Frostbite (None yet, Need Advice Only)

[KikiDeAnime]

Its starting to get really cold now and we have a hen that loves to sleep on top of the coop, something we keep trying to break her out of with no success. Its 5:37 AM here so its still pretty dark outside but the ladies decided to come out anyways like they always do between 4-6AM. I noticed that Sparrow had a little frost on her back feathers(Forgot to lock her up last night, my fault!)

What is some advice you can offer on preventing and treating frostbite?
Anything I could do to prevent Sparrow from trying to sleep on the coop?


Any advice or tips are appreciated!!
Thank you!

I'll post a picture of her soon once its light outside!

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Got some photos of her with the flash on. Best I could get as she knew what I was doing.

 

[50-45-1]

First figure out why your hen wont roost in the coop with the others.
Is she bullied? Is there not enough roosting space? Is ther some reason she does not feel safe in the coop? Or is it she just prefers the frezh air.
Cliping one wing maY prevent her from being able to fly to the roof of the coop.
Watch in the evening for that final hour of daylight and see what is happening while your flock is settling down for the night and your question will be answered.
By the way, predation by a hawk or owl would be more of a concern if she is outside at night.
Good luck!

 

[KikiDeAnime]

First figure out why your hen wont roost in the coop with the others.
Is she bullied? Is there not enough roosting space? Is ther some reason she does not feel safe in the coop? Or is it she just prefers the frezh air.
Cliping one wing maY prevent her from being able to fly to the roof of the coop.
Watch in the evening for that final hour of daylight and see what is happening while your flock is settling down for the night and your question will be answered.
By the way, predation by a hawk or owl would be more of a concern if she is outside at night.
Good luck!

She's our 2nd dominant hen in the flock so she isn't being bullied.
There's enough room.
I'm not completely sure why she wants to sleep on the coop but it started 2 months ago and we kept trying to get her to sleep inside with the others.
We recently had a hawk take 2 of our Silkie chicks but that was in the uncovered chick yard that we're working on covering with netting like the flock's yard is.
Oh and in case you want to know her age, she's 9 months old.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Ventilation, a vent at ceiling and one at floor level, away from roosts, is needed to keep moisture from accumulating in coop.
I can't help you with getting her to sleep in coop other than make it more comfortable. GC

 

[chickens really]

Hello. Proper ventilation and Roost bellow the air vents. Moisture rises. Lock them in each evening. Chickens are creatures of habit and don't always do what you want.

 

[centrarchid]

Many of mine get frost on their backs a lot as roosting outside. First make certain she is in good health / weight. I bird in poor condition will sacrifice appendages like toes and comb to keep core temperature up. Most frost bite issue I see involving feet occur during the day when birds are walking about on very cold ground that is also exposed to wind. Another common feature I see with my birds and others on this site involve the bird being in poor health before cold snap starts. Birds with big combs and wattles are hard to protect regardless of of health when cold hits.

You bird looks good.

 

[Mrs. K]

Think dry vs warm. As for her roosting on the roof, I think chickens are notional, and then habitual. What you need to do is make the roof not a good place to roost. Put something up there, like a bin on its side, round side up, some wadded up chicken wire, buckets...whatever, just so that roosting there is not comfortable and I bet she returns to the coop.

As for frost bite, if I get it, I just leave it alone and let it heal up. For me, the dangerous time is it has been very cold, then gets very warm, and everything thaws at once, then cold that night. That moisture evaporating settles on the birds, and causes frostbite.

VENTILATION, VENTILATION = DRY

Think dry not warm, thinking warm makes us want to lock of the coop to trap in the heat... and that causes moisture = frostbite.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

There's enough room.

Famous last words.
Post dimensions and pics of coop (inside and out) showing roosts and ventilation.
How many birds total and waht are their ages?

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Famous last words.
Post dimensions and pics of coop (inside and out) showing roosts and ventilation.
How many birds total and waht are their ages?

Pictures will come once its light out
8 hens total. 5 of them are 1 yr old and will be 2 this spring. Sparrow is 9 months and the other 2 are 8 months old.
We currently have a slow broiler, that will be butchered soon, sleeping inside with them but it likes to sleep in the doorway to the coop's run.