How can I get rid of frost bite on combs?

ChickenGeek_101

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I have 12 chickens (11 roosters)
Two millie fleurs, one buff orphington, eight old English game bantams, and then my hen which is a black star. My millie fleurs combs are frost bit, and one part looks like it's about to fall off. Shoud I put something on it, or just leave it alone? They stay inside over night.

And one other thing.
One of them keeps his wings down. Is he sick or just cold?

Any advice would be great.
 
What other symptoms does he have? Is he acting lethargic, eating, drinking? Discharge, or diarrhea that you see? How old are they, and have you ever dewormed them or treated them for coccidiosis?

That is an awful lot of roosters for one hen. Really, you should get some more hens, or get rid of some roosters, especially if they're confined in a coop or run. The ideal ratio is 12 hens to one rooster, and although that's probably not practical or realistic in your case, you can see why it might be a problem at some point. We've never had that ratio, and we have never really had a problem, but our flock does free range and they also have a lot of room in our barn where they spend the night or shelter from the weather, so the flock can spread out.

As far as frostbite, no, there's nothing you can really do to treat it. Yes, the damaged parts will fall off. People have different remedies they try, but my personal opinion is it must be painful or uncomfortable to touch, and vaseline or lubricants just make things colder. If they're in a drier shelter overnight, that is supposed to help some. Roosters don't usually put their heads under their wing as hens do, and so they're more susceptible anyway, and if they have a large comb it will still be exposed if they do put their head under a wing. Hens with large combs can get frostbitten too. We're having that problem here as well, with all the bitter cold.
 
He acts just fine, eating drinking fine. I think they are about 6 or 7 months old, he doesn't have any discharge or diarrhea. I have not wormed them yet, but I am getting ready to.

And yes I do have to many roosters, I am getting more hens this coming spring and getting rid of some the roosters.they are free range.
Thanks for the help! :)
 
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If he continues to act a little droopy, you might just treat for Cocci with Amprolium (Corid). Sometimes they don't have any other symptoms for Cocci besides droopiness. Don't know where you are, but we had a problem with Cocci herethis past year. We don't normally. You can give Corid to the whole flock, five days.
 
My d'uccle roosters would get frostbite on their comb points. They look miserable for a while but it all heals up. Most will lose the points. I do nothing, messing with damaged tissue isn't a good idea. Most of my single comb roosters will lose their points, or have lost them. It's inevitable here in Wisconsin.
 

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