Okies in the BYC The Original

[poultryand bees]

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Monty, Not to sound gross, but what do the deceased birds look like and where are they located in the pen? I have lost some to cold weather this year and in most instances the bird looked squished and wet, and was in the corner of the chicken house where all the birds are huddling - so I felt it suffocated on the bottom of the pile.
Older birds know how to roost and will tuck their heads under a wing to keep warm, but the younger ones can't seem to figure out how to roost until I put them into a pen with older birds. Until then, they just pile on each other to stay warm.

Try giving the birds some cracked corn at bedtime so their inner body temperature will be warmer at night and maybe they won't pile on each other so badly.

 

[HennyPennies2007]

BuckGuy... sorry to hear about your feathered folk.

Every morning I go out there and I'm ascared to even open the coop door. It has been so bitterly cold so fast. One day its 74 the next day its 34. Chickens are the best... but they give me ulcers.

 

[okcarla]

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I've always heard that cracked corn is good for birds in cold. It's included in the scratch we add to the breeder pellets. We also give ours a supplement of cheap dog food kibble that we've soaked for a while. I think the extra protein helps too.

We have the same problem with youngsters when we put them in a new pen ... piling on top of each other and the ones on the bottom die. But we've also got a room in our barn that every time we've tried keeping young birds in, they mysteriously die one by one. Gerald and I've decided it must be the room that's killing them ... maybe it's haunted! Anyway, we don't put birds in there anymore, and no more mysterious deaths. I'm wondering if rodents get in their pens and scare them to death at night? Oh, and maybe they have weak immune systems and possibly have worms? Keeping chickens is sure a learning experience ... especially if you have any die for unexplained reasons.

We've been lucky that we've only lost a few birds from this wicked cold spell we're going thru. I'm so amazed the naked necks don't freeze to death! Me, I'm wearing longjohns and sweaters and not even outside & I'm complaining. I sure don't think we have a problem with Global Warming!

 

[countyroad1330]

Monty, I am so sorry about your birds; I don't have any clue what the deal is with that.

I hope you don't lose any more.

Grace, thanks for the cartoon! Wish mine had been that cute while they were destroying everything... My mom bought us a 3 foot prelit tree in a pot, and they don't bother it at all! So that's what I settled for this year.

Has anyone got any snow? Any pictures of it?

We had some ice this morning, but it was all melted by the time I got out of the house. Except that on my car of course.

For all you cat owners, my kitten threw a strange violent little fit tonight. He got right in my face and cried, I thought he was sick. I moved and he did it to my husband, then bit his hand pretty hard. He hasn't been neutered yet, I'm wondering if that has something to do with it...

 

[Stimpy]

I haven't lost any birds yet, but if it doesn't warm up soon they might lose me.

I agree with Cammie. If it's going to be this cold, it might as well snow. At least we'd have something to look at. Besides, I'm worse than any kid when it comes to snow. I'll be out there playing in it with the rest of them. I tie the sled on behind the 4-wheeler and drag the grandkids thru the snow. I love that stuff.

Everyone stay warm,

-Stimp-

 

[OklahomaJamie]

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Same here!! I want snow. Hi Stimp. I'm from outside of Wayne. I like the sled idea. Someone said something about Poulty sale in Lexington on mondays, is there one? where?

 

[mhaines4102]

The lexington sale is advertised on Craigs list. I have never been, I just know about it.

The ad says "Monday nights at 7pm we have a poultry and small caged animal auction 2 miles east, 2 miles south and 1/2 mile east of Lexington. (Watch for signs)" http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/grd/947440383.html

The Maud sale is Thursdays and this is it's location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sad...547,-96.783414&spn=0.015669,0.033045&t=h&z=16

 

[OklahomaJamie]

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Thanks!!

 

[okcarla]

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Here's the link for the Oklahoma Auctions thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=33248

 

[Stimpy]

Hey Jamie,

Where are you outside Wayne? My kids graduated from Wayne High.

Yes, Jim Evans has an auction east of Lexington every Monday night at 7:00. If you want to sell, he gets there at about noon on Monday to start checking things in.

Holla,

-Stimp-