Frostbite Before and After Photos

[shessowitte]

This winter was my first experience with frostbite in chickens. As a newbie, I was pretty scared, but found great advice and photos here on BYC. Sweet Lou the Roo had (I thought) serious frostbite on his comb and wattles. Here are some comparison photos of the initial damage and how he looks today. Frostbite occurred on Feb 2nd and “after” photos are from March 19th. I kept him inside for the first night, and let nature take its course from there. Thanks to all who take the time to share their experience and wisdom. It's much appreciated.


Please feel free to share your own before and after pix.

 

[azygous]

Remarkable healing! Good for Lou the Roo!

A word of caution concerning future exposure to freezing temps. The next time he'll be much more vulnerable to frostbite and it can be much worse because of it.

My Cream Legbar roo Strawberry had serious frostbite several years ago. It was so bad he lost every one of his comb points. Several weeks ago, due to a brutal attack by two marauding dogs, Strawberry and his son Tootsie were either chased off a long distance or they led the dogs away from attacking the hens. As a result, they spent the night without cover at 12 F and both had very bad cases of frostbite.

Toots is about healed up from his and may lose one or two tips, but poor Strawberry's comb is still swollen and black, and it's a waiting game to see how much more of his once stately comb will fall off. This pic doesn't show what his comb presently looks like, but it's black as charcoal.

 

[shessowitte]

Remarkable healing! Good for Lou the Roo!

A word of caution concerning future exposure to freezing temps. The next time he'll be much more vulnerable to frostbite and it can be much worse because of it.

My Cream Legbar roo Strawberry had serious frostbite several years ago. It was so bad he lost every one of his comb points. Several weeks ago, due to a brutal attack by two marauding dogs, Strawberry and his son Tootsie were either chased off a long distance or they led the dogs away from attacking the hens. As a result, they spent the night without cover at 12 F and both had very bad cases of frostbite.

Toots is about healed up from his and may lose one or two tips, but poor Strawberry's comb is still swollen and black, and it's a waiting game to see how much more of his once stately comb will fall off. This pic doesn't show what his comb presently looks like, but it's black as charcoal. View attachment 1709720

Poor Strawberry, that looks so painful. What heroes, though!

In hindsight, I suspect it was my fault Lou got frostbite. I thought the coop needed “insulation” so I stuffed the rafters with empty feed sacks and sheets of mylar. Not wanting their water to freeze, I put it in the coop. Rookie mistakes, (I discovered too late for poor Lou) but my heart was in the right place. It got very damp in there and couldn’t dry out. The week of the polar vortex, and bam....frostbite. I removed all the insulation and the second polar vortex was without incident. Lesson learned at Sweet Lou’s expense. Hope sweet Strawberry and Toots are feeling better soon.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Here’s an after picture... all his comb points turned black and recently fell off... it wasn’t super severe and has healed up nicely... just in time for him to go to the stew pot

 

[shessowitte]

View attachment 1709811

Here’s an after picture... all his comb points turned black and recently fell off... it wasn’t super severe and has healed up nicely... just in time for him to go to the stew pot

Nature’s dubbing. He is (or was) beautiful. Are you in Missouri? I’m at the northwest corner of the Ozarks.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Yep I’m a Show Me Stater too...

He was prettier before his lady friends picked his beard off... he’s still in the coop crowing nearly non stop all the time... well it’s dark so he’s quite for a moment... lol

His days are numbered though.

 

[shessowitte]

Yep I’m a Show Me Stater too...

He was prettier before his lady friends picked his beard off... he’s still in the coop crowing nearly non stop all the time... well it’s dark so he’s quite for a moment... lol

His days are numbered though.

I hear you. We hatched out six last November and there were two beautiful but vicious cockerels. My husband finally had enough and barbecued them, and I made bone broth with the leftovers. Flock management is a necessary hardship. Cheers, my fellow Show Me Stater!

 

[Bocktastic Quackles]

This is Poppy. We’ve been having below 0 and single digit temperatures for several days now. I’m wondering if her comb is getting in danger to frost bite?

Ive added tons of bedding and a flap to their coop to lock in their heat as much as possible with allowing ventilation. She’s spoiled and comes inside to warm up. I feel bad for them being outside in these freezing temperatures at day and night! Doing my best for proactive care.

How does her comb look? Thank you!

 

[azygous]

This is Poppy. We’ve been having below 0 and single digit temperatures for several days now. I’m wondering if her comb is getting in danger to frost bite?

Ive added tons of bedding and a flap to their coop to lock in their heat as much as possible with allowing ventilation. She’s spoiled and comes inside to warm up. I feel bad for them being outside in these freezing temperatures at day and night! Doing my best for proactive care.

How does her comb look? Thank you!

She definitely has frost bite. Don't let it freeze again or it will be even worse. Freezing temps with a small coop with no outlet for warm water vapor from the chickens breathing at night results in that water vapor condensing on combs and freezing. For now, heating your coop to keep it above freezing will help. Come spring, you may need to assess your ventilation and improve it.