Hens are possibly frostbiten?

Samannemm · Dec 28, 2017

I have 3 hens: one cinnamon queen, one polish, and one red star. Red star is wounded from a coyote attack with missing feathers. The patches where she is missing feathers seems really dry and possibly blue. My cinnamon queen is screaming and she will only eat and drink a little. Shockingly, my polish may be doing the best even though she keeps getting her head feathers wet! I bought a heated waterer with nibbles and the hens are having real issues figuring it out. Should I move them indoors? My house is 66 degrees, outside is 0 degrees. I have about a 3x3 coop on the group with no heat besides lots of straw and hay. What do I do?

Squishychicken · Dec 28, 2017

for the polish trim the feathers around her head to prevent them getting wet.
put vasilene on their combs if your worried about that part getting frostbite.

the hens will eventually figure out the nipple waterer.remove all other waterer except the nipple one that way the hens figure it out sooner.poke the nipple with your finger to show them were to peck and once one gets it the others will.

Samannemm · Dec 28, 2017

Squishychicken said:
for the polish trim the feathers around her head to prevent them getting wet.
put vasilene on their combs if your worried about that part getting frostbite.

the hens will eventually figure out the nipple waterer.remove all other waterer except the nipple one that way the hens figure it out sooner.poke the nipple with your finger to show them were to peck and once one gets it the others will.

I gave her a haircut already the other night when I first saw her dunk her head. Her front feathers still get wet because she dunks her face in so far! That’s why I bought the other waterer. I showed them with my finger and removed all of the other waterers and they still don’t get it. They peck underneath because they get the drippings from when I pressed it. And they’re eating the snow for water instead which is why I’m nervous about frostbite. Their feet look fine. Polish’s head looks okay too. My cinnamon queens crest has just a hint of darkening. She did eat when I went back out. My red star has some black spots but she’s had those since I received her. No new spots on her crest. I leave the coop door open for them during the day. It’s supposed to get to 17 today. Humidity in the coop hasn’t been more than 60% when closed and thats lower than outside. I’m in Il.

Squishychicken · Dec 28, 2017

your cinnimons have a crest?

Samannemm · Dec 28, 2017

Squishychicken said:
your cinnimons have a crest?

Oops I meant comb, not crest.

Squishychicken · Dec 28, 2017

ok good cause I was getting confused...

Samannemm · Dec 28, 2017

Lol ya new hybrid

Sorry, just had my polish on my mind while I was typing that.

Wyorp Rock · Dec 28, 2017

Samannemm said:
The patches where she is missing feathers seems really dry and possibly blue.

Samannemm said:
cinnamon queen is screaming and she will only eat and drink a little.

Samannemm said:
I bought a heated waterer with nibbles and the hens are having real issues figuring it out.

Samannemm said:
I gave her a haircut already the other night when I first saw her dunk her head.

Samannemm said:
cinnamon queens crest has just a hint of darkening. She did eat when I went back out. My red star has some black spots but she’s had those since I received her.

Samannemm said:
Humidity in the coop hasn’t been more than 60% when closed

Do you have any photos of your coop (inside/out -especially the ventilation)?
Photos of your girl with missing feathers and the blue skin too

You mention the CQ screaming - what exactly do you mean - is she just chatty/bickering or is it more distress?

Changing out a watering system can be confusing and sometimes stressful for them, hopefully they will figure it out soon. Winter time I have found my girls drink much more water than they do in summer, so getting them hydrated is important. If they don't figure it out, then it's best to provide them with a bowl of water.

How much ventilation do you have in your coop? A few common things that cause frostbite is getting their combs and wattles damp/wet, exposure and too much moisture in the coop (not enough air flow).

Frostbite does happen sometimes even with our best efforts in prevention. If the tips of the comb are turning dark, depending on the damage - they may die and fall off on their own. I would not handle/treat frostbitten parts unless they are bleeding or have pus/water blisters, then it might be prudent to spray a little Vetericyn.