North Carolina

[ramirezframing]

Yes I look at all those things.. I don't know the cause of the black you see on a lot of combs but I don't like it..and I do look at the overall appearance of the bird... I understand a broken feather or molting but if it looks unkept to my standards I don't want it because I'm afraid it hasn't been properly cared for. I also don't like seeing some people mishandle birds. Im not referring to just pucking up by feet as its necessary at times. I'm talking about ones who literally stuff them in boxes together where they can't move or fling the cages around like it doesn't bother them to be slammed around. I've seen this at swaps. I despise it.lol.

The black could be scabs from them hitting the comb on something or getting pecked on the comb. I must admit, I have accidentally made a comb or two bleed a little bit while trying to catch a bird that decided to run along the wire of the cage and they hit their comb on the wire. A lot of times it doesn't take much for the comb to bleed. But I would suggest looking up fowl pox so you can tell the difference in peck scabs and fowl pox scabs. One thing you can do to see how well the birds have been taken care of is to ask when the birds were last treated for mites/lice and wormed.

Which reminds me, it's time for my birds spring worming

.

 

[daphneysmamma]

Mine are now 5-6 months are they ready to b wormed u think .. I see no signs of worms or mites or lice do u worm them for prevention or good measure or only if there's a problem...what do u use.. if I need to do it I want to get it on out the way.

 

[daphneysmamma]

...

Black in combs? Stuffing then slamming cages? I despise that too! How awful
I don't think I'll ever go to a flock swap. I'd rather just swap on here anyway [/quote


Everyone isn't like that .. I enjoy the swaps just watch for liars and don't buy anything ur unsure of.. there's good people at the swaps too. U can usually tell.

 

[starlingdaly]

Black on the combs could also be frost bite in the winter months.

I am glad to say that with my chicken prices set so high I am able to weed out most of the people who just don't care about welfare. I have been happy with most of my chicken sales.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Black tips on the comb is often frostbite, too.
Good morning!

 

[daphneysmamma]

Does the black go away ?

 

[starlingdaly]

Does the black go away ?

Yes it will heal with time providing the frostbite isn't very bad

 

[tjbuckshotbarn]

Is wazine a good wormer? It's what I have been using.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

This is the first year any of our birds got frostbite on their combs. The combs may
not be as pretty as they once were but they will heal and the birds is still healthy.
We worm twice a year as you not always see worms but the birds could still have
them........just general good flock management to keep them wormed. Since we
have so many birds we can stagger the worming among the pens so we can still
have eating eggs too.

 

[Gen9]

Is wazine a good wormer? It's what I have been using.

I've heard cattle wormer (I forgot the name... anyone?) works best, of all wormers. It kills the worms off slowly. Killing the worms off too fast can hurt or kill your chicken. If the chickens have more than one type of worm, the cattle wormer will get rid of all 4. i think wazine only gets rid of roundworms. I've never had to worm mine yet, but I have wazine on hand. I would like to get the cattle wormer, but I'd have to order it online - it's expensive, but worth it from what I've read on here.