Frostbite!

[Chickie-chan]

Wow! Thanks for all the information! (Not trying to be sarcastic) I really appreciate how much everyone cares for my birds.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Yes on relationship between vascularity of the tissue and vulnerability to frostbite. I alluded to this in the AK/frostbite thread.

Henderson's rating of cold hardiness does not take into consideration vulnerability of comb to frostbite. This is easy to see because he says certain because he says certain single comb breeds are more cold hardy than certain breeds with other comb types. It is well known that single combs are more vulnerable to frostbite than pea, walnut, or rose comb. Some single comb breeds may be generally more cold hardy than certain pea comb breeds, because there are factors other than comb type that determine overall hardiness.

Chickens probably do not feel pain in exactly the same way people do. Their experience probably is different - but different does not necessarily mean they suffer less. We do not know exactly how they experience it and we never will, because we are not chickens. But they absolutely do feel pain -- that's why they withdraw from painful stimuli, such as when you accidentally step on one's foot. Interestingly, they sometimes lay motionless when people do things like cut off their body parts or cut them open without any anethetic. This does not prove they don't feel pain. Animals have evolved to hide it when suffering, because making a fuss attracts predators. In the case of chickens, showing pain attracts not only predators but also the bullies in the flock. People, on the other hand, evolved to help other humans in pain, so it is adaptive for people to show when in pain.

But as interesting as a debate on an animal's experience of pain could be, it might be more helpful to the OP to stick with frostbite to the comb.

You bring up some brilliantly sensible points ... sent you Henderson's contact info, in the hopes you might share your thoughts w/ him.

As to the pain (and w/ apology to the OP for drifting off topic) some of us human have ridiculously high tolerances for it (to the point that doctors insist upon treating the pain so as to prevent any damage to our hearts). For certain, I've seen animals become entirely still after first responding to what most humans couldn't tolerate ... once they've surrendered to their situation, they just seem to shut off any response, and often appear to be otherwise perfectly fine. Clearly, a part of their design that makes any attempts to repair them both possible and humane.

 

[janinepeters]

You bring up some brilliantly sensible points ... sent you Henderson's contact info, in the hopes you might share your thoughts w/ him.

As to the pain (and w/ apology to the OP for drifting off topic) some of us human have ridiculously high tolerances for it (to the point that doctors insist upon treating the pain so as to prevent any damage to our hearts). For certain, I've seen animals become entirely still after first responding to what most humans couldn't tolerate ... once they've surrendered to their situation, they just seem to shut off any response, and often appear to be otherwise perfectly fine. Clearly, a part of their design that makes any attempts to repair them both possible and humane.

Thank you for the compliment, cowcreekgeek, perhaps I will contact Henderson! I would like to say more about the chicken's reaction to pain, and if I can find the time, I will PM you rather than continue here, because I think that debate is going far beyond what the OP is looking for.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Thank you for the compliment, cowcreekgeek, perhaps I will contact Henderson! I would like to say more about the chicken's reaction to pain, and if I can find the time, I will PM you rather than continue here, because I think that debate is going far beyond what the OP is looking for.

You should absolutely do both (contact him, and continue w/ me ~'-)

 

[Chickie-chan]

I really don't mind, its actually quite interesting. Ive been busy with school and things so I haven't been checking this as much as I should have.

UPDATE: There was one night I forgot to close the run door and take out the water and the next day the comb seemed to be filled with puss. That night she somehow poked a hole in it and puss was coming out. I've read of someone draining the puss so I squeezed some of it out. (It was a small swelling.) Then put some Vaseline on it so it wouldn't get infected. Today she seemed better while I continued to take out the water at night.

 

[janinepeters]

I really don't mind, its actually quite interesting. Ive been busy with school and things so I haven't been checking this as much as I should have.
UPDATE: There was one night I forgot to close the run door and take out the water and the next day the comb seemed to be filled with puss. That night she somehow poked a hole in it and puss was coming out. I've read of someone draining the puss so I squeezed some of it out. (It was a small swelling.) Then put some Vaseline on it so it wouldn't get infected. Today she seemed better while I continued to take out the water at night.

If there was pus, it is already infected and vaseline will not help it. You will need to clean it and apply a topical antibiotic.

Did you ever measure the humidity level inside the coop?

 

[Chickie-chan]

I have never measured it inside the coop and I'll switch to an antibiotic.

Seems like when I take the water out their combs got better without the moisture.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

I have never measured it inside the coop and I'll switch to an antibiotic.

Seems like when I take the water out their combs got better without the moisture.

On the antibiotic? Make sure it does NOT have any pain reliever in it.

Removing the water helps to lower the humidity, even if only a little.
Also, if you feed/water 'em well shortly before dark, they'll generate more heat while roosting (even if only a little ~'-)

 

[Chickie-chan]

Thanks for the follow up! I don't know what I was thinking when puss comes before infection and all that. I'll give them some scraps before they go to sleep tomorrow, to encourage them to eat.

I had a really funny connection the other day when you two were talking about chickens built differently and their cold resistance kind of thing. I was outside with them and all three got onto my lap and we were sitting in the cold keeping each other warm. ( I had thought that I would try to give them some of my warmth) I was out there for probably thirty minutes and I was cold! When I gently scooted them off my lap and onto the ground, they wandered around as if it was 70 degrees outside! It's amazing what they can withstand.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Thanks for the follow up! I don't know what I was thinking when puss comes before infection and all that. I'll give them some scraps before they go to sleep tomorrow, to encourage them to eat.
I had a really funny connection the other day when you two were talking about chickens built differently and their cold resistance kind of thing. I was outside with them and all three got onto my lap and we were sitting in the cold keeping each other warm. ( I had thought that I would try to give them some of my warmth) I was out there for probably thirty minutes and I was cold! When I gently scooted them off my lap and onto the ground, they wandered around as if it was 70 degrees outside! It's amazing what they can withstand.

Indeed, they can handle far more than most of us imagine, but ... picturing the relationship, where you're sharing your warmth w/ 'em, warms me, as well. That's what makes 'em more tolerant of their environment, and better able to withstand their circumstances ~'-)