Frostbite

[Sherri]

One of my girls has a slightly grey-tinged part of her comb.  They are very perky, and seem to be handling the cold well, but I'm wondering if this is from the cold.  If it is, what can I do?

[Beth M]

One of ours has that too so i put vasaline on their combs and waddles. They seem to enjoy it. 

Beth

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 26, 2013, at 1:09 PM, Sherri <gmes...@aol.com> wrote:

One of my girls has a slightly grey-tinged part of her comb.  They are very perky, and seem to be handling the cold well, but I'm wondering if this is from the cold.  If it is, what can I do?

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[Sherri]

I'll try that. 

Sherri Sachs

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from a furnace. - Aldo Leopold, 1949 - "February - Good Oak"

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[Jennifer Murtoff]

Frostbite is usually not a life-threatening issue. I'm sure it's not comfortable, though!

Vaseline is helpful. Just make sure the feathers don't get coated with it when they preen. That will reduce the insulating properties of the feathers 

Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting / My LinkedIn Profile

[Sherri]

Thanks.  That helps a lot.

[Jan Happel]

Are you sure it's not from molting?  I think the hens combs turn a little pale when they molt.  When they are fully-feathered the color comes back.  At least that's what I've experienced with all three.

---

From: Sherri <gmes...@aol.com>
To: chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: [chickens] Frostbite

[Sherri]

She shows no other signs of moult and she's laying 6 days out of 7 so I'm pretty sure that's not it.  Doesn't seem to bother her.

[Jennifer Murtoff]

Frostbite will affect the points of the comb first. 

If it's a patch of dry skin in the middle of the comb, it might be favus. 

[Sherri]

The very back of her comb.

[eliona]

I had a soft shelled egg today.

I washed it well to see if it was leaking. It is unbroken but very soft to the touch almost transparent.

Is it eatable?

I have been feeding the egg shells back to the chickens and in fact I was wondering if it was enough.

Apparently not, so I will buy them some oyster shells tomorrow.

I think it is from my almost 1 year old chicken.

They have been eating an organic layer, brew grain and all kitchen greens and fruits scraps.

They free range all day but I wonder if they can find enough pebbles in the snow and frozen ground.

Should I buy some grit too?

Are there any other problems I should look forward after this soft egg?

Thanks a lot in advance

Eliona

[Deborah Niemann]

Do you mean there is no shell and it is just the membrane? or is it a very thin shell? Thin shell would mean they need more calcium. No shell is just a misfire, which happens sometimes.

Deborah

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Deborah Niemann
author of Homegrown and Handmade (October 2011)
and Ecothrifty (September 2012)
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"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." -- Henry David Thoreau

[eliona]

Hi Deborah,

I dont really know what the difference is.

Is it possible to tell from the pictures?

Maybe a thick membrane?

---

From: Deborah Niemann <debora...@gmail.com>
To: chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: [chickens] Soft shell egg

[Deborah Niemann]

It looks like you are able to press the pencil into the egg. If that is accurate, then it is an egg without a shell, and you seeing the membrane that is normally inside the shell. Thick or thin, a shell is hard.

Deborah

[eliona]

I cut the membrane with a sharp knife and it looks like this....

---

From: eliona <elion...@yahoo.com>
To: "chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com" <chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 6:11 PM

[eliona]

Just a membrane right?

---

From: Deborah Niemann <debora...@gmail.com>
To: chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 6:12 PM

[Deborah Niemann]

Yes, it's just a membrane, no shell. I've only seen three or four of those ever, so they're pretty rare. I think there was someone on here last year, however, that had a hen that made a habit of laying them. I wouldn't worry about it at this point. It's probably a one-time thing.

Deborah

[eliona]

Thanks Deborah,

I will just go and get them some oyster shells and hope not to get any more squishy surprises :)

Would you eat an egg like that?

---

From: Deborah Niemann <debora...@gmail.com>
To: chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 6:25 PM

[Beth M]

Yeah, that was me. My rir almost always laid them. They were NOT rare in this coop. I could have a few per week. But i have yet to hear of anyone having a habitual hen doing this loke ours did. 

Beth

Sent from my iPhone

[Deborah Niemann]

There is nothing "wrong" with it, except that it has less protection from outside bacteria and other germs. At least it looks clean. I wouldn't eat it raw, but if it's cooked, I'd eat it.

Deborah

[Sherri]

I have had 2.  The first one accidentally squished in my fingers and the girls gobbled it up.  The seond one I managed to remove successfully.  They were very young layers then.

Sherri Sachs

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from a furnace. - Aldo Leopold, 1949 - "February - Good Oak"

-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Niemann <debora...@gmail.com>

[Todd Allen]

I agree with Deborah.  It's an egg without a shell and it very likely has nothing to do with the amount of calcium your hen is getting.  If you are getting thin  shells (firm shell that cracks easily) regularly, especially if they are occurring more often and getting thinner then you have a hen with a depleting calcium level and you should address it.

Regardless, crushed oyster shell is very inexpensive, won't go bad and it doesn't hurt to make some available all the time.  You don't need to mix it into your feed, just put it out in a separate feeder/bowl and when they need it they should seek it out.  The same for grit which can be put out with the oyster shell.

Our black star used to average 2.5 yolks per day when she began laying.  She laid a lot of double and triple yolk eggs, but on days she would lay separate eggs one or two would have no shells.  When they didn't have shells they were very rarely laid in the nest box.  And often they were broken or soiled.  But the nice clean ones we would bring in and immediately cook up, either for ourselves or for our dog if we weren't hungry.  I also washed lightly soiled ones and cooked them for our dog.  None of us ever got sick in any way from them. 

Very gradually her rate of laying slowed and now she's down to one egg every day and we no longer get eggs without shells from her.  We've had a couple other cases of hens laying eggs without shells and they were isolated incidents with hens that otherwise lay beautiful eggs.  I imagine there have been others that were eaten or popped out while free ranging, never to be found.

[eliona]

Thanks Todd,

Your black star is a champion.

I went to the brew grain place today.

When I left all 3 containers were a little more than half full.

The middles were still frozen but not hard frozen and by now should be scoop-able.

 

Thanks again

---

From: Todd Allen <speed...@gmail.com>
To: chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 9:41 PM

Subject: Re: [chickens] Soft shell egg

[Sherri]

It was nice to meet you there, Eliona!  Don't tell anyone I can't back up.

Sherri Sachs

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from a furnace. - Aldo Leopold, 1949 - "February - Good Oak"

[eliona]

It was very nice to meet you too.

My son asked me why you didnt come with us. He wanted to show you our chickens.

He is very proud of his chickens and everyone at the library when I take them for story time call him chicken boy...

I am glad you could find the coffee chaff and bags this time.

Coffee chaff is great and has made cleaning the chicken coop so much easier for me.

My chickens are out in the rain eating the brew grain.

I hope yours will like it too.

Turning the car is the only cons when getting the brew grain.

Once i scratched a little my car when doing so.

Hope to see you again soon.

All the best

Eliona

---

From: Sherri <gmes...@aol.com>
To: chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:23 PM

[eliona]

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change! 

JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road. 

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure (right from Day One!) that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me. 

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here. 

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun? 

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road. 

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of road? 

AL GORE: I invented the chicken. 

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it. 

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need more black chickens. 

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems. 

OPRAH: Well, I understand that this chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so badly. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens. 

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road. 

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks. 

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American. 

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No bird gave me any insider information about crossing. 

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told. 

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone. 

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why a chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough. 

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it had experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road. 

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road. 

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens crossing roads together. 

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 2008, which will not only cross roads, but will integrate with those that lay eggs. Henhouse Explorer is an integral part of eChicken 2008. This new platform is much more stable than previous versions. 

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road pass beneath the chicken? 

---

[Sherri]

I just got back from putting vaseline on their combs.  Poor Miss Rose's comb will never be the same.  The grey has now turned black but she lets me put vaseline on it and doesn't seem uncomfortable.  I tried to talk them into going inside early but they weren't interested.

[Jennifer Murtoff]

Yes, she'll lose that part of her comb. 

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[Sherri]

She'll still be beautiful to me.  But I'm glad I've been coating Miss Nellie's comb since I noticed that.  Thanks, everyone, for the advice. 

Sherri Sachs

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from a furnace. - Aldo Leopold, 1949 - "February - Good Oak"

-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Murtoff <mur...@gmail.com>
To: chicago-chicken-enthusiasts <chicago-chick...@googlegroups.com>

[Kathleen Gardiner]

One of our girls developed a white spot on her comb as well.  We put vaseline on it today.  Should we just put vaseline on all of their combs and waddles? 

[Corey Gilson]

My BC Marans lost a tip of one of the points on her comb, but it grew back the next summer...  Sounds like the injury on your girls is more substancial, though.  :-(

 

Corey

[Sherri]

That's what I'm doing.  But Miss Rose is named for my Mother so a rakish air suits her.

[Beth M]

Grease 'em up. I pit a fair amount on, all over combs and waddles. Easy to do in the dark w a flashlight. They r pretty calm when roosting. As jen said, red parts only, no feathers. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Tammy Stams]

I have not used Vaseline on my hens combs or waddles and have not experienced frostbite yet.  A couple of them have large combs. Is it most likely that eventually they will get frostbite? Tammy

Sent from my iPhone

[Kathleen Gardiner]

I was wondering the same thing..I was surprised to see that white spot since it's a small comb, and I don't think humidity is an issue in the coop.  Is frostbite always likely or inevitable when temperatures are this low?

[Beth M]

We have never had frostbite issues but do have ahen with some issues.  It got humid a few days ago which may have complicated issues.  I have greased my girls up again just in case. Doesn't hurt them or you.

[Deborah Niemann]

Frostbite is not inevitable. I am highly suspicious of the housing situation of the chickens that get frostbite because our hens don't get it, and we usually have 25-50. A rooster might get a touch of frostbite on the very tips of a large single comb, but that's not consistent. Some hens did get it our first two winters out here, which was when our chickens were housed in our barn. The barn is 100 X 30, and although it is far from air tight, we always closed all the doors and windows in the winter our first couple years. I don't really think we humans are very good at determining humidity levels. With the chicken house, we leave a window (or two) open all the time, and the door is open during the day.

Deborah

On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:31 PM, Kathleen Gardiner <kathleeng...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was wondering the same thing..I was surprised to see that white spot since it's a small comb, and I don't think humidity is an issue in the coop.  Is frostbite always likely or inevitable when temperatures are this low?

On Feb 1, 2013 6:27 PM, "Tammy Stams" <tammy...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

I have not used Vaseline on my hens combs or waddles and have not experienced frostbite yet.  A couple of them have large combs. Is it most likely that eventually they will get frostbite? Tammy

Sent from my iPhone

[Beth M]

deborah, my scientific way of knowing the humidity levels were high (other than stalking tom skilling) is the fact that I did not itch and my nose wasn't bleeding.  It had been so dry that the resent humidity was a shock.

One of my girls has frostbite for the first time in 3 years.  We have a ton of air circ since they prefer to sleep out in the run.  We put up plastic more as wind buffers than to make it warm.

Beth

[Deborah Niemann]

I was referring to the humidity level in the coops. I know there have been times that water was dripping off the inside of the roof of our barn, and I didn't think it was humid in there, but all that water dripping would indicate otherwise. Between animal's respirations, warm water, and warm urine/feces, there is the potential for a lot of humidity in animal housing, which is why every book and article talks about "good ventilation." Number of animals in a space would also affect the humidity level in the coop.

Given all that, however, I wouldn't get too worried if there was only one bird in a flock of six or seven or more that got frostbite. Frostbite is also all about lack of blood flow to the affected areas, so some individual animals will be more susceptible than others.

And for those of you who have had a bird with a frostbitten comb, I know it looks pretty dreadful right now, but in a couple months, the black part will be gone, and you might not even be able to tell that chicken had frostbite.

Deborah

[Kathleen Gardiner]

We have a small vent toward the top of the coop, but maybe I'll crack a window as well.  Thanks!  This hen's comb has been pretty pale since her molt, so I might be overreacting.

[Todd Allen]

I discovered an ugly black patch on one of our hens' combs yesterday.  I was puzzled because our hen house barely went below freezing the previous night and they have spent the last couple days in our hoop house after being stalked by a hawk for the preceding three days. 

But then I noticed a mud pit along the back wall where rain from the preceding day had soaked through.  A warm damp sponge cured the black patch on the comb.