Worried about hens frostbitten combs

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cheekiechickie

cheekiechickie

Songster
5 Years
Mar 2, 2015
138
111
146
sw Iowa
We had a night and day where it dropped to -30, and rose to -18 the next day. The girls wouldnt come out so I moved the water into the coop... Bad idea. All 5 got some frostbite on their combs and or wattles. I brought them into a heated area until they heal and temp improves. But these two girls I am worried about.
400
Brandy has a flat wattle and the black goes down in the crevices, and I cant get the neosporin down there with out massaging.
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Cinderella has sores, discoloration and blackening, swollen and she has been very lathargic today. I am very worried about her. What do I need to do?
 
Every rooster I have with a comb has frostbite. A few of the hens do, as much as I would not like them to have it us in the northern climes have to learn to live with it.

They will be fine given time. Do not punish yourself too much. To me the moisture is worse than the cold, BUT that cold snap we just came out of did take a toll here.
 
I would suggest you move them back outside, indoor temperatures are too hot and is probably causing more stress to your birds and is the cause of their lethargy. That amount of frostbite is minimal and will heal up without any intervention. Your chickens should have water inside the coop, as some days can be too cold to go out in. We have had similar temperatures, frostbite on the points of combs is inevitable.
 
oldhenlikesdogs said:
I would suggest you move them back outside, indoor temperatures are too hot and is probably causing more stress to your birds and is the cause of their lethargy. That amount of frostbite is minimal and will heal up without any intervention. Your chickens should have water inside the coop, as some days can be too cold to go out in. We have had similar temperatures, frostbite on the points of combs is inevitable.
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Good point. the constant cold is better than the heat on them.


I wish my birds had the small amount of frost bite you have. I have CLB's that look like they have cushion combs now.
 
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Half my roosters have no more points on their combs, and my barnvelder rooster will lose half his wattles as well as his points.
 
I put them all back outside. They were quite happy to be back in their own nesting box. Cinderella still isn't as active as normal, but was out with the rest of them scratching the ground all day. Thank you all for calming my nerves and getting them back outside. They thank you too!
 
cheekiechickie said:
I put them all back outside. They were quite happy to be back in their own nesting box. Cinderella still isn't as active as normal, but was out with the rest of them scratching the ground all day. Thank you all for calming my nerves and getting them back outside. They thank you too!
Click to expand...

You are very welcome, no matter how cold they like the outdoors.. BUT that scary white stuff on the ground is another thing...
 
Just now going through this. I just found my silkie roo with the top 1/3 of his comb black and hard. I feel so bad because I really have been trying to keep an eye on it to prevent it. His comb had been so beautiful! I am sad that he will lose it. I just pray that he doesn't get sick and die.
 
I have and have had multiple roosters with frostbite, it won't kill them and except for less comb you won't be able to tell they had it in a few months.
 

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