Circular rooster comb frostbite?

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Hi All, I can see comb frostbite is getting a lot of posts now, but Fabio the 1.5 yr old Favorelles rooster has a weird comb pattern that is so odd looking. Like much of the country, we’ve been much colder than normal. We do often have freezing nights but not to zero degrees F and not usually below freezing in the day. Fabio mostly seems fine: eating, drinking, moving around normally. However, he did stay out part of the day yesterday during a storm until I saw him and put him in the coop. We just noticed this black semicircular line on his comb; it’s the same on both sides. We’ve brought him into the garage for the night, but it’s not supposed to get above freezing until the weekend. Is this frostbite? Does he need to stay inside until the weekend? Thanks!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Yes, that's frostbite. The start of it. It's going along what I call "The Dubbing Line." Sometimes that's where frostbite will start, though it sometimes will start at the fingertips and work it's way down to The Dubbing Line. If that gets any worse, it'll kill that and all above. (It could be too late now, but not 100% sure.) If you keep him in during this cold stretch, he'll get used to the warmer temperatures and freeze when you put him back. He does need a good few days away from freezing if you want to try to save his comb. Once frostbite gets to The Dubbing Line, I typically see it as a lost cause. (The fingers aren't completely included, so...) Especially if it's that color. It first is pale to white, then it turns purple then once black, is dead. A lot of people suggest good ventilation. Have you done this? (Where I am good ventilation helps, but doesn't prevent.)

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yes, that's frostbite. The start of it. It's going along what I call "The Dubbing Line." Sometimes that's where frostbite will start, though it sometimes will start at the fingertips and work it's way down to The Dubbing Line. If that gets any worse, it'll kill that and all above. (It could be too late now, but not 100% sure.) If you keep him in during this cold stretch, he'll get used to the warmer temperatures and freeze when you put him back. He does need a good few days away from freezing if you want to try to save his comb. Once frostbite gets to The Dubbing Line, I typically see it as a lost cause. (The fingers aren't completely included, so...) Especially if it's that color. It first is pale to white, then it turns purple then once black, is dead. A lot of people suggest good ventilation. Have you done this? (Where I am good ventilation helps, but doesn't prevent.)

Thanks Lacy Duckwing! I didn’t realize that’s why they dub them so low, as I haven’t had to deal with frostbite before. With that in mind, we think we will keep him on the garage until the weekend in hopes of saving his comb. The garage is not terribly warm right now and our normal temperatures are not terribly cold, so I think he will be okay with our temps by the weekend. As for the coop, yes, it’s very well ventilated - all of our coops have a lot of ventilation or a south wall of wire because it’s usually hot summers in Oklahoma that we need to worry about. I’m going to guess that standing out in that storm was what did this - I wish I’d gotten him in earlier! Thanks again!

 

[turkey girl 0964]

Poor roo. I hope he gets better.

 

[Weeg]

There is a thread on here were someone made "hats" for there roosters in the cold weather, to protect from frost bite. Of course, you wouldn't want to put a hat on him right now, because that would only be painful on his irritated comb, but after it gets better, you can look into making him one for the cold weather! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/warm-winter-hats-for-roosters.1435559/

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Poor roo. I hope he gets better.

Thank you! He has a beautiful comb - I hope he can keep it.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

There is a thread on here were someone made "hats" for there roosters in the cold weather, to protect from frost bite. Of course, you wouldn't want to put a hat on him right now, because that would only be painful on his irritated comb, but after it gets better, you can look into making him one for the cold weather! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/warm-winter-hats-for-roosters.1435559/

Cute!