Frostbite Help!!

[elmo]

A few weeks ago I noticed the back part of our rooster's comb had turned purple. Couldn't be frostbite because our low temps were in the upper forties! It was just testosterone.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

We noticed last year that when they get really cold, their combs do turn purple. When they warm up, they turn red again. The frostbite turns them black (in spotty areas) and it never goes away.

 

[txchickie]

Ohhh this would be good if it wasn't frostbite! I really am scared it is, it looks like it's been pinched and bruised, it's awful

 

[tenderkat]

Well, it warmed up a bit this morning, so I thought I was imagining a problem with Doris Mae's comb. Now, it's turned frigid again, and one of her comb tips looks suspicious - again! It has turned a pale yellowish and looks raw. I'm pretty sure this is definitely frostbite I've done all I can to the coop, no apparent drafts, low humidity, adequate ventilation, insulation. My girls itch to stay outside all day, despite the cold temps and windchill. I know this crazy weather won't last forever, I guess it's just going to have to be damage control at this point. I don't really think it would be fair to lock them in the coop around the clock.

Maybe I missed a response, but I wonder what everyone does in REALLY extreme environments?! I won't mention any names, and yes I have read all your very informative pages!!

I have 6 chickens and only one damaged comb tip. Is frostbite something that just happens on occasion, no matter what preventions we take in these temps?

 

[redkan]

Unless it's very severe (in which case I don't know) they will survive frostbite just fine. My bantam roo was frost bitten last winter badly enough that he lost part of his wattles and even bits of his comb. Today you'd never know he'd been frostbitten, his wattles grew back and his comb recovered as well even without treatment by me. All my chickens free range and roost in a converted stall at night. There's no heat source and one end of the barn is usually left open except in all except the worst snow storms.

 

[sturdyprairiegal]

Redkan (and all), I'm very interested in your experience with the open sided coop. Last year (my first winter with chickens) I tried to insulate the heck out of the coop, put in a heater, and ALL of them got frostbitten. I learned quickly it was the humidity, not the cold... This year, after reading some about open-sided coops (after all, chicken-keepers in the 1800s didn't heat their coops with electric heaters, I thought...) I'm seeing that it's the one way to insure less humidity, ammonia (even if it's relatively clean) and fresh air all the time. So I've now left the south end of my 10x10' coop open (mesh) at the top 12" or so and it's just so much nicer in there!

We've had temps around 18F the last week or so, into 30-40 during the day (when they free range) and all but one are doing well. This morning I found my biggest crested black polish rooster (looks just like the picture at http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Polish-B91.aspx ) with very VERY swollen, purple waddles and basically just laying down. Brought him inside, gave him some Bach's Rescue Remedy and water with vitamins/electrolytes, high protein I keep on hand for guineas, and swathed his very hot waddles with calendula ointment (gently). He's hanging out in my bathtub at the moment while I see how he does.

So I'm thinking his biggest problem is that he can't drink any water and is so weakened because he's dehydrated. His waddles are so ridiculously long that they hang down in the water. Within not much time, he seems to be quite a bit better, though still weak.

What's a way to provide them water so that they don't get their waddles in it? Can't think of what kind of waterer would work...

So any advice on a waterer and experience with open coop design, as well as ideas to help Nicorooster recover would be much appreciated!

Thanks! Janice

 

[tdgill]

i saw some nipple waterers on here b4...you'd have to teach them to use it I suppose and make sure they do.

 

[silkymom]

hello, im in michigan and i use a pig lamp with a red heat bulb, over the waterer, and it keeps the coop warm enough. i keep it high and for 15 yrs no fires, its in the low 20s at night right now, but i run the light all the time, its still cold but it takes the edge off, i have 16 birds, but their silky and dont roost much they all huddle under a shelf i made to make the coop several stories, its 3 by 6 by 6 , 250 wt red heat lamp., 5 feet up, the birds stay out all day and no problems with frostbite,
silkymom.

 

[kyrose]

Quote:
i dont want to sound stupid,but whats a pig lamp?