BB Red	Silkie	First egg/silkie	Guinea	Guinea	Guinea  vs Silkie
Peafowl	Turkey	Quail	Emu	Emu vs chicken

frostbite~the black areas show the damage	frostbite on wattles	frostbite is seen with taller combs and wattles that can hang in water when drinking

This chick has been raised on wire, with a heat lamp  on the top of wire. The cage was in a draft free outside barn.   Temps did dip down in the - digits wind chill			could this possibly be another case of frost bite? feet are leathery looking and feeling, Chick can still stand. upper part of leg is normal and warm to touch.

The Kickstand

kickstand description

 

1. Cut a small piece of cardboard (cereal boxes are a good supply of cardboard) about 2 1/2" square.  (This is just an approximate measurement.  You will need to adapt the size to the size of your keet.)

2. Fold one edge of the cardboard to form it into an 'L' shape.  The base of the 'L' should be at least 1/2".  I don't know if "more is better" - 1/2" worked for me.

3. Measure your cardboard against the side of the keet to be sure that the top edge will be in the keet's "armpit" when he is standing.  (The "top edge" would be the long unfolded edge.)

4. Trim off any extra height of the cardboard so it can fit comfortably under the keet's wing without "jacking him up" on one side.

5. Use a something like a knitting needle to poke two holes through the cardboard. 

6. The first hole should be about 1/4" to 1/2" below the top edge of the cardboard, about in the center.

7. The second hole should be directly below it about 1/2" to 3/4".

8. Here comes the magic pipe cleaner again!  Use a whole pipe cleaner and thread it through the holes, so the two ends are sticking out the "back" of the 'L'

( side view would be kind of like this: =|_ )

9. Position the cardboard under the wing of the side your keet always falls toward.

10. Put one end of the pipe cleaner under his belly, and the other over his back.

11. Twist the two ends of the pipe cleaner together on the side of the keet that is opposite side from his "kickstand".

12. Adjust and adapt as necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

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Splayed legs

 

 

 

I use pipe cleaners, because they have that soft fluffy coating, but are strong and "shapeable". 

1. Cut a pipe cleaner in half. 

2. Bend it into the shape of a staple - before stapling. |_|  The middle section should be about the length of the distance between the keet's legs.  Don't get it too long or too short.  You should be able to "eye-ball" it - no need for micrometer measurements, here.  It is not a precise science.

3. Gently hold the keet upside down and position the pipe cleaner above one "knee" and fold down one side of the "staple".  Be careful not to squeeze the keet or the folded pipe cleaner.  It should be secure, but not tight.

4. Here comes the tricky part, since the keet will be squirming and uncooperative.  Position the other side of your staple above the "knee" of the other leg, and fold it into place.  Again, be careful not to squeeze it too tight, but make sure it will stay in place.