The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[COChix]

From Fresh Eggs Daily [COLOR=666666]"Homemade Frostbite Ointment[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666] [/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]This all-natural ointment can be used to prevent and treat frostbite.[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666] Ingredients[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]2 ounces beeswax[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]3/4 cup coconut oil[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]1/4 teaspoon liquid vitamin E (helps repair damaged skin)[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]10 drops calendula essential oil (anti-inflamatory, aids in healing wounds)[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]10 drops lavender essential oil (relaxant, pain reliever, antibacterial, anti-fungal)[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]10 drops lemon essential oil (antibacterial, antiviral)[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666] To Make[/COLOR] [COLOR=666666]Grate beeswax and melt with coconut oil over low heat in a glass mason jar set in a saucepan of boiling water, stirring with a wooden chopstick. Remove from heat and stir in the Vitamin E and essential oils until well mixed. Leave in the mason jar or pour into a covered container and cool. Store in a cool, dry place and use as needed."[/COLOR] Just apply a coating once they have roosted and are calmed down, it will, prevent more frostbite, heal whats there and prevent infection in the affected areas.

[COLOR=008000]From those photos they look like they are healing great! [/COLOR] I'll repeat what I said before..I RECOMMEND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THEM...DON'T TOUCH... unless they are wet/oozing or deteriorating/infected in any way. I've seen over and over where folks put ointments, healing balms, etc. on and caused the damage to be far worse. And I still recommend that you take a "hands-off" approach. Just observe for any of the things listed above. If you don't see any of those, let the healing take place on it's own. Of course, preventing any more damage. (Restricted opening waterers and restricted opening feeders if you use wet feed...no wattles in water dishes or wet feed dishes!) I actually made up some of the "frostbite ointment" that was listed above last year and never used it on my frostbitten boy. But we loved using it on ourselves as a general first-aid balm!

Funny, I saw that recipe today. Thanks

I'm going to try doing a progression as I go here. My boys are doing lots better. I'm taking them out during the days so they can at least move around and stretch their wings and flirt with the girls. My worst boy has recovered quite a bit. His wattles are still bad but not nearly as swollen and they look to be to almost normal sizes again... which is about half of what was in the first picture. His wattles look a bit smaller today too but I don't have that picture yet. I have done a variety of things. First I put on castor oil... not sure if that helped or not. Then for a couple days I put on coconut oil and last night I put vitamin e oil on them. Today they look quite a bit smaller. Also sharing pics of what I'm doing in the feeder/waterer departments... Chick feeder long tray bottom set on an angle to keep wattles out as much as possible. The boy you see here has very slight issues with his wattles right now and it seems that the stiffer the wattles are, the more they get into the food and water. Chick waterer set on a platform attached to a post. The wire keeps it from being knocked off and spilled.

Wow your boys wattles looks so much better! The only thing I was thinking was maybe starting to apply a mix of coconut oil/vitamin e on Rocco's wattles. Bruno I have left alone completely. Rocco still has a spot on the inside of this wattles that looks like it is dying. I am using the same size chicken waterer and have it sitting on top of the heated dog bowls filled with sand. Psin in butt how fast the have to be refilled.

 

[Lacy Blues]

@Lacy Blues
Thank you for documenting. That will be helpful to us all!

His are looking good as well. I'll be interested to see how they do w/the coconut oil and vitamin e. Can you tell us how you applied it? (Cotton ball, fingers, qtip, etc.) Also, how did they react when you applied?

I applied with my fingers. The first time, I think he twitched once or twice but that is all. Since then, he does well. I still make sure he eats in the evenings. He tries to eat during the day and he's only out after its above freezing. But he gets his wattles caked. I think he is trying to reach past them when he takes bites and ends up tamping down the food. So in the evening, I just hold him on my lap with a tv-tray holding his dish of food. He makes a pretty big mess but he gets it all eaten eventually. Then I take him to the sink and clean up his beak and wattles, dry them gently with a paper towel and then apply the oil.

I have the two other boys too. One of them, Crowbalt, can eat by himself and his wattles are almost completely well. He just has scabs on the bottom edge of them so I clean them before he goes to bed for the night and apply oil. The second male needs help too but he gets his food eaten eventually, then I have to clean him up and apply oil.

They have, all three, become quite "tame" over the last week. They don't even try to run away.

I like that frostbite recipe. I will try to make some to have on hand.

 

[armorfirelady]

Lacy blues glad to hear they are healing up nicely. I love the feeder & waterer ideas.


I agree with leahs mom about the hands off approach. I had a hen last year who walked in her FF and ended up with frostbite on two toes. I just watched them and they healed on their own. They were quite swollen and the temps were in the teens bit they still healed up.

I don't treat much anymore, more of a watch and see approach. I do give them herbs to strengthen their Immune systems once a week or so. And veggies and fruits as well. Oh and raw meat to. Even tho the older girls have been slower to start laying again after their molt I do have to say their new feathers came in beautiful & are shiny, well except Edie who loves to dust bath in the wood ash. She won't be white again till she gets a rain shower

 

[sunflower4you]

I wish I had a picture to share, but even though I don't I wanted to share my story. We have a wood-burning fireplace that we use every day in the winter. So the other day (based on what I've learned here), I took a large pot full of wood ash out to the run and just dumped it in a pile. I don't have a specific container for dust bathing. A couple hours later I went out to check for eggs and I noticed a large, bowl-shaped divot in the ash pile. I speculated as to who took a bath, but one look at my sweet little black hen turned gray with dust billowing behind her as she walked and I could not stop smiling.

My chickens give me such joy.

 

[armorfirelady]

I wish I had a picture to share, but even though I don't I wanted to share my story.  We have a wood-burning fireplace that we use every day in the winter.  So the other day (based on what I've learned here), I took a large pot full of wood ash out to the run and just dumped it in a pile.  I don't have a specific container for dust bathing.  A couple hours later I went out to check for eggs and I noticed a large, bowl-shaped divot in the ash pile.  I speculated as to who took a bath, but one look at my sweet little black hen turned gray with dust billowing behind her as she walked and I could not stop smiling.

My chickens give me such joy. 

My girls love wood ash dust bathing also. I also heat by wood so I sift the ashes I get and store them so I have them all year round. I sift because there are some nails in there sometimes. I also tend to add some peat moss into it. It seems to help keep the moisture out when it's humid from snow or rain.

They always remind me of pig pen from Peanuts when they walk on windy days after dust bathing. Or when they shake

 

[lalaland]

I ordered the gloves and got them last night. Got a medium and a large pair, not a heck of a lot of difference. Med fit best, but large was totally useable.

SO, tried them out on this subzero morning. They work great! give you enough dexterity to open trash cans, dish out mash, unscrew things, mess with the locks and bungee cords, etc. My hands were ok - not toasty warm, but definitely protected from the cold.

Came home to 6 eggs, including two from new layers - exciting.

I get to be home tomorrow so can feed a warm, hot mash while it is 45 below zero windchill and in the 20's below zero.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I ordered the gloves and got them last night. Got a medium and a large pair, not a heck of a lot of difference. Med fit best, but large was totally useable.

SO, tried them out on this subzero morning. They work great! give you enough dexterity to open trash cans, dish out mash, unscrew things, mess with the locks and bungee cords, etc. My hands were ok - not toasty warm, but definitely protected from the cold.

Came home to 6 eggs, including two from new layers - exciting.

I get to be home tomorrow so can feed a warm, hot mash while it is 45 below zero windchill and in the 20's below zero.

Thanks for the glove review. On the link that was posted earlier, it only had small. Could you send me a link to the specific ones you got in M & L?

 

[lalaland]

http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-AG451L-Therma-Fit-Gloves-Large/product-reviews/B0048WR7J8


I am not sure if they have the med in stock or not, you would have to search amazon. I saw there were also some on ebay and other places too....

 

[COChix]

I wish I had a picture to share, but even though I don't I wanted to share my story.  We have a wood-burning fireplace that we use every day in the winter.  So the other day (based on what I've learned here), I took a large pot full of wood ash out to the run and just dumped it in a pile.  I don't have a specific container for dust bathing.  A couple hours later I went out to check for eggs and I noticed a large, bowl-shaped divot in the ash pile.  I speculated as to who took a bath, but one look at my sweet little black hen turned gray with dust billowing behind her as she walked and I could not stop smiling.

My chickens give me such joy. 

Funny,I don't have a specific dust bathing area for the gang either. I have made attempts to designate some areas for them but they have minds of their own. They haven't ventured out into the free range area in over a week, but today I noticed they dug a nice trench in front of the coop and hit dry dirt so it was a dirt bath party! I do make it a point to dump our wood burning stove ashes in their favorite bathing areas. The first time I did they all just spent the longest time investigating the strange stuff.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I was at our local Big R the other day and checked out the gloves. There were some that I thought were the ones being referred on here but I couldn't remember them exactly... just sort of what they looked like. Tried them on and immediately thought.. nope... the latex on the finger ends was just that... latex. No source for warmth.

Then I checked these other ones, tried them on... the small was snug and I was afraid that would reduce any warmth. Medium is just a tiny bit too big but they will work plus there is fleece inside the latex.

I just checked against the link provided and they're the same glove! Next morning when its cold enough for gloves, I'll try them out.