Frostbite/swelling on rooster waddle

[SnuffyLoco]

Hello. It's been really cold here the last few days and my leghorn rooster has a big waddle on him. The lower portion of it (and the tips of his comb) have become very dark, which I think must be frostbite. It's happened before a couple winters ago and he recovered just fine. However, this time, one side of his waddle where it's darkest is puffed out and seems to be filled with fluid. Should I lance it and drain the fluid out or just leave it be?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Can you post a picture of it? Try thawing it out some by bringing him inside for a little while. (That worked when I had two roosters like this.) If it doesn't, you will need to drain it, but I'd avoid doing so if possible.

 

[aart]

or just leave it be

This^^^

Have had this before, the swelling should go down within a day or two. Any black parts will fall off eventually.

 

[ChikaInu]

Can you post a picture of it? Try thawing it out some by bringing him inside for a little while. (That worked when I had two roosters like this.) If it doesn't, you will need to drain it, but I'd avoid doing so if possible.

I don't know. If it is really cold outside you should absolutely NOT bring the birds inside (room temperature) unless you aim to keep them in there. It can do more harm than help.

 

[SnuffyLoco]

Can you post a picture of it? Try thawing it out some by bringing him inside for a little while. (That worked when I had two roosters like this.) If it doesn't, you will need to drain it, but I'd avoid doing so if possible.

It's kinda of hard to see in the pictures, but one side is very enlarged.

 

[SnuffyLoco]

This^^^

Have had this before, the swelling should go down within a day or two. Any black parts will fall off eventually.

I dunno man, it seems worse now than a couple days ago. And it's been a lot warmer (the weather) too.

 

[Eggcessive]

The swelling and pain stay pretty bad for awhile, but will eventually go down. It can take a week or more for the damage to be seen. Expect his comb tips and wattles to become smaller and more rounded off. This may take a month or more. Do not handle them or rub anything on them. If his wattles get wet in the water in freezing weather, this can happen. It is hard to prevent frostbite in large combed chickens.

 

[SnuffyLoco]

The swelling and pain stay pretty bad for awhile, but will eventually go down. It can take a week or more for the damage to be seen. Expect his comb tips and wattles to become smaller and more rounded off. This may take a month or more. Do not handle them or rub anything on them. If his wattles get wet in the water in freezing weather, this can happen. It is hard to prevent frostbite in large combed chickens.

but his waddle now seems pretty seriously enlarged and filled with fluid. it's okay to just leave him like that and not drain it?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not drain or handle it. I have heard of some people doing that, but it would be very painful. Offer him food and water often. Some raw or cooked egg would be good. Mushy wet chicken feed. Here is a thread where various people talked about draining, and some said not to:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...mb-and-severely-swollen-waddle.1219447/page-4