Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

[KettermanHillCoop]

He's a pretty bird...so shiny. I'm glad you're getting more birds...it will make everyone happy.

 

[lazy gardener]

If I were you, I'd scratch the idea of buying chicks this spring. hatch your own.

 

[Kathy Golla]

 

[Morrigan]

If I were you, I'd scratch the idea of buying chicks this spring. hatch your own.

She might need a bigger coop then. Once you start hatching, it's hard to stop!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

"And almost all heating pads and electric blankets contain wires coated in PTFE."

Interesting quote from http://www.mickaboo.org/newsletter/oct10/Teflon.html

thats very interesting and def needs some more research thanks!!

Hmmmmm....many of us are using heating pads to heat chicks......may be they don't get hot enough to release fumes?....certainly not as hot as a heat bulb or a frying pan.

I think the temp toxic compounds start to release is 480ish. So they don't. I'll note though that scratched old non stick is thought to be much more dangerous than new. So old heating pads that have flexed 1000s of times could be more concerning. Zero evidence to back that claim though.

more things to look into

I'm 67 years old. I raised 3 siblings, 3 kids, and 6 grandkids, which means lots of distractions so I do believe I've overheated a pan more than once in over 55 years of cooking - But not to hijack this important thread or to take away from its message, I think I'll just tiptoe right on out the way I came in and get back into my corner!

Side note: I'm going to clean the coop really thoroughly again this week and am wondering what is safe? Just Dawn dish soap and warm water? Can I use white vinegar on the glass?

very safe!!

Hopefully I'll go get them Saturday, though we may be getting ice- in that case it will be Sunday. My dad offered to go during the week for me, but I really want to see them and pick out the ones I want based on their personality and how healthy they look.

and maybe see if while this crazy warm weather is here not using the heat lamp in the coop anymore
just check out your ventilation

good luck with the new ladies!!

 

[lazy gardener]

I do believe we've got the worst of the polar vortex behind us, according to Accuweather. Smooth sailing from here on out, till it's time to tuck the peas in the ground. Any one wanna buy a bridge?

 

[AaronandAlice]

I do believe we've got the worst of the polar vortex behind us, according to Accuweather. Smooth sailing from here on out, till it's time to tuck the peas in the ground. Any one wanna buy a bridge?

Haha! My dad told me the same. We shall see!

 

[AaronandAlice]

@casportpony are you really a poop inspector? Lane had some runny poop this morning and I’m not sure if he’s clearing toxins or if he’s getting too much of scrambled egg and oatmeal. I did take a picture.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

looks possibly like a cecal, but i am sure kathy will be here soon.....

 

[casportpony]

View attachment 1231401 @casportpony are you really a poop inspector? Lane had some runny poop this morning and I’m not sure if he’s clearing toxins or if he’s getting too much of scrambled egg and oatmeal. I did take a picture.

It's what I call the combo, it's part cecal poop (they do cecal poops 2-3 time a day usually) and part regular poop. The cecal part of it has some bubbles in it, so keep and eye on it. Bubbles are not normal, but I doubt they have anything to do with his PTFE exposure.