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1. For drawing infection you may want to try triple antibiotic (Neosporin) ointment and Epsom salt. Grind the salt very fine in a mortar and add it to the ointment, and mix well. I use a 1 to 1 mixture. This has worked extremely well for drawing infection from critters as well as humans, including a couple of fairly impressive cases of blood poisoning (septicemia)

   Bandage it well, and leave it alone for at least 12 hours. Re-dress as needed, though I have found it does the job so well I’ve rarely had to re-treat, except in a couple of cases.

   This works well for drawing abcess from horse hooves too, and for that you don’t need to grind the salt.

2. Why is “cold cellar” in quotes, is it a simulated cellar? Our basement is to war, the barn too cold; if there was a shortcut I’m all ears.

3. Wow! I’m so totally impressed with everything yawl have done, I’m speechless. God bless you!

4. I’m trying to understand what caused the infection. Is it staying shut up? That was my first thought. My chickens do better in chicken tractors for many reasons. Some of the reasons may not apply to your area, since you probably live where it gets cold and the ground freezes. I have moved most of my chickens to the chicken tractors because our ground stays wet and winter it usually gets very wet and nasty. The chicken tractors enable the mess to be in the pasture and fertilize it, which is good, instead of harboring bacteria in a stationary pen. Of course, we don’t have to deal with frozen water dishes in the winter either, and it is warm enough that a wire cage is sufficient.

5. How high are your roosts? Bumble foot is caused by bruising which is caused by landing hard on the ground off of a high roost. I have had a few cases of this and left alone it has always healed it’s self. I use WD40 as a cure for scale mites. usually 2 to 3 applications 1 week or so apart does it.
   Been helping my neighbor bring in his corn, endless trips with the tractor and wagon from the field two miles to the bin and back again. Mind numbing….
   Shoulder is nearly healed, next week is the last of physical therapy. Finally back in the shop making a living again now that I have two useful arms.

6. 55 gallon barrels of water as heat sinks…what color are the barrels…..black would absorb more heat

7. We finished getting our winter garden planted this AM. Carrots, spinach, Turnips and Willet English garden peas. Next big project; build a small green house to get the spring and summer crops started early and then be able to transplant as soon as the ground heats up to 65 degrees in the spring. The Compost pile is doing well and should be ready by the middle of Feb. 2018. Talked to a older local farmer yesterday about my less than 2 year old laying hens slow down in egg production. He ? me about what I was feeding them and then recommended a change in my feed mixture. Said that would fix the problem. The wife and I were blessed with such a high producing garden this past summer that we were able to give to friends and family 50% of what came from the garden. Also spent the time to teach other family members how to garden and what to plant in their garden areas. By also showing them how to can their own garden bounty they will be more prepared in our next emergency. My sneaky way of turning them into preppers without them realizing it….. Have a blessed and safe winter.

   1. Depending on the breed, egg production can drop quite a bit after the first year and steadily drop every year there after. For egg layers I general will keep hens 3 years at the most. I have had several breeds that won’t lay eggs at all during the winter no matter how old they are.

      1. They may also be molting, and will start back later or in the spring.

8. I dried my cows up this week, and I am working to get prepared to do cheese. Doing some experimenting. Anyone made a cheese cave? I have an old fridge, and am thinking of using incubator parts to make it into a cheese cave.

   1. Rose, that would be an interesting article if you convert your frig into a cheese cave!!

9. Sorry you have had to do so much work to heal your chickens. Thank God for neem oil (it works for so many things). We can relate, these types of disturbances in any animal flock can consume a great deal of time and effort. Your detailed response shows an obvious concern and compassionate care for your animals.

10. I will keep everyone updated, especially if it works. I found articles on it online, so we are thinking through it. Keeping it cold in the summertime will be the real challenge for us, since we live in the south.

11. I’m having the same issues with my hens, most of which are less than two years old. I have a mix of Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, and White Leghorns; twelve in all, not counting a very gentlemanly… and huge… Orpington rooster. The ‘Reds and Orps always shut down during the summer (I live in a “low desert” area). The weather’s cooled of though, and they still aren’t laying. The leghorns laid right through the hottest days of summer (I’m talking 110*+ heat!), but stopped in mid-August. The only eggs I’m getting right now are from my two oldest birds, which are three years old. I’ve tried worming them, laying down DE, spraying for mites, and changing the feed. Nothing’s working. Any ideas out there?

    I got out the old, cantankerous, Troy-Bilt Horse and tilled up the winter garden plot. The crops will go in this weekend.

    I also did some work on the ham radio gear, hoping to avoid having to service that stuff during the rainy season.

    God’s blessings to all!

12. Except when our chickens are molting they lay all year up here in NW Montana.We just make sure they have at least 12 hours of light each day. We use led lights which don’t use much electricity as we are off grid at times. They do have an enclosed shelter which we shut down a night to help keep the warmth in.

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