Anyone with chickens damaged from the cold?

[Gazinga]

ok, i dont want to start the whole debate of "to heat or not to heat" the coops agian! all i want to know is......through all this debate of weather to heat teh coops or not, has anyone ever had a chook damaged or killed by cold weather? If so, what was teh damage, how cold was is? Did they get sick, what would you now do differently to prevent it?

 

[bluie]

Our feral rooster died two years ago, apparently of old age at 13. His comb was gone. Neighbors reported that he lost it to frostbite long before we knew him. Otherwise he was fine, slept in our tree in all weather conditions. Here on Long Island, most winters it does not go below zero, and even if it does get into the single digits, it doesn't stay that cold very long.

 

[patandchickens]

frostbite is by FAR the commonest injury, when any problem occurs at all. Best way to avoid it is choose breeds intelligently, keep the coop air DRY not humid, don't let there be drafts (breezes at the chickens), and you can massage some vaseline into the comb and wattles before a cold snap. Oh, and a nice wide roost to sleep on so the tummy feathers can cover the toes (tho feet are far less vulnerable than comb and wattles)

Pat