Fertility of roosters with Frostbite in Question

[Arielle]

All four of my marans roosters have suffered frostbite on their combs after several 8 degree nights.

In general, this winter is a tad warmer than usual despite a few nights lower than usual. I am concerned about their fertility at this time after reading this:

Here is what Raising Chickens for Dummies says:

Roosters with frostbitten combs may be temporarily infertile. But it's not the frostbite that causes the infertility; its the amount of cold that the chicken has been exposed to. Usually fertility is restored after conditions improve and the roosters body recovers from the stress.



If my roosters are hot on the tail ,oops, trail of any and all hens morning and again in the afternoon, can I assume that he is fertile and ready to sire the next generation?

 

[Bullitt]

I think if your rooster is covering hens everything will be okay.

By the way, have you thought about adding some heat in the coop if it gets well below freezing?

 

[Arielle]

I think if your rooster is covering hens everything will be okay.

By the way, have you thought about adding some heat in the coop if it gets well below freezing?

Thank you for answering. ANd yes, I'm learning. One coop had no frostbite issues, the other did; one has black sexlink/SSH/EE roosters with little or no frostbite, all marans with frost bite. WIll try to prevent more frost bite.

 

[centrarchid]

All four of my marans roosters have suffered frostbite on their combs after several 8 degree nights.

In general, this winter is a tad warmer than usual despite a few nights lower than usual. I am concerned about their fertility at this time after reading this:

Here is what Raising Chickens for Dummies says:

Roosters with frostbitten combs may be temporarily infertile. But it's not the frostbite that causes the infertility; its the amount of cold that the chicken has been exposed to. Usually fertility is restored after conditions improve and the roosters body recovers from the stress.



If my roosters are hot on the tail ,oops, trail of any and all hens morning and again in the afternoon, can I assume that he is fertile and ready to sire the next generation?

I would qualify it say they their sex-drive goes down if frostbite is severe. Fertility may go down but you may not be able to appreciate that unless frostbite is severe or rooster must service a large number of hens.

 

[steelersfan43]

since the hens stay fertile for a while I would think that by the time his fertility issue (if any) is resolved you won't have had an issue with his fertility being a little lower anyway.

 

[steelersfan43]

also vasoline on the combs and waddles seems to help prevent frostbite when the weather gets really cold for us.