Roo's frostbite has gotten worse - possibly infected...

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HappyPlace

HappyPlace

Chirping
8 Years
Jul 31, 2011
130
4
93
Middle of the Mitten
I made a thread a bit ago (maybe a couple weeks?) because my little roo was getting frostbite on his comb. I have been putting Bag Balm on his comb to help him heal and kind of insulate and even though it wasn't really getting better, it wasn't getting worse, so I just kept up with it. Now, it seems to be getting infected.

Part of the back of his comb turned black (and some of it did fall off), and two of his points were black but now, it looks like under the black part and on most of his points, his comb looks yellow. He's still eating, drinking and still mating with his hens, but he looks a little worse for wear anyways...

Is there anything I could/should do for him now? I'm tempted to stop using the balm for a bit and just clean him up and see if that helps...

Is there anything to help the infection? I would REALLY appreciate advice on this...
 
The black part falling off is pretty normal. The yellow may not be an infection unless it is oozing. If you think it is an infection put some neosporin or even store brand triple antibiotic petroleum jelly based ointment on it.
 
I had my dad look at my roo and he thinks it's just the comb adjusting. In light, the yellow parts look a bit more white and he says it's just what happens so that the black parts can finish falling off. I hope he's right. If it gets any worse, we're going to do "surgery"....
sad.png


I'm wondering if anyone has anything to say about this? Does anyone else think he's right?
 
I agree with your dad and scratch n peck. I'm sure it's just the good part of the comb but still watch it. Cutting the comb off is also called dubbing. You can google it and read about it too.

Some people are so against dubbing when there isn't a reason for it but if there is a reason like this one then it's acceptable.

If worse comes to worse you can get some pen-G for him and it should take care of the infection if it actually is an infection.
 
The yellow is probably serous fluid under the skin, but not an infection. That fluid is filled with white blood cells trying to clean up the damaged/destroyed cells. The quickest way to get him better is to do straight betadine/iodine washes to the affected areas twice a day, and forgo using any ointments until it completely dries up.

Frostbite has several stages it goes through
-frozen stage- when you realize that it has happened; looks painful with blackened and brown burned areas;blisters start forming
-weepy stage- blisters are everywhere; oozing skin is often present; swelling and pain are evident; blackened ares are now very present and look really bad; prone to bleeding and injury
-repair stage- everything starts to dry up; blackened areas start to wither up; scabs form; damaged areas take on a calloused appearance
-aftermath- any areas too damaged will dry up and slough off; overall healing occurs

It sounds like your roo is in the weepy stage, which looks awful and lasts the longest. Careful when you handle his comb because it is probably very tender and fragile right now.

You should also look at the ventilation in your coop. Frostbite can often be prevented with proper ventilation. Not always, but often.

Good luck.
 
CMV, your post kind of confused me... He does have the black on the tips of his comb and there is the whitish-yellow just under that, but he doesn't have any blisters or open wounds at all. There's no swelling and while he doesn't LIKE me handling his comb, he's pretty accepting of it. His comb is still pretty pliable, too. Does this mean it's better or worse than what usually goes on?

The coop is ventilated pretty well. I don't think it's that. He actually seems to get worse on really cold, wet days, but short of locking him in the coop in a cat carrier (the coop has an open pop door), I don't know what to do.
hmm.png
I think it's just because he has such a large comb and this is his first winter.
 
Hm. When my rooster had frostbite, it was pretty much just two stages: 1) Turn black. 2) Fall off.

He started out with one of those tall pointy combs and ended his life with a smooth one.

CMV said:
The yellow is probably serous fluid under the skin, but not an infection. That fluid is filled with white blood cells trying to clean up the damaged/destroyed cells. The quickest way to get him better is to do straight betadine/iodine washes to the affected areas twice a day, and forgo using any ointments until it completely dries up.

Frostbite has several stages it goes through
-frozen stage- when you realize that it has happened; looks painful with blackened and brown burned areas;blisters start forming
-weepy stage- blisters are everywhere; oozing skin is often present; swelling and pain are evident; blackened ares are now very present and look really bad; prone to bleeding and injury
-repair stage- everything starts to dry up; blackened areas start to wither up; scabs form; damaged areas take on a calloused appearance
-aftermath- any areas too damaged will dry up and slough off; overall healing occurs

It sounds like your roo is in the weepy stage, which looks awful and lasts the longest. Careful when you handle his comb because it is probably very tender and fragile right now.

You should also look at the ventilation in your coop. Frostbite can often be prevented with proper ventilation. Not always, but often.

Good luck.
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