is this something you only do with grown chickens?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I think I'd leave it. Get with @Leahs Mom , she dealt with a pretty serious case already this year and posted pics on TNCKTHREAD.

Thought I'd go ahead and post a cc of my last frostbite update for you here. And I do live within 1/2 mile of the Michigan/Indiana border so at least I'm nearby

I need to take current photos, but the wattles are completely healed with no intervention. Our temperatures have been in the negatives and single digits.

This was originally posted on the Natural Chicken Keeping Thread on Feb.9.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/28050#post_12791171

I hang out there most of the time and not sure if I'll see posts if you want to communicate. So...use the @ before my name in your post so I'm notified of the post via email or head on over to the Natural Chicken Keeping Thread

***************************************************************************************


FROSTBITE CHRONICLES - FEBRUARY 9, 2014 UPDATE: 1 MONTH AFTER INITIAL FROSTBITE

Quick update:
-Had changed my feed setup and it didn't work correctly; have since returned it to the better setup which is restricted access so that they don't have wattles dragging through wet feed.

Note: I also only offer restricted opening waterers so that wattles aren't dragging into the water.

-Jan. 9 when things weren't working, Mister got frostbite on the wattles.

So...I'm taking photos and tracking how he does. I'm watching for any signs of infection, wetness/rotting, etc. If I see anything that looks like deterioration, inability to eat or drink, etc., I will change my MO. In the meantime:

-I have not treated or even touched it. I do not want to cause more trauma to the tissue by handling it.
-I have NOT brought him in to warmer temperatures than the outside hen house. It is not heated.
-I have kept the hen shed doors closed if there is an extreme wind chill to be sure none of the "lowers" get chased outside and stuck in those extremes.

*****************************
Photos listed in date order. You can see the progression. They continue to look good.
Right wattle looks completely healed; small spot remains on left.


January 9:
Day after he got it. -7ish outside; -30s windchill.






January 15:
Temperatures in the 40s for a few days.






January 26
Temperatures in the 20's

Look how nicely this is healing!







FEBRUARY 9, 2014.


RIGHT SIDE APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY HEALED.






LEFT SIDE STILL HAS SMALL SPOT.

 

[chickflick]

Yes, that path was taken. And many people were there and helped to keep me out of jail. I can't thank you all enough.

A bonus to that was that it really POed the local authorities.

Some might regret that...

Love the pics, Amy!

 

[jlynnet]

I highly dislike people. So the lady I know, pet sits. And a house she pet sits has a coop. There are four left. Everyone else died. The coop hadn't been cleaned since November. So four chickens are left with rotting bodies. Two roosters and two hens. We can take the hens. Sadly no roosters.

A splash silkie female and a buff orp I'mpretty sure.

Feel bad for them

So irritating when people can't take care of their animals properly! Careful bringing them home. Make sure you quarantine them. After what they've been exposed to, you don't want yours exposed!

 

[SillyChicken]

Thanks, there is no swelling or infection, was just worried cuz it went from black to a beige color.

Let it dry up and fall off and heal. if you put anything on it to make it wet it could get infected. Keep an eye on it, if it feels hot or gets nasty looking or smells, you may need to cut off the bad stuff and give antibiotics.

I have one roo that has a frost bit comb, he'll be fine, though he may lose the points on his comb. I probably won't have to worry about it next yr. Another sadly that has one foot dead, the toes on his other foot dead as well. Not looking good for him. see spoiler alert. Not sure how he got it so bad and all my other birds are just fine.


Uggos frost bitten feet...the swollen pink areas are healing nicely. The black parts are dead and drying up. HOpefully will fall off on it's own. He's cracking his left foot trying to walk on it. I hope that helps to make it fall off...(I don't want to have to remove it for him). I'm keeping him warm clean and dry in the garage.



It was nice to rub their noses in their own pooh Raz! Glad we could help. That farm is small.. but so...... instant, just add animals! Almost too good to be true!