Moderate Frostbite on Rooster Comb

[AmazingRachel]

Temp today was 12*F, -3*F with windchill. Mostly cloudy.

So even though I had covered my rooster's comb in petroleum jelly, he still managed to get frostbite during the day. My cockerel's comb is naturally a maroon color*, so it was hard to actually see the beginning of frostbite taking place.. I finally noticed it when his comb looked a bit more pinkish than usual. When I when to pick him up and felt the front part of his comb, it was hard but a bit malleable and pinkish. I rushed him inside and patted down his comb with a dishcloth that I soaked in warm water. Even though I was extremely careful, it still bled and it bled a lot (which I know it's to be expected when there is an injury to the comb). It thankfully clotted up and I've already sprayed it twice with Vetericyn Wound & Skin Care Hydrogel in the last 6 hours and it feels and looks back to normal.
Question: Will that part of his comb still turn black and fall off? His comb wasn't frostbitten for more than maybe one or two hours so is there still a chance the tissues will cover?


*I thought he had a heart condition but the vet gave him a clean bill of health and said it was probably a weird genetics thing

 

[Casastash]

I have a chick who got frost bite on her toes and they dehydrated and fell off. Mind you are current temps are -50c with the windchill.


Good luck!

 

[Casastash]

 

[AmazingRachel]

View attachment 1223343

Oh wow. Well, my rooster's comb so far hasn't turned black, maybe a bit lighter than the rest of his comb but you really have to look at it to notice.

 

[Casastash]

The process has taken weeks, first they were white, then swelled... then once swelling went down the tissues died and then over 2 weeks dehydrated and fell off..

 

[Eggcessive]

Frostbite in the comb can take a few days to know how bad it might be. I would not touch the comb, since it is very painful. Using any liquids on the comb should be avoided unless they are inside in warm air until it has dried. I don’t use anything on my roosters’ combs. In a few weeks the tips of the comb may become rounded off. Most chickens tolerate frostbite of the comb or wattles pretty well. Casastash, sorry about your chicken’s foot. January and February are very harsh months for frostbite to occur.

 

[Casastash]

Frostbite in the comb can take a few days to know how bad it might be. I would not touch the comb, since it is very painful. Using any liquids on the comb should be avoided unless they are inside in warm air until it has dried. I don’t use anything on my roosters’ combs. In a few weeks the tips of the comb may become rounded off. Most chickens tolerate frostbite of the comb or wattles pretty well. Casastash, sorry about your chicken’s foot. January and February are very harsh months for frostbite to occur.

She unfortunately came that way from the breeder and I didn’t notice until it swelled the next day!

 

[AmazingRachel]

Frostbite in the comb can take a few days to know how bad it might be. I would not touch the comb, since it is very painful. In a few weeks the tips of the comb may become rounded off. Most chickens tolerate frostbite of the comb or wattles pretty well. Casastash, sorry about your chicken’s foot. January and February are very harsh months for frostbite to occur.

Yes, it was unexpected. He's a splash Barnevelder so they are a winter hardy breed and I had rubbed petroleum jelly on his comb before he went outside, about 4-5 hours before frostbite set in. Only the front half part of his comb had frostbite, not the back points, which is a bit weird but I guess makes sense since the wind seems to be what did it.

 

[XanderWiFi]

What effect does vaseline have that keeps their combs a little warmer from frostbite?