Flock Focus Friday, 1/3/14

We’ve been battling harsh winter elements this week, from freezing rain to snow and bitterly cold temperatures, the likes of which we have not experienced in years. We welcomed two new chicks, which hatched on New Year’s Day. The flockers are holding up well to the cold and snow that fell later in the week, but the roosters have been fending off frostbite with all their might.

Blaze, (Black Copper Marans rooster) shows signs of mild frostbite on his comb and wattles.

Mr. Chicken Chick laughs at me nightly as I don my spelunker headlamp and trudge out to the coops, Eucerin cream in hand, to slather up the roosters’ combs and wattles. After dark is the best time to treat chickens for any purpose including frostbite, checking feet for bumblefoot or external parasites. If you don’t have a headlamp, I highly recommend acquiring one. Disregard any heckling from the family.

This is the first Black Copper Marans chick that hatched on New Year’s Day. If you missed the hatch live, you can catch the recording here.

My Blue Splash Marans, Windy, was featured in Hobby Farms Magazine this week, much to her dismay, it was not her most flattering photo. She’s my bumblefoot frequent-flyer, but is in good shape today.

Her agent called and insisted on the inclusion of this photo of Windy’s better side.

The view from the hatchway to the house this morning. The shovel awaits the next heaping mess of snow that’s on its way later tonight.

Rachel (Bantam Cochin Frizzle) enjoys some frozen grass while Blaze (Black Copper Marans) stands guard. That’s love.

What’s up, Doc? Doc Brown is a White Crested Black Polish hen. She’s a sweetie.

Penny. Poor Penny, molting hard at the worst of all possible times of the year. She’s holding up with plenty of friends surrounding her on the roost at night and in feathered huddles during the way when necessary. Penny is an Olive Egger.

Thanks for joining me and have a great week!

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

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We’ve been battling harsh winter elements this week, from freezing rain to snow and bitterly cold temperatures, the likes of which we have not experienced in years. We welcomed two new chicks, which hatched on New Year’s Day. The flockers are holding up well to the cold and snow that fell later in the week, but the roosters have been fending off frostbite with all their might.

Mr. Chicken Chick laughs at me nightly as I don my spelunker headlamp and trudge out to the coops, Eucerin cream in hand, to slather up the roosters’ combs and wattles. After dark is the best time to treat chickens for any purpose including frostbite, checking feet for bumblefoot or external parasites. If you don’t have a headlamp, I highly recommend acquiring one. Disregard any heckling from the family.

This is the first Black Copper Marans chick that hatched on New Year’s Day. If you missed the hatch live, you can catch the recording here.

My Blue Splash Marans, Windy, was featured in Hobby Farms Magazine this week, much to her dismay, it was not her most flattering photo. She’s my bumblefoot frequent-flyer, but is in good shape today.

Penny. Poor Penny, molting hard at the worst of all possible times of the year. She’s holding up with plenty of friends surrounding her on the roost at night and in feathered huddles during the way when necessary. Penny is an Olive Egger.