Any suggestions on how to solve our frostbite problem?

[phalenbeck]

I see lots saying preventative measures for frostbite but no treatments after they've been bit. Wait for it to fall off? Neosporin?

My big Langshan roo froze his comb tips, and they fell off. I did not do anything beyond vasoline. Insulation will go in soon. He seems fine.

 

[SIMZ]

It's -16 this morning.

The forecast was for -6, which has just become normal around here. I didn't do much more than usual and didn't bring my rooster in, although, I certainly would have if I'd have known it was going to be the coldest it's been so far. Ugh.

 

[Spiritsmeadow]

Frostbite is horrible, living on the eastern plains of CO, I know all about cold. Block off any place in your coop which is letting in the cold air, and put heat in there! I have a radiant heater which I turn on when its 0 or below, and I use red heat lamps every night in the cold weather. If the comb or wattles are black they should be amputated, you don't want to risk some horrible infection like gangrene. And keep your chickens indoors when the windchill is 28 or below. That's just what I do, and I've had chickens for 16 years, and not one case of frostbite. Good luck!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Nobody was getting off the roost too fast this morning at our house either. -22 on the car thermometer which I notice is usually warmer than what it really is for some reason. Anyways after a certain point it's just freaky cold. Coop was at -5 when I opened the door and looked at the thermometer. It's gettin' so I'm just used to it any more. Which is freaky in itself if I stand back and look at it. LOL.

 

[SIMZ]

Nobody was getting off the roost too fast this morning at our house either. -22 on the car thermometer which I notice is usually warmer than what it really is for some reason. Anyways after a certain point it's just freaky cold. Coop was at -5 when I opened the door and looked at the thermometer. It's gettin' so I'm just used to it any more. Which is freaky in itself if I stand back and look at it. LOL.

So, Bogtown, do you guys have school when it's that cold? I'm assuming you do or no one would ever graduate, right? I think our schools are finally adjusting. We're in a very rural district that frequently has delays and snow days. Yet, today, that school bus went by right on time.

We're supposed to reach 30 in a few days. The sad part is the chickens won't have anywhere to go because the snow is so deep around their enclosed run. They're still going to be trapped. I gave up snowblowing a path weeks ago.

 

[CharlysGardenPl]

Hi
Sorry for your babies troubles

Now that the frostbite has happened, what is in the works for solutions for the rest of the winter and forthcoming seasons?

Logic states that cold air will infiltrate the whole coop if the vents are placed high.
What if the high vents are for summer use and sealed in the winter, and winter vents placed low and a very small vent placed up high for fumes?
What if the roosting areas are insulated and a light bulb placed in the area below the chickens so the heat rises?
What if you use any "color" bulb you want, if you believe in natural daylight for your feathered friends, and keep the light from interfering with their natural cycles?

Good luck!

 

[Dialchicken]

We live in the Tahoe area. It's been getting down to single digits. We haven't had any issues with the cold so far this winter. We have a White Leghorn (Wanda), and a Dominique (Bernice). I have a small coop lined with pine shavings, and an extension cord running to it. I have a clamp heat lamp, not sure of the voltage, and a heated water bowl. My electric bill goes up about three dollars a month or less. I have an old blanket that I throw over the coop at night, leaving the vent near the heat lamp exposed. The girls seem happy, and Bernice is still laying 6 eggs a week.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

So, Bogtown, do you guys have school when it's that cold? I'm assuming you do or no one would ever graduate, right? I think our schools are finally adjusting. We're in a very rural district that frequently has delays and snow days. Yet, today, that school bus went by right on time.

We're supposed to reach 30 in a few days. The sad part is the chickens won't have anywhere to go because the snow is so deep around their enclosed run. They're still going to be trapped. I gave up snowblowing a path weeks ago.

Yes the kids still had school today. I tell you I think we've had like 2 or 3 days that haven't started with -15 or worse in the morning! Crazy. There was a weird 40 not to long ago...but that's been about it for normal or above normal temperatures. We've had two school closures this year. One due to the first Vortex--the governor made a declaration and gave schools a bye on state funding for that one. And then I think the school did one for some deep snow earlier in the winter. The Vortex -- that wasn't even our coldest day real temp. But I guess the wind chill was what they were worried about. And when those sorts of temperatures reach the governor himself there in the Twin Cities. LOL. Our school actually designate make up days. So This coming Tuesday the kids had a vacation day but now we are told it will be a make up day for the snow day.

We're getting a taste of those 20's and 30's Sunday. Won't it be heaven?!!!!

 

[flowerfaeiry]

I have two coops that DH custom built for me. The main coop is 4x6 with 3 external nest boxes and no insulation but very solid construction. The design is a sloped roof, 5' high in front sloping to 4' in rear, & roof extends over nest boxes. All roof eaves are open, along with three windows with only hardware cloth. I only have 4 hens in there, 2 lav orps, 1 blrw & 1 americana. Not much body heat to keep the main coop warm so I covered each window in greenhouse plastic for the winter. The mini coop houses 4 silkies and it is 3x3 with a peak roof, and all eaves open. They have one large hardware cloth window. I use deep pine bedding in both coops. When the deep freeze hit us in Pa, I put a double layer of bubble wrap all on the windows. I tried several different ways of keeping the water from freezing, including using my heatmats for seedlings but they dont produce enough heat. the best solutions have been to swap out soda bottle nipple waterers every morning. I keep one hanging by the kitchen door and fill it with warm water in the morning and just swap it out with the frozen one in the coop. It stays defrosted all day but does freeze up over night. I left the heatmats in because the girls like to stand on them. I give them lots of treats and do not let them go outside when temps are below about 25 or wet, but otherwise they love running the yard especially the silkies, they love the snow! Ive gotten eggs all winter from most of the girls and only once or twice found a frozen egg. So, the cold does not really bother them one bit, even the sub zero wind chills. I did, however, just hatch out some new additions to the main coop in hopes of keeping them a bit warmer next winter - CCL, Rhodebar and the floppy combed brown leghorn, so we will see about frostbite next year...

 

[flowerfaeiry]

Coops while under construction