Frostbite on Rooster's Wattles?

[ElementalFarms]

Here's a picture of our coops. They are open air.

 

[jennyf]

Is anyone finding that whatever goo they're smearing on combs and wattles is attracting dirt and making combs dark? Or am I just trying to wishfully think away frostbite? I don't want to rub at it, obviously...

 

[uzisuzuki]

Blistering is part of the Frostbite yes.  Frostbite has the same affect on skin as a burn does.  They treat frostbite victims in the hospital the same as burn victims.  Just leave the blisters intact. They serve a purpose and they will eventually go down or pop on their own.  Right now if they are closed they are still providing a barrier against infection.  So just leave them at this point.

Thank you. It does look much better today than it did yesterday. I haven't been messing with them unless it looks like the skin has split & then I put antibiotic cream on it. Here are pics of my 3 guys who weren't lucky this year.

Lucien

Ronan

Memnoch

 

[kellyhubb]

Coop has ridge vents throughout the top. You don't want holes right where the chickens perch or the ducks sit...that is referred to as 'drafts' which not only defeats the purpose of having insulation, but also can chill the birds cuz they are exposed directly to the cold air. Humidity is kept between 40-50%; Moisture is not a problem because I clean their coop daily (thus eliminating the build up of potential harmful ammonia fumes and moisture risk), keep minimum water inside, as outside they have heated water buckets, and monitor the temperature and humidity level of the coop through the use of webcam and thermostat. So we are good!

 

[kellyhubb]

Oh yea, I probably need to update my profile, I am not in SC anymore

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Is anyone finding that whatever goo they're smearing on combs and wattles is attracting dirt and making combs dark? Or am I just trying to wishfully think away frostbite? I don't want to rub at it, obviously...

Yes. Lol. It's totally a pain and the goo turns gray, I remember that. And of course right after I did a fresh application of balm or antibiotic ointment he would go dust himself. And that grey gunge does not want to budge either.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

@uzisuzuki. Those beautiful roosters sure did get nailed and are blistered up! Ouch. Just leave for now. If you start to see draining pus or smell infection gently clean and apply an antibiotic ointment. ( pick one without caines or pain reliever in it)

 

[High Prairie]

Updating to say May is doing great and is super happy to be out with his girls. The swelling seems to have gone down, and I'm waiting for the next phase of healing. We're supposed to be in the 60s Christmas Day. So a 70-degree swing from one weekend to the next. This weather is wild! While I was so worried about May, I ended up losing a hen. It wasn't due to the cold. She definitely had slow crop, but I think something else more serious was going on with her. I tried everything to save her. It's hard. I'm glad everyone else's birds are healing up well! Maybe the next cold spell will be less stressful for all of us!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Sorry about your Hen High Prairie. My sister lost a hen last night...with wild temp swings...we just don't know what happened with her. It was weird. A beautiful Welsummer hen too....

Well they are all precious no matter what. Glad May is back out with the girls. Strutting his stuff. LOL.

We are still mild right now. But expecting some snow for Christmas Day. It will be nice to have a snowfall for a day at home with family.

 

[Cluckies]

Raise up the waterer's so their wattles don't dip in, so that the wattles are held back by the bowl edge, then leave the wattles alone. put them back outside and don't touch their wattles, it is very painful, it should turn black and after awhile fall off, just watch for signs of infection.

My first year I had 2 hens with frostbite, I had the ventilation wrong, they were right inline with it. I had not shut the lower vent yet (didn't realize it was going to get that cold) they actually got frostbite in the 20's as it went from 50 degrees with 100 percent humidity to 20 with 80 percent humidity, too humid and with a draft going up over them. I only have ridge venting in the winter, now I close the lower vent off if it is going to be below 32.


I also lifted their waterer so that their wattles cannot dip in, their wattles rest against the side of the bowl. (I also have a horizontal nipple waterer with bird bath deicer and pond pump).