How To Prevent Frostbite?

[imnukensc]

I understand the theory, just curious if there is a way to scientifically confirm.. Since freezing is freezing regardless of the substance, in my over thinking brain.

I tried to find the freezing point. So far this is what I came up with..

Boiling/Condensation Point 335°C (635°F) Melting/Freezing Point 54.444°C (130°F). Seems as though they didn't include it, but just the melting/boiling point. Since I work by reasonable deduction, but didn't appreciate science back in the day... Does anybody know if something has a higher boiling point if it ALSO has a higher freezing point? Anybody find freezing point relative, the way I think it is?

Melting point and freezing point are essentially the same thing although in this instance I've seen data that says the melting point/freezing point of Vaseline/petroleum jelly to be about 37C (99F). In another example, steel has a melting point/freezing point of about 2500F. Below that temperature, steel is a solid, i.e., it is frozen. Above that temperature it melts and becomes a liquid.

 

[Folly's place]

Here in southern Michigan it's always damp! Not as cold or snowy as Minnesota or Wisconsin, but really, 'cold' in California? Except in the mountains?
We keep the coop well ventilated, and no damper than ambient.
Mary

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Melting point and freezing point are essentially the same thing although in this instance I've seen data that says the melting point/freezing point of Vaseline/petroleum jelly to be about 37C (99F). In another example, steel has a melting point/freezing point of about 2500F. Below that temperature, steel is a solid, i.e., it is frozen. Above that temperature it melts and becomes a liquid.

Hmm, I semi get what your saying... but will have to ponder it.

Ok, 1 thing to clear in my brain is that melt and boiling point is not the same thing.

The other thing is... though my butter is solid at room temp, it is much harder AND a lower temperature at freezer temp. So it seems as though the freezing point of Vaseline would be irrelevant because it would be harder but still the same temperature as the environment. There by still transferring the cold inwards to the comb/waddles. MAYBE... the size of the crystals that freeze has some impact on how it acts.. Curiosity!

'cold' in California?

Right! It's actually supposed to be around 60 and sunny here at the far north coast today. Won't brag too much though.. 1 because it isn't very kind. But 2 I get my fair share of torrential rain and wind.

It was cold enough in the high desert to get snow when we lived there (not much or it wouldn't be desert), but again elevation related and maybe like +14 F. It was actually colder on clear nights than when it was snowing sometimes!

The coldest I have personally experienced (in the mountains) was +3 degrees.

When I lived in the San Joaquin Valley where much produce type stuff comes from, the farmers would fire up their wind machines to stop the moisture from settling and freezing their crop when it was going be below a certain temp for so many hours. And ya, that was not very low at all. Bunch'a cold wimpy yahoos in Cali, got no clue about real cold. It's all relative.

Ah my brain could be focusing on things so much worse than this.

 

[Gammond]

My guys seem to get frost bite because they dunk their wattles (and sometimes even their combs if they're being clumsy) directly in the water while drinking - then it freezes... Not really any way to prevent this, as I like the dish-type heated waterers for winter... I did recently switch most of my roos to pea-comb + no wattle roosters (Ameracaunas).

 

[greggooo]

I use 2x4s flat side up...Vents well above the Roosts because moisture rises...I run a heat lamp that is connected 3xs so no chance of it falling...Never too warm in my coop..But is not -25C like it can get here...
Vaseline is good on combs and wattles but will still freeze depending on how cold it actually gets...

I do the 2x4s flat side up too and installed a flat panel radiant heater, just takes the edge off, doesn't do much. I use mushers, a wax product for dog's paws instead of vaseline.

 

[greggooo]

I tried vaseline for a winter that had -20 F almost every day my first year of chickening. It did not do the trick in that weather and I don't know if it will help with 18 so much. A lot depends on how huge that comb and wattles really are, Allie. Also how close their roost is to the ceiling. If it's close you might want to lower that roost so that breathing moisture goes up and away from condensation points. Most roosters cannot tuck their heads or won't. You could try bag balm. I think it's waxier and a bit more durable and seems to repel moisture more so than the vaseline...but eventually that wears off too.

In preparation of the colder weather get all the poo out of the coop. Deep Litter isn't going to be working much in 18F. Sorry to say. All it does is harbor moisture which is a frigid weather no-no. Nice dry pine shavings to prepare for the cold. If you don't have much ventilation in your roof peaks or high spots get some drilled in or crack a window but keeping drafts away from the birds.

Unless they are an exotic Jungle Fowl you do not need to heat a coop for 18 degree weather. Your birds will do fine with that temp.
If you find you need to heat your coop for say 0 or below consider a flat panel heater. Do not let your hobby go up in flames for a $7 heat lamp. The Flat panels are about $40. But well worth the peace of mind.

Do not feed moistened feed. Especially the warm oatmeal that bloggers and chicken lovers on the internet tout. It is going to cling to the wattles and/or steam them with moisture and for sure give frost bite. dry feed in those temps only. The only thing wet should be their water in the fount. Preferably located in the run.

I've been using this. So far so good. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00II71FQA/?tag=backy-20

 

[greggooo]

I tried vaseline for a winter that had -20 F almost every day my first year of chickening. It did not do the trick in that weather and I don't know if it will help with 18 so much. A lot depends on how huge that comb and wattles really are, Allie. Also how close their roost is to the ceiling. If it's close you might want to lower that roost so that breathing moisture goes up and away from condensation points. Most roosters cannot tuck their heads or won't. You could try bag balm. I think it's waxier and a bit more durable and seems to repel moisture more so than the vaseline...but eventually that wears off too.

In preparation of the colder weather get all the poo out of the coop. Deep Litter isn't going to be working much in 18F. Sorry to say. All it does is harbor moisture which is a frigid weather no-no. Nice dry pine shavings to prepare for the cold. If you don't have much ventilation in your roof peaks or high spots get some drilled in or crack a window but keeping drafts away from the birds.

Unless they are an exotic Jungle Fowl you do not need to heat a coop for 18 degree weather. Your birds will do fine with that temp.
If you find you need to heat your coop for say 0 or below consider a flat panel heater. Do not let your hobby go up in flames for a $7 heat lamp. The Flat panels are about $40. But well worth the peace of mind.

Do not feed moistened feed. Especially the warm oatmeal that bloggers and chicken lovers on the internet tout. It is going to cling to the wattles and/or steam them with moisture and for sure give frost bite. dry feed in those temps only. The only thing wet should be their water in the fount. Preferably located in the run.

Also use the flat panel heater. Love it!

 

[biodarwin]

Why not and how?

It locks in moisture, which is the exact opposite of what you are looking to do. Sure it treats the dry'ed comb, but unless it just a single cold snap and is moving back to warmer weather, it does more damage than it does cure.

 

[leighks]

I do the 2x4s flat side up too and installed a flat panel radiant heater, just takes the edge off, doesn't do much. I use mushers, a wax product for dog's paws instead of vaseline.

I heard about musher’s secret and just bought it since my roo has a huge comb and waddles already, and it’s his 1st winter. I’m glad to hear someone else has has success with it. I haven’t had to use it yet, but I will this weekend.

As far as Vaseline is concerned, I read it has a high water content, which causes little ice crystals to form in it and that’s why it doesn’t prevent frostbite. Waxy products like musher’s secret- developed for use on feet of sled dogs- don’t have much moisture in them and last longer.

 

[Sylvester017]

All great suggestions I'm reading here. I complained to my vet about the vaseline I used on my White Leghorn's comb/wattles that greased up her head and stomach feathers so that dust-bath dirt yellowed and dark-stained her feathers badly the rest of the year until her next molt. Vaseline is so greasy to get off of my hands or wiping excess off the chicken. Also, the vaseline didn't keep the very tips of her Leghorn comb from getting frostbitten.

My vet used to work in the poultry industry and knows chickens well -- he suggested to me to use Vitamin A or Vitamin E oil to put on a chicken's comb, wattles, feet, toenails, facial skin all year-round. Not only does it provide added protection in winter like vaseline does but the vitamin oils also provide nourishment to the chicken's skin. I also found that the vitamin oil (I use liquid Vitamin E oil which comes mixed w/ soy and coconut oils sold in Walmart pharmacy vitamin aisle) soaks into the skin overnight and any oil that gets on the feathers disappears by morning (and my hands feel so soft and nourished too) -- no dust-bath dirt stains the feathers. On white chickens like Leghorns or Rocks no stain/grease was important to me. I even use Vitamin oil on my feather-footed breeds like Silkies and Breda because there's no greasy residue lingering on toe feathers. I apply the vitamin oil to each chicken after they go to roost and then put them back on the roost after a treatment -- the chicken is calmer plus the oil has a chance to soak into the skin overnight. Vaseline-ugh! Vitamin A or E oil-hurray!

P.S. I have a small backyard flock so it's easy. It may take more than one person to help apply vitamin oils if you have a LOT of chickens to treat.