Comb frostbite / common sense?

[NHMountainMan]

Temps were in low single digits last night, and wind chills were -20+. All good with the coop - never got below 14.

When I let the chickens range yesterday, I really enjoyed watching their first reaction to seeing snow. The Alpha hen loves the dog - who was bouncing around and rolling in the snow. She had to follow him to see what he was doing, and she drew the entire flock out.

This was in 25 mph winds and temps in the 20s - a formula for frostbite on exposed skin.

Do chickens have common sense to stay out of the wind? They didn't seem to care at all - but exposure to today's temps (teens) and wind could cause frostbite quickly. Does frostbite hurt enough to send them into the run (wind proofed areas) or into the coop

Do I have to decide for them and keep them in the run and coop - or do I trust them to come out of the cold wind?

 

[DobieLover]

Temps were in low single digits last night, and wind chills were -20+. All good with the coop - never got below 14.

When I let the chickens range yesterday, I really enjoyed watching their first reaction to seeing snow. The Alpha hen loves the dog - who was bouncing around and rolling in the snow. She had to follow him to see what he was doing, and she drew the entire flock out.

This was in 25 mph winds and temps in the 20s - a formula for frostbite on exposed skin.

Do chickens have common sense to stay out of the wind? They didn't seem to care at all - but exposure to today's temps (teens) and wind could cause frostbite quickly. Does frostbite hurt enough to send them into the run (wind proofed areas) or into the coop

Do I have to decide for them and keep them in the run and coop - or do I trust them to come out of the cold wind?

Chickens are not mammals. The frostbite warnings are for mammals (humans). The chickens will be fine. If they get cold, they will seek shelter from the wind.
What you want to protect them from is dipping their wattles in water or walking in water in that kind of weather. The water can freeze rapidly on the skin and that will cause frostbite.

 

[ValerieJ]

I think they are fine and will seek shelter if they are uncomfortable in the wind. But, if you are concerned about frost bite, then rub a little Vaseline on combs and waddles. I have had a touch of frost bite on a rooster's comb before.

 

[Acre4Me]

Our chickens refused, completely, to leave their coop yesterday!! We had to coax them out with some diced pumpkin. Some have seen snow before, but it’s all new this year.


Frostbite occurs mostly bc of moisture, however in cold enough temps, it may happen anyway. Large single combs are more susceptible than pea or cushion type combs.

last year, my BJG male got frostbite on his comb and wattles. Not too bad on the wattles, but lost all upper point tips on his comb. However, we had the polar vortex with high winds for a sustained period (-36F windchill / -18F temp), and some ventured outside during this period. It was during the polar vortex that the frostbite occurred. Our coop is well ventilated, so I don’t think the frostbite was due to humidity in the coop.

 

[aart]

Chickens are not mammals. The frostbite warnings are for mammals (humans).

I believe it applies to chicken skin tho, mostly combs and wattles. But most birds avoid a strong cold wind.
I've never seen frostbite specifically from wind(would be hard to tell tho)...
...but they love to nosh on the snow banks, creating mild to severe frostbite on wattles. SMH.

 

[NHMountainMan]

@DobieLover
@ValerieJ
@Acre4Me
@aart

thank you for the replies and advice. I still don’t know how to do multi quotes so a general reply:
In general, my take away is that they are smart enough to get themselves out of the cold wind into the protection of the run.

I’m in my first year as a chicken owner, and I’m trying to go as close to natural as possible to learn from my mistakes, so I’m going to skip the Vaseline this year (I know it works- used to use it myself to prevent wind burn and frostbite while out in the nasty weather).

I left them in the run this morning while I was out. Came home to find 3 in the coop (24F) and everyone else basking in the sun behind the plastic windscreen despite the 17F weather.

The weather were seeing today is more like what we’ll see from Christmas until about president’s day- so it’s a good low risk learning opportunity for me.

thanks as always for your wisdom!

 

[aart]

so I’m going to skip the Vaseline this year (I know it works- used to use it myself to prevent wind burn and frostbite while out in the nasty weather).

It might work on human skin against wind burn,
but don't think it works against frostbite on a chicken, tho many will swear that it does.

 

[bbond]

I have never had a problem with standard size birds and frostbite. I did however just acquire a bantam and it got into the teens last night. He now has frostbite. going to be getting a heater for him tomorrow. Everyone else was fine. Even the boys with large single combs. So i guess what I’m saying is as long as you don’t have bantams, I don’t think you’ll run into many problems.