Swedish Flower Hen Thread

[Penny Hen]

Leigh, I'm so sorry about Sorenson's loss.

Oddly, I had a rooster die with similar symptoms. I had him necropsied by a veterinary pathologist -- my state will do it for free, and even though I'm a vet, why not take advantage of a pathologist nearby -- and there was no sign of heart disease, and in fact, she could not determine a cause of death.

I have his full brother here if none of his sons work out....I agree....these red and white ones are delightful.

ETA: Sorenson was an early March baby, came directly from GFF, about 3 weeks younger than Viking, which came in my first GFF shipment. I had four roosters colored exactly alike in that shipment. I kept one, you got one, and the coons took two (sigh...but their loss led to me getting the dogs).
Oh EEK!!!!! That is sure not what a SFH should look like!! Cute, but way too much, huh. I certainly can see why you let him go.

Well, on one hand, I won't have to worry about it....the one that had the most trouble hatching (vaulted) died on his own the other night. Another one, normal skull, passed too.

On the other hand, I have sold the rest and made it very clear they should be careful to avoid crested x crested crosses to reduce embryonic mortality as well as chick deaths and then issues later on...why create something so easily avoided?

ETA: and another thought....breeding crested x crested might be letting them do their thing, but...when you think SFH, what comes to mind? Is it a bird with no crest, a small crest or one with a huge crest? Nowhere in the writings of the breed description that I have seen does it say a large crest is acceptable. No, there isn't an official SOP, but I have seen various writings, and none say large crest. For example: http://www.swedishflowerchickens.com/breedinformation.html

Note "small coif" and addresses that those birds come from one specific area. That sort of makes me wonder if there are actually two sub-breeds of birds that look similar but are different in some respects.

You know when you get those occasional "whoops" double crests you should see if someone breeding frilkies or show girl types would like them. That double crest and and a naked neck could look so cute.

 

[redhen689]

Frostbite? I've never had chickens with large combs before, and my boys all have dark marking in their combs and waddles this morning.

 

[Bulldogma]

Frostbite? I've never had chickens with large combs before, and my boys all have dark marking in their combs and waddles this morning.

Yes. Frostbite. My boy Blue got some too - he has the largest comb and waddles of any of my boys ever. Slather his affected areas with Vaseline, coconut oil, Nu-Stock, Bag Balm or another heavy, oil-based creme to prevent further damage and to help him heal.

Blue looks goofy with his new "do." Expect all the frost bitten areas to turn black-ish and the badly affected tips of his comb/wattles could actually fall off.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm going to say something about the frostbite that I "think" is correct...y'all will have to weigh it.

I, personally, am not putting anything on frostbite AFTER they have it. My current thought on that is that it can make it worse, and if it isn't weeping or looking like it is rotting flesh, I'm going to leave it alone.

I know FOR SURE that if you are applying something to it when it is in that condition, you have to be extremely careful not to put any pressure on it or rub it at all as you can cause more damage. I do know one person that did put something on hers after the fact and the entire wattles turned black and got much worse. While I know others who used a "hands-off" approach and their birds healed well on their own and looked great again come spring.

I "think" that putting the oils on the combs and wattles is more of a preventive measure BEFORE they get it rather than after the fact.

Right now I plan on observing to be sure there is no excessive swelling or wet flesh; being sure they are eating and behaving normal for them.

And that old saying "An ounce of PREVENTION is worth a pound of cure' surely applies here. I'm trying to be sure that my waterers have "restricted openings" so that they aren't getting wattles into an open waterer, etc. Trying to keep any wet feed (like fermented feed) with as restricted an opening as possible also.

(That being said, I changed my feed set-up hurriedly this morning before I left for work and it was obviously done improperly. This afternoon when I came home, "Mister" has what I consider some bad frostbite on his wattles due to that new set-up. I'm kicking myself and watching him closely.)

 

[ki4got]

I'm going to say something about the frostbite that I "think" is correct...y'all will have to weigh it.

I, personally, am not putting anything on frostbite AFTER they have it. My current thought on that is that it can make it worse, and if it isn't weeping or looking like it is rotting flesh, I'm going to leave it alone.

I know FOR SURE that if you are applying something to it when it is in that condition, you have to be extremely careful not to put any pressure on it or rub it at all as you can cause more damage. I do know one person that did put something on hers after the fact and the entire wattles turned black and got much worse. While I know others who used a "hands-off" approach and their birds healed well on their own and looked great again come spring.

I "think" that putting the oils on the combs and wattles is more of a preventive measure BEFORE they get it rather than after the fact.

Right now I plan on observing to be sure there is no excessive swelling or wet flesh; being sure they are eating and behaving normal for them.

And that old saying "An ounce of PREVENTION is worth a pound of cure' surely applies here. I'm trying to be sure that my waterers have "restricted openings" so that they aren't getting wattles into an open waterer, etc. Trying to keep any wet feed (like fermented feed) with as restricted an opening as possible also.

(That being said, I changed my feed set-up hurriedly this morning before I left for work and it was obviously done improperly. This afternoon when I came home, "Mister" has what I consider some bad frostbite on his wattles due to that new set-up. I'm kicking myself and watching him closely.)

I agree, Leah's Mom is right... the comb and wattles are already sore and damaged. putting anything on them other than a spray of some sort, is going to damage the tissues even further, which may break the skin and cause infection to set in. so far I've just left any roos alone and they've healed just fine. knock on wood, no frostbite this time around. guess everyone's taken to tucking their heads under wings or each other. LOL

 

[insanity]

My leghorn pullet got a quite a bit of frostbite in the last cold spell (twit kept sneaking out at bedtime). The old timer vet in the my area told me to use the less is more approach. Lave it be and wait and see.... if I see blue veins spreading to call back but ignore black skin or if it self amputates. She is now 5 days along and it doesn't seem to bother her but I do think she will lose close to half comb before we are done.

 

[Sally8]

My Wyandotte that got left out on our coldest night -13 never had any anything visible the next day or since. Her comb was a little off color but only a little. The very tips of my roo BCM's comb is now black and he always makes it to the coop long before dark. His "to live by words" are "Every bird for themselves". If one of the hens are squawking, he's always to the rescue but food and coop are different.

 

[HaplessRunner]

My three cream legbar roosters got frostbite pretty bad. Two have wattles that have swollen at least a half inch or more in thickness the other lesser swelling. Two that have swollen ear lobes as well. Should I leave it be or lance them to relieve the pressure and allow drainage?

 

[ki4got]

My three cream legbar roosters got frostbite pretty bad. Two have wattles that have swollen at least a half inch or more in thickness the other lesser swelling. Two that have swollen ear lobes as well. Should I leave it be or lance them to relieve the pressure and allow drainage?

I would leave them alone... any opening on the skin is inviting infection. if it's not inhibiting their breathing, they'll be fine.

that also goes for combs too... and I wouldn't put anything on them either, because the tissue is already damaged, any more disturbances to it will just increase the damage (putting creams or Vaseline etc). so if they're dry (not oozing), then leave them alone.

 

[Bulldogma]

Yes - the oil-based stuff is more of a preventative. Blue got some on his frosty parts because the next night was going to be almost as cold as the last and I didn't want it to get worse. As far as I can tell, it has helped and he did not get *more* frostbite on the 2nd frigid night.

Good points, all!