Frostbite on Rooster's Wattles?

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MesMama

MesMama

Songster
6 Years
Apr 22, 2015
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Iowa
We've been doing al we can to prevent our Wellie rooster from getting frostbite, applying Vaseline every night and our coop has decent ventilation (no condensation on the windows? So, I'm in Iowa and it's -11* actual temperature:O And his wattles feel frozen even! The tips of his comb definitely have frostbite :( Totaly bummed because he's a beautiful boy BUT it's just a comb. I just don't want it to get infected. I brought him inside in the coolest area in here. What should I do for him at this point? I don't want to make him sick by being inside either. We are supposed to have a high of 6* today :/

ETA-I did read through several threads about frostbite ;) Just not sure what I should do at this point? Leave him inside? He's not liking the dog kennel :| So may just have to put him back out?
 
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I'm in the same boat here in Kansas. We got down to -10 last night. I think my coop ventilation is good. I never notice condensation. I think my guy got water on his wattles that flash froze. He's inside my house now, and the wattles have thawed. But the color looks bad. This is my first year with chickens and I feel like I'm failing. I'm curious to hear if we should keep our birds inside and worry about reacclimating them once they're healed. It's supppsed to be above freezing during the day here beginning on Tuesday.
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@High Prairie That's how my guy's wattles look too although there are white areas on the front side :( Do they lose their wattles on the areas that are frostbitten? He's been inside for 20-30 minutes and his wattles are warm again, so I'm like ?? What now.

His comb too, gonna lost the front 3 tips at least :(
 
MesMama

Does your guy's wattles look like mine? I'm not sure what to do either as far as leave him in or put him back out. I've put Vaseline on, and the wattles have thawed.
 
We are in the same situation here in northern WI, -19 this morning and -35 wind chill. I have good ventilation too, but my boys are suffering too. I grease everyone up with veterinary balm at night and close off the coop. I read that nature has a way of dubbing our birds for us and the first winter is the hardest. We just have to do our best to keep our birds comfortable. Here's my big boy Cuddles and his frostbitten wattles.
 
@High Prairie Also I wanted to encourage you :) You're doing a good job, some things just happen and despite our best efforts there's only so much we can do and I feel like frostbite is one of those things :/
And I have another roo, he's a BO big beautiful man hehe! And he lost all the points on his comb before I got him and he's a great rooster, doesn't affect anything at all. That being said-still want to do what I can to avoid it and do the right thing for my young guy
 
I brought my roo inside overnight for observation to make sure he could eat and drink, since his wattles were so big and heavy his mouth was hanging open. He ate good and drank, so the next morning I applied the goop to his comb and wattles and put him back in the coop. My husband wouldn't let me keep him in another night, because he was crowing at 6am, and we don't get up till 8am most days.
 

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