Frostbite treatments

[Nutellalemonade]

Hi! One of our three hens, “Nutella”, I’m assuming from drinking water during our cold spell, has some frostbite? Is there anything in particular that I should be doing to help the waddles heal? I was thinking Vaseline? But wasn’t sure. Wondering if some sort of topical antibiotic would be beneficial. I doesn’t seem to be bothering her and it looks better today than yesterday. She is eating and drinking excellent. I just feel bad for her I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing.

 

[nuthatched]

Nothing, no touching, no sprays, no ointment. She'll be fine. :]

 

[Sally PB]

Ditto, that. Leave it alone. Depending on how frostbit her wattles got, some of the tissue might be ok. Or, it may slowly turn black and crusty, like a scab. If it does, it will eventually fall off. I had a rooster get frostbite twice, and lost points off his comb and the outer 1/8" of his wattles. It took several weeks to fall off. He was fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

More than likely, her wattles will become a bit smaller eventually. I also would not use anything on the frostbite, plus do not massage or handle the tissue or it can damage it more. She will be fine.

 

[aart]

Yep, hands off.

It will take a couple-few months to fully heal.
Here's some examples of severe frostbite healing I've seen in my flock.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-sw-michigan.74597/

 

[JRKHomies]

Ditto, that. Leave it alone. Depending on how frostbit her wattles got, some of the tissue might be ok. Or, it may slowly turn black and crusty, like a scab. If it does, it will eventually fall off. I had a rooster get frostbite twice, and lost points off his comb and the outer 1/8" of his wattles. It took several weeks to fall off. He was fine.

Thanks for these answers. I just posted a similar question about my rooster. Problem is that somehow his became seepy and started bleeding profusely. Then the hens started pecking at him.
Should I just leave his separated just enough to scab over and turn black before putting him back with the hens? Is there something I can dress it with to stop the pecking? Seems pecking is the only issue I need to do something about.

 

[Sally PB]

Should I just leave his separated just enough to scab over and turn black before putting him back with the hens?

That would be what I'd try first. Can you separate him from the flock, but still have him in view? Then he's still "with the flock," and doesn't become a stranger.

@aart, what do you think?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. What is your general location? I would try separating him inside a dog crate with food and water near the others, but so they cannot peck him. Pictures might be helpful. Does he have a lot of swelling?

 

[JRKHomies]

The rest are free ranging. I have him in a crate on the porch across from the 30ft x 30ft chicken enclosure. The girls come by to visit and chat and check him out. I go sit by him and they come because iam there. They can hear each other and still respond to each other. I could put the crate in the run too.

 

[JRKHomies]

But other than that leave his wattles alone? Just let it scab over?