Frostbitten Roosters

[Granny Hatchet]

Ok, but like, the frostbite isn't just on the tips of their combs. It has spread to pretty much cover the whole entire comb, apart from where it meets with the head. Would you still not touch it? Every once in a while it gets bloody.

 

[BantyChooks]

that the cold hardy birds with short combs can get frost bite just as easy as leghorns, ect..

My interpretation of what you said: Cold hardy breeds are no different than non cold hardy breeds in terms of being prone to frost bite.

Oops, sorry. Let me re-phrase it:

Birds like RIRs, BOs etc are often touted as 'cold hardy' by hatcheries. These birds have nice thick feathers that will indeed make them feel the cold less than a more hard feathered breed, BUT they still have large single combs and they don't magically not get frostbite because they're somehow more special then the 'not cold-hardy' ones. Honestly, I think calling a specific breed 'cold hardy' is rather a gimmick. Take a guess as to what breed I own that deals with the cold best in behaviour---you never will. It's a shocker.

Yes, there are a bunch of other breeds classed as cold hardy that have nice small headgear and won't get frostbite. I was referring to the specific breeds the OP had---sorry about that.

Make more sense? I'm running on not enough sleep right now.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

didnt OP say it was bleeding ?

I wouldn't mess with bleeding either unless it's a lot or won't stop. Rubbing stuff on frostbitten tissue can cause it to bleed.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I wouldn't mess with bleeding either unless it's a lot or won't stop. Rubbing stuff on frostbitten tissue can cause it to bleed.

I see, thanks for the info.

 

[Arya28]

The combs definitely start to bleed once in a while, and I really don’t think it’s because they’re getting picked on- I could see why someone would think that though. Once I get pictures maybe you’ll be able to better understand what I mean. Like there aren’t chunks of the combs taken out, and they aren’t ripped- trust me, we’ve seen plenty of what that looks like. This is like the damaged tissue just starts to bleed once in a while and drip. Not a lot, like I don’t think they are loosing a lot of blood from it. It just seems like it’d be painful. Man, do they have nerves in their combs??

As far as ventilation, they have plenty of ventilation lol. It’s a 100 year old barn that hasn’t really had anything done to it insulation wise. We do live in a very moist environment though, which I’m sure isn’t helping with the frostbite.

 

[Arya28]

HOWEVER, when I say we have the cracks sealed, we have tarps hung up in drafty areas for them. Also, tarps and tape are sealing up areas where there are gaps in the wood and such.