Cold snap warning

[jusdeb]

Probably no need to be saying this to most of you but just in case any of the youngins are not aware .....

With the recent warm weather bringing most of our hens into egg laying mode this cold snap can mean problems with young / old hens and egg binding .

Just a warning to keep an extra close eye on our feathered friends and if someone is missing dont assume they are in a nest safe and sound as they could be hiding somewhere and in trouble .

I already had a bit of a scare this morning , thankfully it was a false alarm.

[toothlessjaws]

thanks deb.

i just nursed back two very sick hens over the last 48hrs.

its amazing the benefits a bit of heat can to a to sick bird. i now bring a bird inside without second though at the tiniest sign of something odd.

[jusdeb]

Same TJ ...just not worth the risk and they usually bounce back very quickly if given heat early .
Hope your girls are OK .

[jusdeb]

And now I have the new Purple Crowns in the hot box ...yes hen is fluffed and breathing a bit hard for my likings . One minute she is fine the next not so fine .

Not at all happy .

[tonytoast]

Lost both Gouldian nests (2 x 2 youngsters) due to the cold snap....temps dropped below 6 degrees last night and I found two dead on the floor and two dead in the nest this morning....It has been suggested by other AFF'ers in the past that I should take the nesting boxes out on cold nights but to be honest, this is not always practical....

This was the last nest of the season, and a dismal season may I add, and I could see the disappointment in the parents faces....oh well, always next season.

[djb78]

This is the reason why my cordons and ruddies are still kept in the garage with plastic over the front, had to put heat lamp on the last 2 nights as they don't seem to like the cold. I am definitely thinking tomorrow cold liver oil will be added to seed as I have a few young Canary hens laying right now and don't want them to get egg bound. Won't be releasing my cordons and to about October as then the weather should be better. I'm glad that I don't have any young right now.

[arthur]

It has been suggested by other AFF'ers in the past that I should take the nesting boxes out on cold nights but to be honest, this is not always practical....

As one who advocates removal . . I agree

But steps can be taken to make it 'less impractical'

The 10 degrees/ 10 days rule is quite unbending, unfortunately

[jusdeb]

The 10 degrees/ 10 days rule is quite unbending,


Arthur could you please give more details on this 10 day rule . Ive never heard of it and am very curious .

[toothlessjaws]

DAMN IT! i went against my own philosophy and payed for it.

every morning i do a "hen check" where i count that all hens are present an not fluffy.

yesterday i found my remaining outside OB hen (the other is still recovering indoors with the TCPF hen) looked unwell. then she didn't. then she did again. it was not a particularly cold day and i decided that i would get home from work early and check on her before nightfall. if she was still looking dubious i would put her inside.

of course got home to find her dead.

what an idiot i am. i now have 3 cock OB's and just one hen!

bah!

[finchbreeder]

Think we have all done that at least once in out lives TJ. Better luck with those you do have inside.
LML