Comb has white tips: Frostbite or something else?

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wild chick said:
It has possibly been to the single digits F for just a few hours in the early a.m. I think I'd rather it be a bit of frostbite than lingering illness! I was of the understanding that Ancona Chickens come with either the flop comb or a short comb, but I didn't get a choice when ordering and just crossed my fingers, but she came with the flop comb. I really like this spunky gal, I'm hoping she gets over this like she has overcome all her other woes.
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I still don't think it is frostbite. Frostbite will turn them black. I've experienced frostbite on roosters with huge combs and wattles when it got to single digits and especially when it got significantly below zero F.
I've never had frostbite on hens in the same conditions, even with large single combs like Anconas, Leghorns, Minorcas and Penedesencas.
 
Looks like frost bite. I have a hen who’s tip was black. Then as it was healing it turned white. As of now she hasn’t lost the tip. I would just leave it be. It may turn black it might not. Do not wash it or put ointment on it. If it dies and falls off your chicken will be fine. They’ll just have smaller combs for next winter.
Frost bite is actually like a burn. Ever burnt yourself and the tissue goes white?
Same thing. IMHO
 
Thanks for all the input. Since she is feeling good & acting normal - except she's never laid an egg since her short illness - I will leave it & watch. My main concern was that it was a sign of something going on inside, especially since she just begun to lay, and hasn't laid since. Edited to say, her eggs are easy to spot as they are white and all the other layers are brown + 1 tiny cream colored one.
 
Here is some more info on frostbite on combs and a good pic of how it looks different first looking white, then can turn black or yellow:
https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/how-to-recognize-and-treat-frostbite-in-chickens/

upload_2019-1-30_10-59-8.jpeg
 
wild chick said:
My hard luck pullet Annie. She broke a leg as a youngster, recovered to totally normal, then a few weeks ago had diarrhea and just wasn't doing well for a few days, recovered to totally normal, now I'm seeing her flopped over comb is turning white. She is about 7 months old, had started laying before she got sick, her last egg was on the 10th and she hasn't laid since (unless she's hiding them, but she was laying in the nest boxes). Today the rooster approached her and she squatted, but he didn't breed her, but it's the first interaction I've seen with them since her illness. Her wattles look like a nice shade of red. I've notice the pale comb since she got sick, but the last few days I've noticed that the tips are white now, not just pale. Possible to be frostbite? Or have something to do with whatever ailed her a few weeks ago? (no other chickens got sick, I didn't isolate or treat her) I thought frostbite was black. Hers have not been black at all. Temps have been to 10 F at the coldest, but highs in the 30's to 50's. Coop is ventilated at the top, no drafts where she roosts and no other chickens showing anything like this. She eats, drinks, runs like crazy, is quite wild - I can only catch her at night. View attachment 1657510
View attachment 1657515
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That looks like frostbite. Nothing to do but watch. It will die away and leave good tissue. Can use petroleum Vaseline on combs/wattles that are large as most at risk for Frostbite. Provide heat in coop when below 30 degrees from fireproof heat source. Keep hydrated. Keep coop ventilated, clean, and dry.
 
Annie laid an egg today! :ya Now I finally feel like she is going to be OK! She laid about 7 eggs in 12 days when she first started, then got sick (diarrhea, not eating, standing off by herself) which lasted 4 - 5 days starting on the 11th. She perked up slowly, and was soon her normal self, then I noticed the comb turning white a few days ago. Question: First egg after 20 days, safe to eat? assuming it looks normal when I crack it open?
 

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