The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

I mentioned a rooster got out last night didn't I? Got him back in 24 hours later. Bad frost bite. He will lose the tips of his toes (and nails) and much of his comb. He doesn't seem phased at all like Margaret was... When he got on the roost I could hear his frozen toes clanging against the boards. You can feel the difference in the areas that are starting to die. It is cold and the live tissue is warm. I'm not sure how else to explain it.

Henry helped me round him up. Such a good boy!

I was wondering how he was doing and if he was back in the barn yet. Glad to hear he is back and sorry about his frostbite. will you please post pics when you get the chance if you can?

And I know a couple of weeks ago we were joking about puting hats on roosters.....this was posted by vicktoriacl on another thread about frostbite....

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am joining in too!!!! I am from Northwest, OH!!!!

Quote:
On the feed set-up...This is what I had hastily put together the other day that caused the frostbite but I have revised it some. The feed that you see around the edges is just on the edge of the bowl. What I did was put the heater unit back in that bowl (I was using it with the tin lid as a base warmer). On the base warmer it was just too cold to keep the ff thawed since only the bottom of the bowl was sitting on it.

So I put one of the bases back in the bowl to experiment with and am trying it like I do the waterer. I filled the bowl with GRIT, then put water in the grit to transfer the heat to the glass pan that I sit on top of it. That allows the edges of the glass pan to set down into the grit/water mix with less sideways exposure to the cold.

It is experimental..but seems to be working okay. Jury is still out on whether I'll revert to the base tin-top heater or not.

 

[aoxa]

I was wondering how he was doing and if he was back in the barn yet. Glad to hear he is back and sorry about his frostbite. will you please post pics when you get the chance if you can?

And I know a couple of weeks ago we were joking about puting hats on roosters.....this was posted by vicktoriacl on another thread about frostbite....

I'll get some pics this weekend. Going up to +6C. Can't be bothered to convert, but that's around 40 I believe.












I can't remember the last time I posted photos of Henry, so here you all are

 

[Leahs Mom]

To clarify on the frostbite on the wattles...
I try to set up all bowls that have anything wet - water, ff - so that they have a restricted opening of sorts so that they aren't dragging wattles through the wet and getting frostbite. Goal is that wattles hang on the outside of the bowls, not hanging in the bowls.

I didn't have the restriction fixed on that bowl when I hastily set it up and that day was all it took.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Henry is so loveable! I don't remember your other dog's name?

 

[Scott H]

Henry is beautiful! My wife wants one of those!

 

[lalaland]

On the feed set-up...This is what I had hastily put together the other day that caused the frostbite but I have revised it some. The feed that you see around the edges is just on the edge of the bowl. What I did was put the heater unit back in that bowl (I was using it with the tin lid as a base warmer). On the base warmer it was just too cold to keep the ff thawed since only the bottom of the bowl was sitting on it.

So I put one of the bases back in the bowl to experiment with and am trying it like I do the waterer. I filled the bowl with GRIT, then put water in the grit to transfer the heat to the glass pan that I sit on top of it. That allows the edges of the glass pan to set down into the grit/water mix with less sideways exposure to the cold.

It is experimental..but seems to be working okay. Jury is still out on whether I'll revert to the base tin-top heater or not.

ah, that explains it. thanks!

 

[LoveChickens123]

Hi may i Join???

 

[lalaland]

I'll get some pics this weekend. Going up to +6C. Can't be bothered to convert, but that's around 40 I believe.



I can't remember the last time I posted photos of Henry, so here you all are

He's gotten so big! and still adorable

 

[lalaland]

Hi may i Join???

Heck, yes!!! welcome!