Raising chickens is a great way to get free eggs, an all-natural alarm clock, and lots of animal friends in your backyard.How do these land birds get through winter?Chickens will live in year round if they have adequate housing.If some of your chickens insist on rolling in the snow or get frostbitten, there are proven methods to treat this condition.
Step 1: Know the dangers posed by cold weather.
It's not a big deal for your chickens to get frostbite, but it can lead to a lot of health issues.Reduced mobility and decreased fertility can be caused by frostbite.The effects on fertility are temporary.A rooster with a reduced sperm count will be less interested in sex.There will be a reduction in egg production for hen that is suffering from frostbite.Once your chicken heals, sperm and egg production will return to normal.
Step 2: Chickens can experience the symptoms of frostbite.
The fleshly head-dressing and beard equivalent of frostbite develops on chickens' toes, comb, or wattle.Areas that are affected by frostbite can initially feel warm to the touch, but will later turn cold and hard.If you are wondering if your chickens are suffering from frostbite, look for the following symptoms: color changes, especially blue or black.There are blisters and swelling.An inability to stand.Disinterest in food or listlessness.
Step 3: Determine the degree of frostbite your chicken is facing.
Depending on the degree of frostbite your chicken is suffering, you can give them a variety of treatments.If there is any evidence of permanent damage to the chickens' body tissue, you should immediately treat them.1st degree frostbite can make your chickens' skin soft and warm to the touch.Hard, white skin that feels frozen to the touch is the result of 2nd degree frostbite.Chickens will start to suffer from swelling, blisters, and loss of sensation, but will usually not suffer significant tissue damage from 2nd degree frostbite.If you notice that your chickens are showing these signs, you should take steps to prevent the worsening of their frostbite.3rd degree frostbite can cause skin that feels hard and waxy to be blackened.There have been permanent tissue and nerve damage.
Step 4: It is important to recognize the severity of your chicken's frostbite.
frostbitten areas will fall off if they are treated too late.If free of infections, do not rush to treat frostbite that is not getting worse, as it may be protecting flesh underneath the affected area.As soon as you notice an illness, begin treatment.The affected area needs to be treated immediately.Chickens may peck at the injured ones if they are removed from other chickens.
Step 5: Do you know what not to do?
It is important to avoid making mistakes when treating chickens.Mild cases of frostbite will heal on their own.Don't massage frozen, frostbitten areas of the chicken for more severe cases.The chicken should not be exposed to sudden heat.This may cause more damage to the chicken.Don't break any blisters.This increases the risk of infections.
Step 6: The areas that are frostbitten should be washed.
Chicken flesh that is discolored and swollen may be frostbitten.They may not be able to stand if their feet are frostbitten.The swollen parts will feel warm if they are bitten.Bring the chicken inside, but leave it in the cold part of the house to make sure it warms up slowly.The affected areas should be washed with water and salt after the chicken has warmed up.Make sure the water is cold.Clean the area with paper towels.The chicken should be put in a box with plenty of towels and drinking water.
Step 7: If you have an infection, treat it immediately.
Getting rid of the infection is the first priority if you have a chicken that is sick.Consider applying an antibiotic after cleaning.There are antibiotic creams that are safe for birds at pet stores and farming suppliers.You can get antibiotics from your vet.The chicken should be kept in an area covered in newspapers.These papers should be changed daily.If the area doesn't heal in a week, you should allow a vet to trim it.
Step 8: The flesh needs to be removed.
If your chicken has feet that are cold, get a vet to help.You can remove pieces of your chicken's comb if they are sick.If you want to do it, you should get a clean, sharp pair of scissors, a scalpel, or a very sharp knife and wash it with alcohol or antiseptic.Rub alcohol on the area you will be cutting after cleaning the affected area.If you want to have someone hold your chicken, secure it.It's likely to scream.Take care to make a straight, decisive cut through the healthy flesh of the affected area.When the bleeding stops, apply a healthy amount of antibiotic or antiseptic and wipe the area with sterile cotton.Apply antibiotic cream twice a day for a few days.The blackened flesh should not be cut off.Cut off parts of the comb or wattle that have been bitten off.
Step 9: Carefully disassemble the bird to your flock.
You can keep a chicken isolated in an area that stays between 65-75 degrees for 24 hours.It should be kept in it's own cage with a heat lamp at one end.The healing process may take some time.Make sure chicken is eating well during their recovery.If there is still bleeding, don't bring the bird back to the flock.The chickens are likely to pick at the wound.After you have turned off the lights, return the bird to its home.As social parameters are re-established within the flock, the chance of fighting will be reduced.
Step 10: The deep litter method is used.
The deep litter method is an alternative to cleaning your chicken house once a week.A natural source of warmth can be provided by allowing an accumulate of manure and bedding to begin to break down.Simply add a new layer of bedding on top of the old one, instead of removing and replacing it.The fresh layer of bedding will absorb the chicken poop and warm it up.Chickens are less vulnerable to disease and certain parasites can be prevented by beneficial microbes that are inevitable products of composting.When you give the chicken a seasonal cleaning in the spring, you end up with a lot of compost ready to use in your garden.
Step 11: Ensure that you have enough shelter and warmth.
The size of your roosting bars, as well as the amount of heating you give them, all affect the likelihood of birds getting cold.Ensuring that your chicken shelter is safe is the best way to prevent frostbite.Thoroughly.It's important that you have a good ventilation system at the top of the coop.During the winter, the release of moist air that would otherwise build up inside the coop increases the likelihood of frostbite and infections.Don't heat the chicken house.It seems counterintuitive, but heating increases the chances of frostbite.If you see condensation, increase the amount of air you breathe.A wide roosting bar is needed.A roosting bar that is wide enough for your hens to perch on will help prevent frostbitten feet.There is a standard 2x4 board.
Step 12: Take into account the breed of chickens you want to raise.
Different types of chickens can survive the cold.People with small combs are less likely to get frostbite.Chickens are quite resistant to cold weather.You can choose a breed with small combs.If you live in a Northern latitude, you will want to raise chickens with small combs.Easter eggs, Buckeyes, Ameraucanas, and Wyandottes are included.Andalusians and Leghorns are breeds with large combs.roosters will be more vulnerable to frostbite as their combs and wattles are larger than those of hens.Chickens are known for their resilience in cold weather.Birds with large body mass are better suited for cold weather.Birds from the four breeds recommended above are included.
Step 13: Chickens are vulnerable to cold weather.
Applying a preventative coating to your birds exposed skin and making sure your chickens are able to stay dry can go a long way in keeping them healthy during the winter.There is a protective coating on combs.You have a variety of coating options.Coconut oil, petroleum Jelly, and Waxelene are all natural alternatives.After your chickens have roosted for the evening, apply the coating to them.Dry, damaged skin can be cleaned.Infections can be prevented by cleaning a chickens skin.There is a cleaning product that is safe to use on animals.Vetericyn is free of alcohol, steroids, and antibiotics.It's all-around animal skin care product is designed to clean scratches, skin rash, cuts, and irritated skin.Take care of your chickens.During the winter, make sure water is always available, but use containers that won't spill.If you want to prevent freezing, place the water where the sun will hit it, and float ping pong balls in it.Adding electrolytes to your chickens water supply is something you should consider.Adding a shot of your sports drink to their water supply will make you feel more team-oriented.