Comb/waddle frostbite

[Wendizzle]

All 3 of my roosters have frostbite on their combs and waddles. I noticed a little frostbite 2 weeks ago on 2 of them, made more ventilation in the coop which I think was the problem (no more condensation on coop windows since opening it up).

However, we had a cold snap last night (-12 with up to -40 windchill, though their coop and run are well blocked from the wind) and the third rooster suddenly has frost bite as well on the tips of his comb, it wasn't there 2 days ago.

I ordered some mushers wax for next time but it wont he in for a week (no one sells it locally from what I can see). Everyone's toes look good and everyone is in the run today eating when I throw out treats. I use a deep litter method in the coop with pine shavings, it is about 8" deep right now.

Is there anything else I can or should do? They do have windows near their roosts, I was thinking of putting foil on them until we get out of the negatives.

Is there concern about them healing from this frostbite? It seems to be on the tips/far edges for now. Idk if I can convince my husband to bring them inside...he keeps telling me to put heat in the coop but everyone says to not do that. All I have is their brooder plates that I could put sideways but I doubt that would create enough heat for their more open 6x5 coop.

This third pic is the rooster with the new frostbite.

This is the larger opening I made, there are also 2 round 6" circular vents on the opposite side of this at the same level. Their roosts are at the top of the nesting box roof you can see at the left of the pic, so I dont think they are getting any wind chill.

 

[DobieLover]

How many birds are in the 5x6 coop and is there any water source in there?
Do not put anything on the frostbite damage. Just monitor it for infection. Avoid touching it.
It is minor frostbite.
Can you post pictures of the inside of the coop?

 

[Wendizzle]

There are 14 birds in the 5x6 coop, then they have a covered and wrapped run the spend the day in that is 5'x24'. No water or food in the coop, their water is a heated nipple bucket in the run.

I dont have any recent pics. This is a build pic, the only difference is they have 2x4 roosts now in the same spots. If you need a current pic let me know, I'll head back out there and take one.

 

[Wendizzle]

Ok, I went back out for updated pics!!

Please ignore my ugly solar battery wires and insulated battery box at the lower left of this pic. Planning to make it prettier in the spring.

I do have a couple branches at the bottom from when they were younger and hadn't been interested in roosting higher. All but 2 of the hens have figured it out at this point.

Here is the inside of the opened vented area where the door is open.

Let me know if you have any suggestions! Foil/insulate the windows for now?

 

[Sally PB]

There are 14 birds in the 5x6 coop,

That's a lot of warm breath in a small area.

 

[Eggcessive]

What state are you in? That frostbite really doesn’t look very serious. It can b almost impossible to prevent frostbite in combs at -12. The tips may become rounded off, but they should come through it fine. Many of us get chickens with smaller combs, but I have had a few large combed roosters with similar frostbite. You upper ventilation looks good, and I would just keep the bedding clean and dry, stirring it often.

 

[Wendizzle]

What state are you in? That frostbite really doesn’t look very serious. It can b almost impossible to prevent frostbite in combs at -12. The tips may become rounded off, but they should come through it fine. Many of us get chickens with smaller combs, but I have had a few large combed roosters with similar frostbite. You upper ventilation looks good, and I would just keep the bedding clean and dry, stirring it often.

I live in north NY, about 30 mins from the border to Canada. The ventilation wasn't good until I opened up the big triangle (thanks to the suggestion of another person on here a while back). Thank you for the insight!