Frostbite Question

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

My rooster has frostbite. I’m used to big combed breeds, and he’s basically a Link ( basically because he looks like one, but the Plymouth was his dad), but his wattles look a little worse than I’ve seen in past winters (in central Ohio). He’s also shaking his head back and forth, like the back of his comb is bothering him. Advice?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Leave it alone, don't touch it, don't put anything on it. Wattles, too.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Leave it alone, don't touch it, don't put anything on it. Wattles, too.

That was my plan, I was just a little worried about my roo. I did bring him and a couple of his hens in the house to warm up, as the low in town is -4 tonight, and I’ve got some long combed birds, for example my two Leghorns.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hello!! This happened to my roo and hen last year. I was so worried for my rooster because he was opening his mouth and I was afraid that he couldn't breath, but turned out that the weight of his wattles were pulling on his beak causing him to open it. But, after a few days of repeatedly re-applying vetrycin and hydrocortizone cream on it, the swelling went away and he was all well!! We kept him in a dog crate, but besides that, that is all we did. Hope this helps P.s. I feel like I also used something else on his comb and wattles, I'll let you know if I think of it

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be hard to prevent frostbite in large combed chickens when it gets down to zero. I do not put anything on frostbitten tissue since creams and ointments can freeze. Frostbite damage may take a week or so to be realized. Expect the comb and wattles to shrink and become more rounded off once it heals. What is your coop like? Do you have some overhead ventilation to let out humidity while keeping any direct wind off the chickens? Is there any open water inside the coop where the rooster gets his wattles wet?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would not put anything on the comb or wattles.

The comb will self dub, this can take a couple of months to heal depending on the damage. Same with wattles.

I recommend you read this and look at the photos.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-sw-michigan.74597/