frozen feet? please help

[what did I do]

I would keep all the chickens in the coop until the cold passes - I take it that it is colder than normal. If you can warm up the coop alittle it might help. You dont want it too warm but just enough to thaw the feet. She should stay in the coop until the snow is gone if you can - mine stayed in on her own. Let nature take its course - it isn't pretty! You will know if you need to put her down but give her a chance. Her toes most likely will turn black and fall off but don't get too excited over it. If she can't stand, put her down.

Last year I had one who froze her feet, she is doing well this year. She had a strange accident on our first below 0 day. She spent the winter in the coop and in the spring part of her toes fell off. All has been well since. She raised our first chicks this past fall and did a very good job of it in the cold.

 

[centrarchid]

If tissue frozen, then it will be lost. My birds are exposed with minimal protection to very cold conditions without frost of toes. Something is a contributing factor.

Is hen otherwise sick or thin?

Were feet somehow damaged prior to cold spell?

 

[gina4animals]

I also have a rooster that got frozen feet - We had severe weather (-10) about 2 weeks ago and they were frozen solid and swollen to 3 x their normal size. I brought him inside to warm up and then put his brother with him. Since that time, his toes are all black and basically dead. They don't move and look like dried up leather.

After being inside for awhile, I put the two brothers out in the barn but with access to a large dog crate with a heat pad, water and food. They can go in and out but are away from the general population - so they don't get picked on.

The roo with the bad feet is able to hobble, but that is about it. I was going to put him down, but he doesnt seem to be in pain, and more than that - his brother is very bonded to him, and stays by his side. He even protects him if other chickens come around and try to get funny with them. So now I feel like I have to keep them both together as they are so bonded. I won't put him down unless it is apparent that he can't feed himself or if his brother can't or won't protect him. I will attempt to put him back with the others in the coop when the weather gets a bit better.

This happened inside the coop which has a heat lamp but I think he didn't roost in the right area - instead of up above he stayed down on the cold floor. Since that time, I have made sure to put a thick layer of wood chips for those that don't go up to roost.
I noticed one of my hens also has one black foot - but she seems to be doing okay with just the one bad one.

I will post pictures tomorrow as soon as my camera battery gets charged up again.

I am curious if anyone has had experience with what happens after the toes fall off - how on earth will they walk on "stumps"?

Also, if anyone else has to bring one chicken inside (with frozen feet or whatever) I would bring a mate in with them, if they have one as this will help them stay happy and also help when reintroducing them back to the flock.

 

[centrarchid]

I have a gamecock about 4 years old that lost the last phalanges and claw of all its toes. This occurred during his first winter as a stag so he has dealt with it for three years now. Mobility is not what it would be otherwise and he has reduced ability to scratch for eats but otherwise he is thriving. Frostbite in his case was result of fighting through wire followed by cold snap of -10 F weather plus windchill. Additionally most of his comb and wattles where also frozen off.

I have yet to bring in a bird with frostbitten feet. Rather I confine the bird over something dry like straw and keep bird in good nutritition.

In every case I have had birds get frostbite, they were stressed by something in addition to cold. Stress could be sickness, combat wounds (cock above), or inability for bird to get out of direct wind and stand on dry surface that does not conduct heat too rapidly.

 

[gina4animals]

Good point -The stress in my case was due that they were new to the flock and probably did not feel at home to roost with the rest of them (and keep warm that way). They were on the floor - which has since been lined with more wood chips....

 

[centrarchid]

New birds may not be eating as well in addition to not keeping to warmer locations in coop.

 

[mulelover1999]

No she is not sickly or thin. She always get her ration of food. She can run walk jump and everything in between. Her feet aren't black.

 

[centrarchid]

Closer pic of feet needed. Something other than frostbite going on. Scales look raised. Has bird spent lots of time with wet feet or standing in feces.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

My rooster had 1 frozen toe on his right foot this AM. I think it all started in the Run yesterday. Temps were -5 to -10 F. But they wanted out. good 4-6 inches thick Hay cover out there too. Toe was noticably larger. And he wasn't scratching "right" with it in the coop. I have 3 inches of shavings in their coop where they were this morning scratching at BOSS. I didn't let them out this morning due to -22 F. I had the heat lamp on last night, even, and still -4 F inside the coop this morning. Cold Cold Cold out. I got him in and soaked his feet in my laundry tub in luke warm water, not hot, for about 5 minutes. Then I sat down with him and my vaseline (for massage purposes and started a gentle massage of his foot pad down into his affected toe and pads and then his whole foot and other toes included about 10-15 minutes to help with circulation. The toe darkened in color (darker yellow not black) and he was able to curl it around my finger after the massage. Thank goodness. if those feet are frozen solid, do this slowly and gently. I think results with this can vary.

I debated the dog kennel but I did put my Roo back in the coop to minimize his stress. But I placed him on the roost nearest the heat lamp, next to his best fuzzy girl. Deepening litter tomorrow in Run and Coop and more massage for him whether he needs it or not.

 

[gina4animals]

Here is my roo with the frostbitten feet - it has been about 2 weeks since they got frozen.