Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[mortie]

Oh also we've got some pretty good frostbite going on here. I'm surprised. It's warmed up some so I wasn't expecting that. Penny is the most affected. Darn that bird. I tried to put vaseline on them but they just shook it off so they're on their own I guess. Only another 8 weeks of super cold.

 

[chickenlindz]

You try so hard to keep them protected but they are just crazy birds. Two nights now my babies have decided to sleep outside. They can get inside but I guess they don't want to. Yesterday I caught them and threw them in but it was a nightmare. Tonight I'm letting them stay where they are. It's under the coop and back where I have it blocked off so they are actually pretty well protected from the elements. Tonight isn't as cold so they should be fine. Silly birds!!!!

 

[mortie]

I know it. They are totally crazy. I've read all the stuff about frostbite and my coop is well ventilated. I don't know why they suddenly decided to get frostbite now instead of when it was -30. In other frustrating weather news, I've been watching the forecast and it keeps promising a bit of a warm up. First it was supposed to start on weds...then thurs, now they've moved it back to friday. It's always one day away. GRRRRR. STOP IT. I'd like it to warm up a bit so I can turn my bedding over really good and add some new. I mean I *can* do it now but I'd prefer not to. I'm also going to spread some straw on the ground in the run to see if that helps the girls decide to come out more.

 

[Scrambles55]

We are supposed to be in the 40s this weekend. Yay!! Maybe a little supervised free range for the girls.

 

[mortie]

I just came in from offering them some dead crickets and checking them over. The frostbite situation has gotten worse. I read that sometimes it takes a while for it to reach its full...what's the word....amount of damage I guess. Penny is going to lose a good bit of her comb I think. The other two large combed birds might as well. They're acting okay other than shaking their heads once in a while as if to shake it off. I bet they're sore. Weird that it happened after it warmed up a bit. I feel really bad. Poor girls. Nothing I can really do .

 

[ronott1]

I just came in from offering them some dead crickets and checking them over. The frostbite situation has gotten worse. I read that sometimes it takes a while for it to reach its full...what's the word....amount of damage I guess. Penny is going to lose a good bit of her comb I think. The other two large combed birds might as well. They're acting okay other than shaking their heads once in a while as if to shake it off. I bet they're sore. Weird that it happened after it warmed up a bit. I feel really bad. Poor girls. Nothing I can really do .

Make sure that they are sleeping with their head under the wing. Hens are supposed to do this but they may need to be taught, I suppose that means doing it for them at night.

I am so sorry that they have frostbite!

 

[mortie]

I don't think I could force them to put their heads under their wings. Even if I put their heads under their wings I'm picturing them pulling them out and looking at me like I am insane.

I guess if they lose parts of their combs, they'll have less comb to get frostbitten next year and when one of them gets the idea from a certain barred rock around here that she should rob a wal mart, she'll be easy to pick out of a lineup with her distinctive comb....

 

[mortie]

I feel like I should really post something positive lol.

When I was out there I observed squatting from Maggie, who has not squatted since she went broody in October. She has also not laid an egg since then. I also saw Shadow squat which I don't believe I have ever seen her squat even when they first started laying. Penny always squats. The is the best, sweetest chicken ever. Hopefully this means they are thinking about laying some eggs. No egg yet today. Wilson and Penny have been the best layers up til now but they have the worst of the frost bite.

 

[mortie]

I have a theory as to what happened. I guess it's part of the learning process but it doesn't make me feel any better or help my injured chickens.

I started to type it all out but...you guys are probably tired of my novels lately.

 

[ronott1]

I have a theory as to what happened. I guess it's part of the learning process but it doesn't make me feel any better or help my injured chickens.

I started to type it all out but...you guys are probably tired of my novels lately.

I love a good novel!