Another question about frostbite

[trista85]

Hello all, this is my first winter with hens and of course its been Arctic in Vermont for the last week, and its not looking any better! I have a mixed flock and all seem to be tolerating the subzero temps well except for my one Golden Comet. I was off work (until today) for the holiday and because she's always been kind of the odd one out I'm kind of attached to her so I pay more attention to her habits. Yesterday I did see her leave the coop and go out into the run but it was late in the day. In the mornings when I bring out fresh water and food she stays inside, she doesn't come off the perch. At first I thought maybe she was just waiting- but she stayed in most of the day. I'm at work today, but did notice when I was home at lunchtime to walk the dog she was inside, and the one wyandotte I have was sitting with her.
She's got some pretty sad looking frostbite on her comb, and now I'm wondering if maybe she's not feeling ok? At what point should I bring her inside to make sure she's ok?

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Hello all, this is my first winter with hens and of course its been Arctic in Vermont for the last week, and its not looking any better! I have a mixed flock and all seem to be tolerating the subzero temps well except for my one Golden Comet. I was off work (until today) for the holiday and because she's always been kind of the odd one out I'm kind of attached to her so I pay more attention to her habits. Yesterday I did see her leave the coop and go out into the run but it was late in the day. In the mornings when I bring out fresh water and food she stays inside, she doesn't come off the perch. At first I thought maybe she was just waiting- but she stayed in most of the day. I'm at work today, but did notice when I was home at lunchtime to walk the dog she was inside, and the one wyandotte I have was sitting with her.
She's got some pretty sad looking frostbite on her comb, and now I'm wondering if maybe she's not feeling ok? At what point should I bring her inside to make sure she's ok?

She COLD!! that's what they do when they are cold. Just sit around and try to keep warm. You should put some nice straw or something on the ground, so she can put her feet in it if she wants. For our chickens, I turn a heat lamp on them when it gets in the low teens.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I had a Golden Comet do the same thing last winter. She made it through the winter OK, but she was more docile after that and became known as the beak cleaner for she would be always cleaning all the other hens beaks.

 

[trista85]

She COLD!! that's what they do when they are cold. Just sit around and try to keep warm. You should put some nice straw or something on the ground, so she can put her feet in it if she wants. For our chickens, I turn a heat lamp on them when it gets in the low teens.

I heard that sometimes they will try and eat the straw though? She seemed ok last night, and also this morning so I think I'm just being a worrier

 

[Jemma Rider]

I heard that sometimes they will try and eat the straw though? She seemed ok last night, and also this morning so I think I'm just being a worrier

You might not want to use straw, i had in my coop for a week and two of my hens and my adorable baby rooster got crop impaction. I got the straw out the next day and two of the chickens were fine but the other ones crop stretched and now she wears a crop bra so it empties properly.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I heard that sometimes they will try and eat the straw though? She seemed ok last night, and also this morning so I think I'm just being a worrier

Well, I don't specifically use straw, but I have used hay for forever! Never had problems. I don't think it would be a big deal for them to eat bits of it though.