Minnesota!

[lalaland]

Ive got New Hamp hen and RIR hen showing signs of frost bite on their combs (2nd winter for them) So I did put on some bag balm on their combs last night for extra "protection" -- skeptical in it. Well it seems to have kept them protected from further damage. They both look good and the balm seems to be still on the combs. Like the colder it is the more it is waxy and stays on --unlike worthless Vaseline.

Hmmm ....sorta impressed, here.

you know, I read somewhere on byc that bag balm works because it is so much thicker than vaseline or other balms. I was thinking I would try it next year, but maybe it isn't too late this year.

 

[lalaland]

I was reading about the deep litter method and I don't see how it's even possible in MN because the shavings and poop on the floor are frozen rock hard. I guess if it's frozen it can't hurt them. I couldn't clean it out if I wanted to.

Just a few weeks ago, I figured out that I was doing the deep litter wrong: cleaning it out in the fall, and then yeah, you're right, the poop just freezes and certainly is too cold to decompose and add heat. Well, what if I cleaned it out in the spring? and let it decompose all summer...maybe by fall it would be adding heat. This would require adding moisture to it as I never have any moisture problem in the summer - it stays pretty darn dry in the coop. Unlike now, when the litter feels damp.

I know you aren't supposed to clean it all out either, and are supposed to leave a "starter" layer, but it is usually so awful by spring that I do clean the whole thing out then too.

So this spring, I'm going to clean it out, add fresh dry littler (hay in my case) and then stir back in some of the awful nasty stuff. Will see if I can get a good real deep litter going so by fall I am set. worth a shot!

 

[aussiegal318]

i was reading that too. I have a wood floor so I'm not about to compost on it. I have a thick layer of litter to absorb the moisture & cover the poop & I'll clean it out come spring. I have a compost pile that the girls will dig around in during the summer, but they don't like to lay in it, they go to a nice clean dirt for hanging out. I was told to just keep piling the straw on for the alpacas too, "it will keep them warm", my boys don't lay in that area. They lay where I have a nice thick layer of clean straw. Now I toss it down just to keep them high & dry, but I'll probably clean some of it out if it warms up at all. Just my way of thinking.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Deep Litter Method. I think it may work elsewhere (climatewise) or even with a set up different than mine here in MN...but I have to say when I walk in the coop after the birds have had a long cold winter (frozen poop) and it starts to thaw. If it's knocking my head off when I walk in...I'm wanting to clean it out. I know composting is not suppose to stink but manure in various forms does stink and build up that ammonia smell. It's not for me and my set up. I like to pick up my birds and not have crap rubbing off on my jackets or jeans. I can't have Deep litter either...the framwork for my door would not allow it past a certain level. Door opens inward.

IDK...I'm not knocking it...I've read about it's advantages, considered it....but my animals get clean bedding. That's the way I am.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

you know, I read somewhere on byc that bag balm works because it is so much thicker than vaseline or other balms. I was thinking I would try it next year, but maybe it isn't too late this year.

Try it LaLa. I think it's like $4 or $6 or something. IN the square green tin with clover on it. (cute tin) Last year on St. Patrick's day we had 21 below zero. There might be more weather yet for us.

 

[Minniechickmama]

The added bonus with bag balm is the menthol in it. I have read using peppermint oil too, maybe even on here, but that stuff stinks up a storm if you use enough to cover a birds combs and wattles.


Deep litter. Well as deep as I can go is 3" because I too have inward opening doors. I just watch the weather and clean when it gets warm enough. With wood floors covered by vinyl flooring, I can't dig down too hard or I rip the flooring, but it does allow for the frozen chunks to come up with a shovel and I break them up to haul out. I use shavings, not straw or hay which would be impossible to clean out until it thaws each year. I hate when they spilled their water or splash it out of the heated dog bowls and it soaks into the shavings, it just becomes a giant ice block of wood shavings.

 

[Summer98]

I don't use the deep litter method, but I just read an article about it and wondered how it would even be possible to do in MN. We clean it out when it's thawed out enough to do so. It drives me nuts having frozen poop all over their floors right now.

I just discovered today that one of my rooster's wattles is frostbitten. What will happen to the wattles now? Do I leave it alone?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

So just one wattle, summer, or both? My roo lost a majority of his wattles last winter. I think our problem started initially with a warm squash brought down right out of the oven...and it just steamed and then froze him up. Live and learn.

I have a thread on what to expect on the healing process. Photos at different stages. etc. If both are frostbit...there is going to be some swelling and difficulty eating/drinking...so you may need to watch him for a week or so making sure he is getting food/water. It's a pain. sorry to let you know. Let me get that thread link for you....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/742274/freezer-camp-in-our-minnesota-coop-frozen-wattles-on-roo

 

[KnechtelRanch]

We didn't use heat lamps last winter (just a low wattage bulb for a few extra hours of light). After one of our younger hens getting bad frostbite a few days back, we put in a heat lamp. It's hung by a small chain and anchored by 4 wires. Home Depot sells GFCI adapters that you can plug in and plug the lamp into, to help minimize risk of electrical shorts & fires. I'm also looking at thermostat controlled outlets for the heated watered (which actually had a little ice in it yesterday - despite the heater). Our coop is about 5'x8' and about 7' high, so there's room to hang a light.

 

[aussiegal318]

A chance of getting a degree or 2 tomorrow, yippie! I'm guessing tomorrow will be the last night for the heat lamp for a while. Thurs is looking nice. Too bad Saturday I have an alpaca conference to go to.
Bogtown- how is that flat heater working in the real cold? I might try that, just seems safer. Has Roger had any problems with what's left of his comb?