Frostbite pic/How does this look?

[jBabychickn]

Here’s my frostbitten boy, Mr. Blue!

I’ve been applying Hen Healer & Mushers Secret…. Is there anything else I could be doing? — Any thoughts, experiences and comments are very appreciated!!

 

[gtaus]

I did not think it got that cold in KY to get frostbite. Anyway, my treatment for frostbite is to not treat it. I have heard stories that rubbing lotion on the frostbite areas might do more damage than good. I live in northern Minnesota, and I have had a few chickens get frostbite. None of my chickens have died from frostbite. In fact, most heal without any intervention on my part and are probably better that I don't try to intervene.

If you know what caused the frostbite, maybe you could do something to prevent it next time. We can't control the weather, but the coop humidity should be about the same as the outdoor humidity. Unless you have a heated climate controlled coop, the best you can hope for is humidity inside and outside the coop being the same.

I would also ask what you use for a waterer. I use an old fashioned metal poultry fount, but that prevents the chickens from dipping their comb in the water for the most part. Some people use open pans or dog dishes for water, and I hear that makes it much easier to get the chicken's comb wet, and then freeze.

Frankly, I think your chicken will recover well with or without any intervention on your part. Maybe just watch the chickens for any abnormal behaviors which might require your attention at that time. In general, I find my chickens more than capable of surviving a touch of frostbite. More specifically, if I had a chicken that could not handle the cold weather and frostbite issues, then I would not get that breed again for where I iive and raise my backyard flock.

Those are just my thoughts on how I deal with frostbite with my chickens. It works for me. But others may have different approaches and methods and I will be watching this thread for other comments. Good luck.

 

[jBabychickn]

I did not think it got that cold in KY to get frostbite. Anyway, my treatment for frostbite is to not treat it. I have heard stories that rubbing lotion on the frostbite areas might do more damage than good. I live in northern Minnesota, and I have had a few chickens get frostbite. None of my chickens have died from frostbite. In fact, most heal without any intervention on my part and are probably better that I don't try to intervene.

If you know what caused the frostbite, maybe you could do something to prevent it next time. We can't control the weather, but the coop humidity should be about the same as the outdoor humidity. Unless you have a heated climate controlled coop, the best you can hope for is humidity inside and outside the coop being the same.

I would also ask what you use for a waterer. I use an old fashioned metal poultry fount, but that prevents the chickens from dipping their comb in the water for the most part. Some people use open pans or dog dishes for water, and I hear that makes it much easier to get the chicken's comb wet, and then freeze.

Frankly, I think your chicken will recover well with or without any intervention on your part. Maybe just watch the chickens for any abnormal behaviors which might require your attention at that time. In general, I find my chickens more than capable of surviving a touch of frostbite. More specifically, if I had a chicken that could not handle the cold weather and frostbite issues, then I would not get that breed again for where I iive and raise my backyard flock.

Those are just my thoughts on how I deal with frostbite with my chickens. It works for me. But others may have different approaches and methods and I will be watching this thread for other comments. Good luck.

Thanks so much for this information!!
We’ve been having some crazy cold snaps here; it’s in the 60’s one day and the teens & 20’s the next! We’re expecting a big ice storm on Thursday but our high today will be 62°, I believe… Its crazy! Poor birds don’t know what to think? Ha!

I think I’ve covered my bases on all I can do to prevent it. I use a bucket waterer with the little red cups, which isn’t kept in their coop, only out in their covered run area. My ventilation on the coop is up high and not at roost level. I keep a Bluetooth thermometer/hydrometer in the coop that I just double-checked, and it’s about 5% higher than the outside humidity according to the weather app I use on my iPhone. I wouldn’t think that would be too much higher considering I’ve got 9 chickens in a 6x8 coop, all happily snoring away…

I think the poor guy is blessed with a huge comb! One reason, I got salmon faverolles was about their cold hardiness but I sure don’t understand why the Roos have such big combs..?

Anyway, thanks for your reassurance. Its my first winter with him and I wanted to make sure I was doing right by him. He’s such a sweet guy!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Sound advice from @gtaus.

@jBabychickn, I'm also in KY, so I feel your pain re the wild temperature swings. And more snow forecast for the end of the week...

I, too, raise breeds with very large combs and typically end up with a few roosters losing tips during winter. While I don't heat my coop, it is well built, properly ventilated, and I use horizontal nipple waterers (taken in at night when there's risk of freezing).

Having encountered this issue over several winters, I've learned that trying to treat the areas with salves or sprays can actually make them worse (moisture being added to already-damaged areas and then exposed to cold), so preventing/minimizing damage is what I now focus on. A while back, I had a rooster with a very large comb who had suffered some relatively minor injuries to it, so I applied Vetericyn at nightly lock-up; unfortunately, we had an unexpected dip in temperatures that night, and he ended up losing much of his comb to frostbite.

Some roosters also seem to be prone to frostbite for behavioral reasons, like the ones that are constantly out in the bitter cold because hens are out or ones that don't tuck their heads under their wings at night. I'm really becoming a fan of pea combs.

Best wishes for your roo's recovery. His comb may be more "streamlined" afterward, but he'll still be handsome.

 

[jBabychickn]

Sound advice from @gtaus.

@jBabychickn, I'm also in KY, so I feel your pain re the wild temperature swings. And more snow forecast for the end of the week...

I, too, raise breeds with very large combs and typically end up with a few roosters losing tips during winter. While I don't heat my coop, it is well built, properly ventilated, and I use horizontal nipple waterers (taken in at night when there's risk of freezing).

Having encountered this issue over several winters, I've learned that trying to treat the areas with salves or sprays can actually make them worse (moisture being added to already-damaged areas and then exposed to cold), so preventing/minimizing damage is what I now focus on. A while back, I had a rooster with a very large comb who had suffered some relatively minor injuries to it, so I applied Vetericyn at nightly lock-up; unfortunately, we had an unexpected dip in temperatures that night, and he ended up losing much of his comb to frostbite.

Some roosters also seem to be prone to frostbite for behavioral reasons, like the ones that are constantly out in the bitter cold because hens are out or ones that don't tuck their heads under their wings at night. I'm really becoming a fan of pea combs.

Best wishes for your roo's recovery. His comb may be more "streamlined" afterward, but he'll still be handsome.

Perfect! I’m gonna leave him alone then and I feel confident about that. I will watch for infection of course or any change in his behavior; but he’s acting fine. Although he’s enjoying this extra attention of us picking him up and putting stuff on his comb; he practically falls asleep! Ha!

Also, he’s the type to stand out in the cold regardless and not take breaks to warm up in the coop even tho he’s got full access to get out of the weather at all times. I don’t think ive ever seen him tuck his head under a wing either. Ive got a Coop cam and I’m always spying on them at night, I like to see them all safe and asleep in there!

 

[gtaus]

I've learned that trying to treat the areas with salves or sprays can actually make them worse (moisture being added to already-damaged areas and then exposed to cold), so preventing/minimizing damage is what I now focus on.

Pretty much what I have learned, too.

Some roosters also seem to be prone to frostbite for behavioral reasons, like the ones that are constantly out in the bitter cold because hens are out or ones that don't tuck their heads under their wings at night. I'm really becoming a fan of pea combs.

Also, he’s the type to stand out in the cold regardless and not take breaks to warm up in the coop even tho he’s got full access to get out of the weather at all times.

FWIW, my hens stay in their coop for about 5-6 months out of the year. They refuse to go outside in the snowy chicken run. Not happening with my girls. I have learned to accept it.

I built my chicken coop with our cold northern Minnesota winters in mind. I have about 8 sq. ft. per bird in my coop. That gives them plenty of room to move around and not get into fights in a crowded space. Winters are long here and they need extra space inside the coop to all get along.

If you get an occasional cold snap down there in KY, and have frostbite issues related to your chickens staying outside instead of having the common sense to go into the sheltered coop, then I might suggest you just lock them inside the coop for the day or two required until the storm passes. Unless your coop is very crowded, I don't think it would hurt them to stay inside. 4 sq. ft. per bird should be more than enough space for a few days lockdown.

Of course, I also have my feed and water inside my coop. So that makes it very easy for me just to lock up the girls and ride out the storm. But, point is, if the weather's awful outside, I would not feel bad about locking them up inside the coop for a day or two. Might solve the issue of your rooster freezing his large comb outside in the storm.

 

[jBabychickn]

Pretty much what I have learned, too.





FWIW, my hens stay in their coop for about 5-6 months out of the year. They refuse to go outside in the snowy chicken run. Not happening with my girls. I have learned to accept it.

I built my chicken coop with our cold northern Minnesota winters in mind. I have about 8 sq. ft. per bird in my coop. That gives them plenty of room to move around and not get into fights in a crowded space. Winters are long here and they need extra space inside the coop to all get along.

If you get an occasional cold snap down there in KY, and have frostbite issues related to your chickens staying outside instead of having the common sense to go into the sheltered coop, then I might suggest you just lock them inside the coop for the day or two required until the storm passes. Unless your coop is very crowded, I don't think it would hurt them to stay inside. 4 sq. ft. per bird should be more than enough space for a few days lockdown.

Of course, I also have my feed and water inside my coop. So that makes it very easy for me just to lock up the girls and ride out the storm. But, point is, if the weather's awful outside, I would not feel bad about locking them up inside the coop for a day or two. Might solve the issue of your rooster freezing his large comb outside in the storm.

Great thought! We have a 6X8 coop for 9 standard sized birds and a 12ft x 8ft run that’s partially covered with their food and water. I keep them in there on stormy days for sure; but this stinker likes to be in the run while the girls just visit long enough to get their food and water and go back in the coop for warmth. — This is my first winter/my first flock, so this new ice storm and cold snap we have coming… I’m gonna be more hands on and let them get their breakfast and water then corral him back in the coop with the girls at least for the worst of it.

 

[gtaus]

I’m gonna be more hands on and let them get their breakfast and water then corral him back in the coop with the girls at least for the worst of it.

I built my coop with the intention of having both food and water inside. I don't have any feeders or waterers outside. Although, in the summertime, I will throw down an open rubber pan and fill it up with water so the birds don't have to go into the coop for water on a hot summer day.

Just thinking you might be able to put in a temporary feeder and waterer inside the coop if you get hit with a storm for a few days. Easier than letting the chickens out to eat and drink and then trying to get them back into the coop on your timeline. But I know some coops were not designed to have food and water inside, so you do what you can with what you have. Good luck.

 

[jBabychickn]

I built my coop with the intention of having both food and water inside. I don't have any feeders or waterers outside. Although, in the summertime, I will throw down an open rubber pan and fill it up with water so the birds don't have to go into the coop for water on a hot summer day.

Just thinking you might be able to put in a temporary feeder and waterer inside the coop if you get hit with a storm for a few days. Easier than letting the chickens out to eat and drink and then trying to get them back into the coop on your timeline. But I know some coops were not designed to have food and water inside, so you do what you can with what you have. Good luck.

I deeply appreciate all your thoughts and experiences; you’ve definitely helped me think of new things to try…
Stay warm this Season!