NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tough Old Bird]

My ducks are they same way. The first thing they do when I open their hut in the morning is run to their tubs and jump in. I call it hot tub time. I bring out water 3 times a day. As soon as they get in there they poop...It's like when you stick someones hand in warm warter while their asleep they are supposed to pee...well the boys as soon as they get in the warm water they poop! They like to sit in their tubs and eat their breakfast!

There is something just so ADORABLE about this picture. They are so cute and goofy to do this! Love your analogy to the hand-in-warm water! LOL!

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

True you will not lose him over frostbite. AND if you treat or you do not treat it simply will not make a difference. The frost bitten part will fall off and he will not know the difference. Been there done that. Waste of time treating for frost bitten combs.

I am relieved to hear this. A couple of my hens have some black dots of frost bite. And as I watch them drink and see their wattles getting quite wet while the thermometer reads -15F, I am trying not to freak. How could they NOT freeze? Anyway, I'm keeping an eye out, but it's good to know that in your experience, the birds get through the injury.

I'm really wishing we could get back to a little more moderate temp's. The extreme cold is causing other troubles. One of our pipes froze and burst. Still no hot water and we have several holes cut into our stairwell wall. It's not been a good day...

TOB

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Evening all. Just read through all 10 pages of postings. Lots going on.

Rancher--nice egg! Bet that little girl said ouch when she laid it!

Jlaw--we just put a rope around the feet and pull the slipknot tight. Dh then turns the chicken over and hangs it from a rope tied between two trees(in the woods) and he pulls the beak down and slices open the jugular on both sides. Its quick, quiet and they go easy. Most humane way of dispatching we have found. Since we eat them, it makes it easy to skin out and cut up. Everyone has to find their own way of doing things. Making the call to cull on chicks can also be hard but its quality of life that counts. If there is no quality of life, then it needs to be culled.

Stony--I concur. Not sure if the questions are valid or not. I guess time will tell. I can only hope that your blog is read.

Lynzi--Handsome young lad you have there! I have a few of Geris birds as well. Love her line. Hopefully will be crossing lines soon.

Welcome to the newbies.

Rancher--how are you holding up in this weather? I know this frigid cold has got to be bothering your joints pretty good and with all the cheeps you have to feed and water the cold must be killing you. I hope you are doing well.

Night all..

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

True you will not lose him over frostbite. AND if you treat or you do not treat it simply will not make a difference. The frost bitten part will fall off and he will not know the difference. Been there done that. Waste of time treating for frost bitten combs.

I know that the frostbite won't kill him. I just didn't want it to get worse. I didn't plan on doing anything with the comb that is looking bad. I figured that the tips would fall off. I have several hens that look like they will lose a few tips. I was just so shocked that his waddles were so hard and then to find them bleeding so was a shock.

Jlaw - This is my first year with chickens and as soon as it started to get cold I worried about his comb. Never thought that I would have to worry about his waddles. I plan on just cleaning it up a little now that it has quieted down. I don't want to rub it to much. It is still dripping blood and I hope that it will stop soon. My biggest concern is just making sure that the bleeding stops. He has finally thawed out and resting comfortably.

He is being nice and quiet and enjoyed a nice treat of scrambled eggs.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

There is something just so ADORABLE about this picture. They are so cute and goofy to do this! Love your analogy to the hand-in-warm water! LOL!

TOB

They make me laugh every morning when they do it. I plan on getting them some girlfriends this year. I'll have to get some more tubs for next winter.

And a second bucket to carry out all the warm water.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Almost forgot---to the aspiring farmer out there, I will say this. As the daughter of a farmer, I will tell you that no amount of book learning can prepare you for the realities of life on a farm. It can be very rewarding and is also very difficult. If you are serious, then go visit with some local farmers, especially the "old-timers," tell them what you want to do and listen, really listen to what they have to say. They have the knowledge and experience you wont find in books. Farming is physically, emotionally and financially tough. I hope you have planned for the long haul. Just my two cents worth.

 

[stonykill]

Almost forgot---to the aspiring farmer out there, I will say this. As the daughter of a farmer, I will tell you that no amount of book learning can prepare you for the realities of life on a farm. It can be very rewarding and is also very difficult. If you are serious, then go visit with some local farmers, especially the "old-timers," tell them what you want to do and listen, really listen to what they have to say. They have the knowledge and experience you wont find in books. Farming is physically, emotionally and financially tough. I hope you have planned for the long haul. Just my two cents worth.

truth!

 

[JLaw]

True you will not lose him over frostbite. AND if you treat or you do not treat it simply will not make a difference. The frost bitten part will fall off and he will not know the difference. Been there done that. Waste of time treating for frost bitten combs.

Yeah I never treat combs only this ones foot. I figure if they loose the tips this year they cant loose them next year. Suffer once loose them then not have to suffer again.

 

[stonykill]

Yeah I never treat combs only this ones foot. I figure if they loose the tips this year they cant loose them next year. Suffer once loose them then not have to suffer again.

true you need to treat the foot. And yes suffer only once.

 

[Lapeerian]

I know that the frostbite won't kill him. I just didn't want it to get worse. I didn't plan on doing anything with the comb that is looking bad. I figured that the tips would fall off. I have several hens that look like they will lose a few tips. I was just so shocked that his waddles were so hard and then to find them bleeding so was a shock.

Jlaw - This is my first year with chickens and as soon as it started to get cold I worried about his comb. Never thought that I would have to worry about his waddles. I plan on just cleaning it up a little now that it has quieted down. I don't want to rub it to much. It is still dripping blood and I hope that it will stop soon. My biggest concern is just making sure that the bleeding stops. He has finally thawed out and resting comfortably.

He is being nice and quiet and enjoyed a nice treat of scrambled eggs. 

My one GLW roo was like that, his wattles just end up shorter. No harm otherwise and didn't treat him. This year the young PRock has frostbit comb tips, but not surprised with the size of his comb. Even some of the girls have mild spots, both coop and rafters girls.