The Front Porch Swing

[Beekissed]

Spring peepers in WV before the first of April are indeed a rare and precious thing.

I have memories of standing in the open door of the hay loft listening to spring peepers in the pond in front of the barn n WV. Megan would clap her hands and there would be instant silence. After several seconds one brave little peeper would start calling again. After several calls another one would start calling. Then all of the rest of them would start up again. Peepers could bring such a smile to Megan and I.

Yes! We will get more snow and even a hard frost or two, clear up into April and sometimes May, but those peepers are here to stay for now. Last year we were sitting on the porch and could hear one peeper singing so loud it was like he was on the porch with us....and he was! He was sitting behind a robin's nest, singing his little heart out.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I bet people never had pasty butt when they just fed cornmeal. I have also fed oats or oat bran.

I like chick grit for pasty butt.

It might also have something to do with the water????? We don't seem to have that problem here.

 

[Triple Willow]

I like chick grit for pasty butt. 

It might also have something to do with the water????? We don't seem to have that problem here. 

I don't know. I have read that it is constipation from the lack of water in the fist couple days. I have had a little of in just a few chicks, nothing bad though. It would be a total nightmare in a lot of chicks at the same time!

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know. I have read that it is constipation from the lack of water in the fist couple days. I have had a little of in just a few chicks, nothing bad though. It would be a total nightmare in a lot of chicks at the same time!

I've come to the conclusion that most pasty butt is due to too uneven brooder temps. Too hot causes increased thirst to replace electrolytes lost in the heat and the subsequent runny stools. Too cold can cause the chicks to crowd directly under the heat source and this precipitates the problem that happens when the brooder is too hot...loss of electrolytes, hyperhydration to compensate for it.

I think a few of the OTs tended to agree with me on that and they don't recommend the whole temperature scale for brooding chicks either. I never use a thermometer in a brooder but rather go by observation and make adjustments accordingly.

 

[Triple Willow]

I LOVE that sound!!!  It's the sound of life..ever renewing, ever bouncing back from the harshness of the seasons.  If spring arrived and I didn't hear that sound I'd be bereft.  Same with the whippoorwills around here...for many years we didn't hear them as the coyotes were hitting the ground dwelling birds pretty badly.  I haven't seen a ruffed grouse, nor heard one, since the 80s around here.  But, now we are hearing whippoorwills in this area and they herald the beginning of summer for us. 

We sit out on our porch of an evening as dusk fades into night and listen for these harbingers of spring and summer and rejoice in our hearts that they are still out there, still ringing in the seasons, still letting us know that life goes on. 

We got up to about 70 yesterday then down in the 20' last night. Froggies are quiet today, shivering their little butts off or maybe froze stiff. I recorded them yesterday (video) but I don't know how to put it on here. Most people wouldn't believe how loud they are.

I love whippoorwills. We don't hear them too often anymore either. That is one thing I really miss.

 

[Faerie]

Yay for peepers!!!

Thanks for the prayers, the issue is resolved and we don't have to worry anymore!

It is a dreary day here today, rain and sleet.

 

[Triple Willow]

I've come to the conclusion that most pasty butt is due to too uneven brooder temps.  Too hot causes increased thirst to replace electrolytes lost in the heat and the subsequent runny stools.  Too cold can cause the chicks to crowd directly under the heat source and this precipitates the problem that happens when the brooder is too hot...loss of electrolytes, hyperhydration to compensate for it. 

I think a few of the OTs tended to agree with me on that and they don't recommend the whole temperature scale for brooding chicks either.  I never use a thermometer in a brooder but rather go by observation and make adjustments accordingly. 

I believe the worst pasty butt I have had was with some chicks I got from TSC, hard to get rid of. I have had a couple shipped chicks with it but not as bad.
I've never done the graduated temp thing either. I'd rather just give them plenty of room and a real warm spot that they can get as close to as they want or get completely away from. I did keep a check at the beginning on the first chicks I hatched out to be sure I wasn't cooking them.

 

[Beekissed]

Yay for peepers!!!

Thanks for the prayers, the issue is resolved and we don't have to worry anymore!

It is a dreary day here today, rain and sleet.

We are getting gusts of wind and rain but it's still pretty moderate here in temps. The chickens have been driven to shelter several times today by the hard rains but right back out again they go...too many tasty worms come to the surface in a rain for them to ignore the bounty.

I'm so glad you had a good outcome on your problem!

 

[lindz8504]

 

[Beekissed]

Chicken art!!! That would make a cute pic for a little girl's room...I love that shade of green!