Rooster with frostbite concerns

[KobeFarms]

My 8 month old Bielefelder rooster has frostbite. Theres no doubt. Wattle and comb are turning black. We've had over a week of below freezing temps and many days below 20 degrees. I struggled to keep water from freezing and probably made the mistake of placing water in their coop, therefore causing humidty etc and resulting in the frostbite. My concern though is his feathers. He looks like hes molting but hes too young for that. He looks as if hes lost half his body weight. He has no bald spots but hes covered in fluff instead of his usual feathers. Is this a result of the frostbite or could it be dehydration? Should I worry? Warmer temps are headed this way and we should have a week of 40-60 degree temps but itll be raining. Ive rain guarded the coop/run to keep mud to a minimum and keep food dry. Bedding is fresh and dry and I added hot water to dethaw any frozen water in their water jug system. Anyway, just wondering if I should do anything more.

 

[KobeFarms]

His diet is pretty much what most feed when they have a layer flock with a rooster. You also can feed an all flock 21% feed, but you would need to make sure the hens have access to crushed oyster shell for the extra calcium that layer has.

I keep extra oyster shell for them now but I do want to go up to a 21% feed

 

[Eggcessive]

His diet is pretty much what most feed when they have a layer flock with a rooster. You also can feed an all flock 21% feed, but you would need to make sure the hens have access to crushed oyster shell for the extra calcium that layer has.

 

[Eggcessive]

So what do I feed a rooster that is seperate from my laying hens? How do I feed them separately? Do I need a whole separate coop for my rooster?

I have never separated one for a different feed. Most of us either allow our rooster to eat the layer feed, or put everyone on all flock/flock raiser with the extra oyster shell. I have done both, especially when there are different age birds or older non-layers.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is pretty severe frostbite. He will surely have a small comb and wattles later on. Do you have another rooster, or could he have been feather picked recently by the other chickens? I suspect he has been kept from food and water if he has lost weight. Or he could he suddenly gone into a stress molt if he has not been getting food or water. I’m no expert, but just making suggestions. Can you describe your coop and set up? Are they out of the wind inside the coop with some room overhead for air circulation?

 

[KobeFarms]

That diet isn't great for roosters/cockerels, or none laying chickens in general.

So what do I feed a rooster that is seperate from my laying hens? How do I feed them separately? Do I need a whole separate coop for my rooster?

 

[KobeFarms]

Can he get outside or stay out at night? I usually don’t see that severe of frostbite unless one gets wet with temps near zero. In fact I haven’t seen it that black. Does he have any bleeding around his comb? The hens certainly could have pecked at his comb. I would increase his protein, and spend time watching the hens behavior toward him. Has he been raised with them?

All raised together since 2 days old. Weve had temps below 10 for several days. They can come and go into the run via their small door on coop. Its possible he got wet from split water or just drinking. Ill be watching him close

 

[KobeFarms]

I have never separated one for a different feed. Most of us either allow our rooster to eat the layer feed, or put everyone on all flock/flock raiser with the extra oyster shell. I have done both, especially when there are different age birds or older non-layers.

Ok good, I was thinking the same

 

[MysteryChicken]

So what do I feed a rooster that is seperate from my laying hens? How do I feed them separately? Do I need a whole separate coop for my rooster?

The whole flock gets fed a 20% All Flock, or Flock Raiser feed, with oyster shells in a separate container, or feeder for the hens to supplement their own calcium. There's literally no need to feed separate diets.

Layer feed has primarily been formulated for High Production Laying Hens, like hybrids such as Isa Browns, other types of Red Sex-links, & Leghorns.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

All raised together since 2 days old. Weve had temps below 10 for several days. They can come and go into the run via their small door on coop. Its possible he got wet from split water or just drinking. Ill be watching him close

With sustained low temperatures, flesh can freeze even without excess humidity. If you want to keep chickens with big combs and wattles you need to provide supplemental heat. Since he’s already heavily frostbitten, it would be best to bring him into a warmer environment and get him some pain reliever from a vet.