Hello! I have a group of 9 gals (all different breeds), and one cockerel who isn’t old enough to crow… yet.
Hens/pullets:
1 Brahma
2 Buff Orpingtons
3 Cinnamon Queens
1 Speckled Sussex
1 barnyard mix bantam (hardly any comb)
1 silkie
Cockerel
1 silkie
I’m in southeastern PA, and temps/wind chills have been a little rough lately. Nothing below zero, but there’s a freeze/thaw up and down every few days. They are in an uninsulated coop: fairly large—plenty of room—with hemp bedding about 4-6 inches deep. I do partial deep litter and a poop tray, although I may have to get rid of the poop tray, because I’m worried about too much moisture in the coop (I also use Zeolite clay pellets to mix in with the bedding to soak up ammonia and assist in healthy microbes). They have long roosts that are 4 inches wide.
Two days ago, I went out to collect eggs, fill waterers and fill their food. I noticed one of my CQ’s had a black-ish spot on her comb that I thought was just some dirt. I had filled heated water buckets that have a lid, but I was unable to keep one of my girls from dunking her head in despite her having plenty of water before I topped it off
Horrible chicken mom that I am, I forgot which one had the spot to begin with. I went out tonight after work to spend some time with them, and now all three of my cinnamon queens have a spot or two on their combs. They have the largest combs and waddles—even the buff orpingtons don’t have an issue.
Answers I’m looking for:
1. Can someone confirm—is this frostbite?
2. What do I do? Aquaphor? Add a humidity sensor in the coop? They have an enclosed run, but I need to add some more polycarbonate sheeting to the sides to keep the wind from hitting them directly. Any “this has worked for me” stories are welcome!
Photos attached. I apologize for the lack of light. It was about 20 minutes until sundown.
Hens/pullets:
1 Brahma
2 Buff Orpingtons
3 Cinnamon Queens
1 Speckled Sussex
1 barnyard mix bantam (hardly any comb)
1 silkie
Cockerel
1 silkie
I’m in southeastern PA, and temps/wind chills have been a little rough lately. Nothing below zero, but there’s a freeze/thaw up and down every few days. They are in an uninsulated coop: fairly large—plenty of room—with hemp bedding about 4-6 inches deep. I do partial deep litter and a poop tray, although I may have to get rid of the poop tray, because I’m worried about too much moisture in the coop (I also use Zeolite clay pellets to mix in with the bedding to soak up ammonia and assist in healthy microbes). They have long roosts that are 4 inches wide.
Two days ago, I went out to collect eggs, fill waterers and fill their food. I noticed one of my CQ’s had a black-ish spot on her comb that I thought was just some dirt. I had filled heated water buckets that have a lid, but I was unable to keep one of my girls from dunking her head in despite her having plenty of water before I topped it off
Horrible chicken mom that I am, I forgot which one had the spot to begin with. I went out tonight after work to spend some time with them, and now all three of my cinnamon queens have a spot or two on their combs. They have the largest combs and waddles—even the buff orpingtons don’t have an issue. Answers I’m looking for:
1. Can someone confirm—is this frostbite?
2. What do I do? Aquaphor? Add a humidity sensor in the coop? They have an enclosed run, but I need to add some more polycarbonate sheeting to the sides to keep the wind from hitting them directly. Any “this has worked for me” stories are welcome!
Photos attached. I apologize for the lack of light. It was about 20 minutes until sundown.
