The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Yes Scott I did miss it. Sorry.

I did some research this morning and found a ton of ways to treat it. Just depends on the way you want to treat. I saw herbs, aspirin, antibiotic cream, etc....

My thoughts are this:
-don't treat it topically unless of course it becomes infected or shows signs of gangrene (sp)
-give some herbs that naturally increase circulation..........improved circulation, while it might not help the frostbite they have now, it may help prevent it from worsening

I wouldn't give aspirin, antibiotics or coat the effected part with anything because I would be afraid it would freeze. I did look up petroleum jelly and its not suppose to freeze but people use a thin layer as a preventive not a treatment. I was wondering if lip balm would be effective for prevention as well?

Some other info I found was:
-that blistering is common in frost bite
-not to take the effected areas to heated areas if they would be exposed to cold again shortly after (it will refreeze and cause worse damage)
-not to use water to warm the area, that the pain doesn't usually start till the area is warmed up (I wonder if there are nerves in combs & wattles to feel pain?)
-not to rub or massage frostbitten areas or disturb blisters which can also cause further damage

And some natural treatments I found were:
foods rich in Vitamin C to help healing process (rose hip is mentioned)
-cayenne pepper to help improve circulation ( I know Scott posted this already)
-teas such as feverfew, peppermint, yarrow, chamomile, sage (I wouldn't give as tea to the chickens but give the herbs themselves that are hen safe)
-coconut oil but because it dies freeze I would give it orally

***these are just my opinions on what I would do if my hens had frostbite.....I have not tried them nor do I know that they work*****

Maybe I could knit wattle & comb cover & make my millions for those in cold climates? It might be the new chicken diapers rage

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I had about 3 feet of my own snow to shovel off the coop when I got home. Plus about 8 inches more since then around the coop. I wish I could of went back to Miami !!

 

[ki4got]

ok I have a question regarding nipple waterers and freezing temperatures...

I know if you run any tubing for them they would likely freeze solid, but what about putting the nipples directly on a bucket or tank that has a deicer in it? would the warmer water keep the nipples from freezing solid?

I might add, our temps seem to range from the low 20s to above freezing most days in the peak of winter, with only occasional temps dipping toward single digits.

eta - another thought occurred to me too... about maybe doing a tank with heater in it, and a water pump to pump the warmer water thru pvc pipes for each pen, and return back to the water barrel with the heater in it... think something like that might work, as long as the nipples don't freeze on their own just for being outside the heated water barrel...

 

[lalaland]

hmmm interesting reading this morning!

Justine, your goat pic is adorable and almost doesn't look real! Hope they get used to the snow.

I like the idea of cayenne - easy, not wet, everyone can benefit, can't do any harm. Gonna add some to their feed.

Booster this morning is a little subdued, but that could be because a) Buster is in the coop too, and b) he has accepted that I am a bigger rooster than he is. No change in his comb or wattles.
other than herbs to the feed, I'm gonna do nothing. My gut has been to leave him be unless it starts oozing or something. Leah's mom, I'm with you about not messing with it.

If he was isolated, i would do aspirin in the water for him. But I don't want to give the whole flock aspirin. Scott, I saw you read that aspirin is not for chickens, but I know of people who have used it and I've seen it recommended by someone I trust. Always difficult when you read contradictory stuff!

Guess what? Edie, my black ameracauna was checking out nests this morning. Pacing, not happy that Princess was in the favored nest, she tried to go into it with her, but that was spectacularly unsuccessful. They are both big girls. I wonder if I'll get an egg today from her!

edited to add: I forgot to say they have been getting fresh grated ginger over the weekend and again today - only when I'm giving them a warm barely wet mash which is only on days I don't work

daylight is increasing by a minute....daily.....solstice coming....

 

[armorfirelady]

ok I have a question regarding nipple waterers and freezing temperatures...

I know if you run any tubing for them they would likely freeze solid, but what about putting the nipples directly on a bucket or tank that has a deicer in it? would the warmer water keep the nipples from freezing solid?

I know LM used a water cup last year all winter and used an aquarium heater in the bucket. She didn't seem to have any problems that I can remember.

I think those of us further north that it wouldn't work because our temps are below freezing so much. I would think the springs in the cups or the nipples would freeze regardless. But I actually haven't tried them so I don't know for sure.

 

[Scott H]

I got another one night before last and last night this showed up.....



Trap wasn't baited...I was hoping I was done with this....

Game cams are also good for capturing chicken moments when you aren't around. Here's Oprah last spring feeling her oats ....

 

[delisha]

Quote:
Next year I am going to get a pond deicer and switch to nipple waters during the winter..Since I water outdoors I never worried about..but I will have more show stock next winter and I will start my breeding pens earlier. Work and plans are never done..I love chicken keeping..

 

[ki4got]

Maybe I could knit wattle & comb cover & make my millions for those in cold climates? It might be the new chicken diapers rage

LOL you got my gears turning!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

What I found out about frost bite this morning.....

Quote:

Quote:
Take pain medication if necessary. If you’re suffering superficial to severe frostbite, the rewarming process may be painful. To prevent further suffering on your part, take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. However, do not take aspirin. Follow the bottle instructions for dosage amounts.

Doesn't say why no aspirin....

Quote: I'm going to sprinkle the pepper stuff on their feed. I was thinking of it anyway, but this is just another reason to do it.
The aspirin thing, I agree it is most likely not recommended for blood thinning reasons. A bloody comb would get more and more frostbitten. Also as the other posted said the bleeding could be hard to stop without as much clotting to it. Then again if you feed your chickens alfalfa, it should help increase their clotting as it is high in Vit K.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: ON NIPPLE WATERERS:

I would absolutely NOT USE THEM IN WINTER! Again, my opinion...but here's why:

I tried nipple waterers for awhile. I tried 2 different kinds to be sure it wasn't just associated with one particular type/brand.
When the chickens trip the nipples, a lot of water drops - more than they are drinking. When the post is pushed or nudged, it opens it and water drops - getting all over the wattles of the chicken as their head is upturned to get the water. Also has the potential of dripping down the front of the chicken depending on the angle at which they access it.

Additionally, the ground was always wet under them due to this issue.

Based on my experience with them, I think they would likely ADD to the frostbite issue on wattles.