Frostbite still but laying again (some of them). We've had much warmer temps for the past month or so, but today it's -10 and dropping again. I think part of my problem is the sand. I rarely get a 10 degree difference inside and out, even with all 13 chickens inside the coop and the light bulb (not heat lamp) on. Right now it's actually 6 degrees warmer in the coop but I think that's just because since it's entirely insulated it takes longer to come down in temperature, but if temps stay this cold it'll eventually adjust and be only 2 degrees or so off from the outside temp (though of course without any windchill as it is very well sealed and insulated, so that's something at least). I really don't want to use a heat lamp until it drops below -20 or so. So today I spread out the bale of hay that I've had inside the coop all over the floor. Hopefully this will help. I love love love the sand in the summer because it's so easy to clean and they dust bathe in it, but I think I'm going to have to put down hay or something less cold for winters. We'll see how it goes with the hay in there. At these temps it's not like the poop is going to compost or anything with the bedding, I think it freezes as soon as it leaves the hen!
I agree that humidity aggravates and helps frostbite get a foot hold but I think cold cold also is not to be underestimated. -22 this AM for us (Wind chill not factored in). Well-ventilated coop. insulation in the roof only of my coop. My coop also has windows below the roosts for ventilation as well. I'll admit that I keep these windows closed. They are recycled paned sashes. My coop is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch off center in it's construction so there's a crack here and there in the boards and where the windows meet their trim. My first winter with chickens my large combed Roo--a New Hampshire has had some black tips. We've done vaseline with little result. (I'm not impressed) It's just the cold to be sure. I've been dealing with this since November, I know it doesn't feel good but I know he'll recover from it as along as I keep good cleaning practices and keep it lubed up with antibiotic ointment and such to help soothe it.
Today I noticed, even though I kept the coop at -4 to 5 degrees inside today with a heat lamp that one of his front toes looked larger than the same one on the other foot. I brought him in the house and on further inspection, to my horror, I seen this toe was more whitish or paler yellow. Not "setting" right while he stood. I promptly made a shallow warm water soak in my laundry tub. Let him stand in there for 5-10 minutes. When I took him out I did take out the vaseline again (but mostly for massage purposes) and started massaging his pad on that foot and that particular toe along with the other toes on that foot for a good 10 to 15 minutes. Although still slightly more swollen than that of the other foot it did seem to come around and he was able to curl it around my finger strongly. I debated to keep him in the house tonight. But he went to the sliding glass door, as he'd had enough of me and looked out longingly at the coop. I placed him up on his 2x4 roost next to the heat lamp and his BFF hen, Sunny--stress kept to a minimum.I have my fingers crossed. Plan is to deepen the litter on my coop floor some more. I've got about 3 1/2 inches of pine shavings. But I think there's some nasty cold frost that harbors in it, despite me turning it once in a while.
