discoloured or just dirty?

[kelzey]

Lets ask @Alaskan about any special needs in extreme climates.

It gets really cold here but not as extreme as some places.

okay perfect! i don’t think it gets as extreme here as alaska, but i like to be prepared.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We get to -16F a few nights each winter here. For most people keeping chickens ventilation on the coop to allow warm moist air to rise and exit is THE most important thing.
A dry draft free coop with good ventilation goes a very long way toward preventing frostbite.

 

[Alaskan]

How cold is your cold?

As long as you are venting the coop well... that is all you can do for wattles and combs...

Do be VERY careful with feet though. Make sure the perches are wide, they don’t jump down onto hard surfaces to damage toes, and that snow doesn't clump up on toes.

 

[kelzey]

How cold is your cold?

As long as you are venting the coop well... that is all you can do for wattles and combs...

Do be VERY careful with feet though. Make sure the perches are wide, they don’t jump down onto hard surfaces to damage toes, and that snow doesn't clump up on toes.

hi sorry that i forgot about this thread! no need to worry about them getting snow on their feet, the only way they will go outside is if i put bedding on top of the snow when i clean the coop, they hate the snow. i think my roost is okay, but do you think i could wrap it in a flannel type material? so that they have something softer to sleep on and such. last night was -4 celsius, our coldest night that we’ve had yet i’m pretty sure, but i’m starting to suspect that either my top hen is pecking at my other two or they do have minor frostbite. they all still act the same and don’t seem in pain or anything, but here are some pics that i took this morning. i tried to get a better one of my top hen but she seems to be in a cranky mood and wouldn’t stay still and just yelled at me the entire time. i’m not sure who laid it but i did find an egg in their favourite nest box this morning, would frostbite hinder their egg laying? i only have three pullets and i was getting two eggs a day and now i only get one, but i’m assuming that’s because of the time of the year and such

 

[21hens-incharge]

Negative 4C is about 25F.

It is still unlikely it is frostbite.

They actually look really good.

 

[kelzey]

Negative 4C is about 25F.

It is still unlikely it is frostbite.

They actually look really good.

okay thank you so much! that takes a load off my shoulders, i worry a lot when it comes to my girls.

 

[LizzzyJo]

That looks like dirt to me. Take some olive oil on a cloth and wipe it off. If it comes off - it was dirt. Olive oil is good for cold protection so it’s a win-win.

 

[kelzey]

That looks like dirt to me. Take some olive oil on a cloth and wipe it off. If it comes off - it was dirt. Olive oil is good for cold protection so it’s a win-win.

i’ll definitely do that! thank you

 

[LizzzyJo]

i’ll definitely do that! thank you

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Alaskan]

i think my roost is okay, but do you think i could wrap it in a flannel type material? so that they have something softer to sleep on and such.

Not needed, and that would be super hard to clean.

In the first photo, it looks like a tiny touch of frostbite, right at the tip.

I wouldn't touch it, since it would be bad to irritate it.

I would leave the combs alone, make sure there is LOTS of ventilation in the coop, and that is all.

Yes, less eggs on the winter is typical.