Need Guidance Please

[Happyhealthyhomestead]

I'm a first time chicken mommy and I have refurnished a coop out of an old horse stall barn. I noticed today that my Ameracauna Rooster has frostbite on his comb. I feel terrible and I'm torn on whether or not to bring my flock inside the house to protect them from the extreme cold for the next few days.

I battened down the hatches in the coop with tarps, cardboard, and many bales of straw.The temperatures have been 3 to 15 for highs and the lows at -13 to 0. We just received an alert that the wind chill will cause it to go from a temperature of 0 to feeling like -25. Any advice on how to help my flock would be welcomed and very much appreciated.

 

[Jeanw]

Hi, you may want to check for similar threads or search frostbite and extreme cold weather on the site. I wish you the best for your babies!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Can you post pictures? Depending on the damage, it can heal like nothing happened.

Where I am, almost all my makes get frost bite and a lot of my hens on one flock got it this year roo. Don't feel too bad, I'm not sure if they're even fully aware of it

 

[Happyhealthyhomestead]

Hi, you may want to check for similar threads or search frostbite and extreme cold weather on the site. I wish you the best for your babies!

Thank you so much Jean! I'm headed to the extreme cold threads now!

 

[Happyhealthyhomestead]

Can you post pictures? Depending on the damage, it can heal like nothing happened.

Where I am, almost all my makes get frost bite and a lot of my hens on one flock got it this year roo. Don't feel too bad, I'm not sure if they're even fully aware of it

Thank you so much Jacin! I can post some pictures tomorrow. I didn't consider taking pictures. I was concerned about irritating him if he was in pain from the frostbite. I've read so much conflicting information I'm not sure what to go with. I tried to build the coop in similar to what my grandmother did when I was younger but that was Alabama and Missouri is completing different in the winter! It's a learning process but I'd like to take care of them as well as they take care of me.

 

[3KillerBs]

I battened down the hatches in the coop with tarps, cardboard, and many bales of straw.

I wonder if it's too tightly closed up so that the ventilation is compromised?

Some people have reported frostbite at temperatures barely below freezing when their ventilation was insufficient to remove the moisture that chickens generate in the coop.

 

[aart]

I was concerned about irritating him if he was in pain from the frostbite.

I've found they may be uncomfortable for a few days,
it will heal up fine but can take months.
IMO, hands of before and especially after.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-sw-michigan.74597/

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Happyhealthyhomestead
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Mrs. K]

I would ignore it, it frequently happens. Humidity and volume of air are the true culprits, with the cold just being a side note.

Do send pictures of your set up, and where you are as stated above. Keeping the coop dry is of the most importance. Some combs are much more susceptible to frost bite, but mild cases tend to bother people more than they bother chickens.

Mrs K

 

[MountainWoman73]

He'll be okay. Make sure they have good ventilation. I've heard of people putting vaseline petroleum jelly on rooster's combs in cold weather, but I've never tried it myself and don't know if that actually helps.

 

[aart]

I've heard of people putting vaseline petroleum jelly on rooster's combs in cold weather, but I've never tried it myself and don't know if that actually helps.

It doesn't, it can actually make it worse.