(Not sure where to ask) is his comb too big?

[tlcmurphy]

@The Moonshiner

 

[z3lda3]

@The Moonshiner

Thank you! It’s definitely one of those days! I need all the help I can get lol.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Thank you! It’s definitely one of those days! I need all the help I can get lol.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Na it's fine. Those white leghorns roosters can get crazy big combs. I don't have whites but I've had many with combs that big and they've been fine.
I don't see it becoming an issue but I don't have a lot of long term experience. Frigid winter temps usually dub mine by their second winter.

 

[Anon112]

As others are writing, he will be more vulnerable to frostbite in cold temps/wind. My leghorn, Bernard, lost all of his spikes this winter. I thought I'd done a good enough job putting up tarps as windbreaks during our worst cold snap, but apparently not. (The top fifth of his comb self-amputated after a few weeks).

 

[z3lda3]

As others are writing, he will be more vulnerable to frostbite in cold temps/wind. My leghorn, Bernard, lost all of his spikes this winter. I thought I'd done a good enough job putting up tarps as windbreaks during our worst cold snap, but apparently not. (The top fifth of his comb self-amputated after a few weeks).

Im sorry about Bernard’s comb. You know that’s gotta hurt! I appreciate the warning! Is there anything besides keeping wind and wetness away, that I can do?
Should I crochet our big combed boys winter hats?

 

[z3lda3]

Na it's fine. Those white leghorns roosters can get crazy big combs. I don't have whites but I've had many with combs that big and they've been fine.
I don't see it becoming an issue but I don't have a lot of long term experience. Frigid winter temps usually dub mine by their second winter.

I was reading about-I think-it was called docking. I’m guessing like a dogs ears or tail, just cutting it down? Is that the same thing?
It seems so painful. And don’t they need the comb for temperature regulation or something?
I’ve just never had a boy with a comb SO big! Maybe his head will grow to catch up with it lol.
Just so you know FYI you were 100% right about leghorns. He’s one of my favorite roosters!!

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I was reading about-I think-it was called docking. I’m guessing like a dogs ears or tail, just cutting it down? Is that the same thing?
It seems so painful. And don’t they need the comb for temperature regulation or something?
I’ve just never had a boy with a comb SO big! Maybe his head will grow to catch up with it lol.
Just so you know FYI you were 100% right about leghorns. He’s one of my favorite roosters!!

I've never heard about it in chickens but I would not do it at all. Combs are important for temperature regulation. They can lose some of their combs due to frostbite which is unfortunate and not fun for them. Sometimes it is just too big that despite your efforts they get frostbite. That's why breeds with smaller combs are more favourable in places with cold winters as it lowers the risk of frostbite.

 

[Anon112]

Im sorry about Bernard’s comb. You know that’s gotta hurt! I appreciate the warning! Is there anything besides keeping wind and wetness away, that I can do?
Should I crochet our big combed boys winter hats?

My chickens are long overdue for me to build them a new coop. They sleep out in the open in their run. They have solid walls on three sides, but one side is open to the elements (it's a converted horse run-in). I was putting up the tarps on my own, in the cold, in the dark, and I just didn't give them as much coverage as they needed.

If your chickens have an actual coop that they sleep inside, I think that's the most important thing. (Naturally with good ventilation so that it doesn't get moist).

He's done really well for years. He had, in the past, lost the tiniest bit of the tip of a spike. I was shocked when I came out in the morning this last winter---I could see this white line down the top fifth of his comb in a perfect arc. Just a terrible combination of much-lower-than-usual temps and strong winds.

 

[Anon112]

I was reading about-I think-it was called docking. I’m guessing like a dogs ears or tail, just cutting it down? Is that the same thing?
It seems so painful. And don’t they need the comb for temperature regulation or something?

You mean intentionally cutting off their comb?! That sounds horrible.