Period chickens and frostbite

[JoceAndChris]

Poultry keepers - I think they need heating! I haven't heated mine this winter and am now dealing with frostbite and kicking myself for listening to mean husband who kept saying "they'll be fine". Frostbitten chickens are unlikely to lay or be fertile until they're all healed. Mine are getting oil filled radiators, running on extension leads from the garage, in their sheds tonight, and then throughout the rest of these sharp frosts.

If that's impossible then the general advice is change the perches so that they sit covering their feet, insulate the house as best you can and cover combs and feet with Vaseline.

Treatment of frostbite is to cut it off in extreme cases, but in most cases bits of comb will just fall off and your chicken will be fine, but just won't win any beauty prizes. But do watch out for infection as the others tend to peck at injured combs.

 

[tobydog]

So far so good although I doubt the chickens are thinking the same!! We've kept ours in their run because the snow was 8-10" and it made no sense having them out in that. They have plenty of straw in there and I've put big branches in there so they can sit off the ground. Water changed regularly as it freezes up very quickly. Tried leaving it in the house but they kept walking in it and tipping it over.

I think we're through the worst now. Jim (something to do with Blackadder Goes Forth and pigeons apparently :? ) is a leghorn with a big floppy comb and it looks okay. The chances of catching her and applying vaseline are pretty slim. Should be comparatively mild on Sunday.

I'll insulate their house better before next winter but, as Mrs. T pointed out, I need to finish our house as well!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I know, I've been meaning to insulate the sheds better for years. Then again, a well ventilated shed in the height of summer, or even damp, warmish days, is a boon as excessive moisture within can lead to respiratory disease. I think I'd just like them to be in a stone barn with mullions and appropriate opening casements, a good slate roof, plastered and limewashed on the inside, with running water, the option of heating and niches for nesting and a stone-flagged floor covered with a very thick layer of dust extracted wood shavings (just watch the straw in the summer Toby as it's the ideal breeding ground for parasites) That would be perfect.

If you end up having to treat that Leghorn's comb you'll have to do it in the dead of night when she's asleep! But with any luck the winter is nearly over, and what a great one it's been. No deaths, no disease, no attacks.

 

[Feltwell]

Joce, I really don't think it would take you long to do a basic & quick insulation job on your sheds and I'm sure it's a job you could tackle yourself. You can get foam insulation sheets in various sizes, but even if you went for the biggest 8' x 4' size they are very very light to handle, if a bit unwieldy! Similarly they are very easy to cut - an old handsaw, even a fairly blunt one, goes through them very easily indeed. Seconds & Co will have something suitable - even using a board as thin as 1" / 25mm will make a big difference to the chicken's comfort.

I have experience of a direct comparison of insulated vs uninsulated sheds - at my last house, I built a large shed that was split into 2 seperate sections, my workshop (which was insulated to fairly basic level) and a garden shed (which was not insulated at all). Despite being unheated the workshop always seemed warmer in winter, and without question was a lot cooler in the height of summer compared to the garden shed. I was surprised at just how much difference it made.

Of course I haven't got any jobs that I haven't got around to in Feltwell Towers :wink: . There's no kitchen drawer that's had no bottom for 3 years in my house. Or a big area of missing plaster on one wall of the kitchen. Or an window upstairs that desperately needs some putty before the glass parts company with it. Or a cracked shoe at the bottom of the drainpipe that's needed replacing for 2 winters.

Still, I put the notice board up that Mrs F asked me for this week - well, I put it up this week, she bought it when we moved in 5 years ago....

 

[Penners]

We've got two frozen chickens, too. They're in the freezer.

 

[Flyfisher]

Our hens seem to be happy enough with the weather and are keen wnough to come out in the mornings. They are all huddled together on their perches by the time I lock them up in the evening.

I reckon I'd be happy enough huddled up with a few birds for warmth in this weather as well.

 

[Penners]

I reckon I'd be happy enough huddled up with a few birds for warmth in this weather as well.

Take it from one who knows, FF - age is creeping up on you when you start having daydreams like that. :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: And I do think chickens are a great advertisement for a harem/communal type of life. How I'd love to share the duties!

Joce, I really don't think it would take you long to do a basic & quick insulation job on your sheds and I'm sure it's a job you could tackle yourself. You can get foam insulation sheets in various sizes, but even if you went for the biggest 8' x 4' size they are very very light to handle, if a bit unwieldy! Similarly they are very easy to cut - an old handsaw, even a fairly blunt one, goes through them very easily indeed. Seconds & Co will have something suitable - even using a board as thin as 1" / 25mm will make a big difference to the chicken's comfort.

I have experience of a direct comparison of insulated vs uninsulated sheds - at my last house, I built a large shed that was split into 2 seperate sections, my workshop (which was insulated to fairly basic level) and a garden shed (which was not insulated at all). Despite being unheated the workshop always seemed warmer in winter, and without question was a lot cooler in the height of summer compared to the garden shed. I was surprised at just how much difference it made.

Of course I haven't got any jobs that I haven't got around to in Feltwell Towers :wink: . There's no kitchen drawer that's had no bottom for 3 years in my house. Or a big area of missing plaster on one wall of the kitchen. Or an window upstairs that desperately needs some putty before the glass parts company with it. Or a cracked shoe at the bottom of the drainpipe that's needed replacing for 2 winters.

Still, I put the notice board up that Mrs F asked me for this week - well, I put it up this week, she bought it when we moved in 5 years ago....

Know how you feel, we still haven't insulated all the roof or done anything about, well, most structural things really. Just as well it's in good shape mostly, though I had said we'd organise a borehole this year and now I feel I'd sooner have Sheraton Revival dining chairs and table and a rug and blue Chinoiserie grandfather clock to match the pretty cabinet we just bought. I suppose one day it will be furnished and we can progress to ultra boring things like paving and moving the hot water tank.

But I must insulate as you instruct before next winter!

 

[Penners]

I do think chickens are a great advertisement for a harem/communal type of life. How I'd love to share the duties!

I feel I ought to run the idea past Mrs P before I start issuing any invitations.

 

[Lindsey]

I brought my hens in the night before it snowed, into an old brieze block building (and yes it's listed) but every time I go in to feed them, they look like they're waiting for a bus, or ive opened an occupied cubicle in the ladies loo.

 

[Penners]

they look like ... ive opened an occupied cubicle in the ladies loo.

You do realise that, to us men, that metaphor means absolutely nothing?!


Unless any of you chaps would care to own up to something...?

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

I know what she means though, that look of mingled outrage, horror and fear. And if you have a cockerel, he always says book BOOK book book book in completely disgusted tones at that point.

Mine are all snuggled up with radiators and electric fences encircling now. We love electricity.

 

[Penners]

Why the radiators? Can't they warm themselves on the electric fence?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Much more simple solution Joce; don't insulate the shed, insulate the chickens instead. I'm sure the'd look great in Cath Kidston morning jackets lined with bacofoil.

Of course, if they do get too cold, then in my experience chickens are best warmed throughly in an oven at gas mark 5!

 

[Penners]

if they do get too cold, then in my experience chickens are best warmed throughly in an oven at gas mark 5!

But still wearing the little Bacofoil jacket.

 

[philpjuk100]

After -10c on friday night Blanch decided to spend last night in the kitchen,she tried to buy a sack of corn from ebay but did not have a paypal account and they would not take eggs!.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, that's just adorable!!!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Not as adorable as my five Bresse chicks that hatched overnight and today... the start of a new business empire I hope!

5/6 is a good rate and is about average for my little incubator. I think it is mostly luck combined with 4.6bn years of evolutionary product refinement. Either that or am I an omnipotent creator sky-fairy!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Oh and Joce, please don't get ideas from Phillip's picture of providing your chickens with wifi access in their shed! 8)

 

[JoceAndChris]

No, but I might send a carrier pigeon to Blanche to let her know she ought to be clicking on the "Buy It Now" button for the Gypsy Daydream hen house by Flyte So Fancy.

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/The_Gypsy_Daydream.html

As for your gorgeous little Bresses, they need something more French, maybe this?

But that's very exciting Robin!! Can we have some pics?