Possible frostbite? Pictures added on first page!!

[BethieofVA]

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So what happened? What did you do?

 

[BHep]

I have 4 rooster that are starting to get frostbite also...looks just like that and 1 has a little yellow spot starting. I have been putting antibotic cream and vasoline on their combs and wattles. Plus they are a 100 watt heat bulb in the coop. It seems that the birds with the biggest combs are the only ones having this problem. I have been watching them closely. Temps at night here are in the mid 20s. I can not wait for this winter to be over!

 

[aussieheelr]

that looks like a pecking issue. Frostbite occurs on the tips of the comb points first and works its way down the comb, much like on people starting at fingers and toes working it's way to the hand or foot.

 

[midwestchickenwrangler]

Take your heat lamp out of the coop. One of my Leghorns got a little frost bite early this winter on the tips of her comb. I shut the heat lamp off immediately and she nor anyone else has had any more problems. The heat lamp will cause moisture in the air to turn to condensation and stick to the combs and wattles then that condensation freezes causing frostbite. It won't get too cold for the chickens outside.

ETA

My Leghorn's frost bite started out white and is slowly turning black.

 

[BethieofVA]

Okay, I caught her much to her surprise, and pasted her comb with vaseline. I do not have a heat lamp, so that is a good thing, I guess.

 

[Wizbop]

I have RIR and a couple of my girls have combs that look just like that and for us, it's pecking.

 

[BethieofVA]

Well, I panicked for second when I went and checked on her. Her comb had become really black, but then it dawned in me. It is covered in Vaseline, so it was covered dirt!

I think she will be fine and I thank everyone for their help.

 

[PepsNick]

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I really doubt that. If she hardly even sees a peck, then that can't be the problem because it's not a minor issue there. I say fowl pox.

 

[featherz]

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I did the same thing! Coated my leghorn combs with vaseline, came home to black combs and went WAHHH??? realized it was dirt. THen they rubbed it all over and they are brown also (formerly white) . grr.

Haven't checked this morning after zero degrees last night but they haven't gotten any more since I started covering the heated water bowl at night when they are roosting. I think that was causing too much humidity in the coop.

 

[BethieofVA]

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I really doubt that. If she hardly even sees a peck, then that can't be the problem because it's not a minor issue there. I say fowl pox.

She does get peck, she is the bottom of the order. I believe NOT to be fowl pox, looks nothing like it, really. She seems fine regardless and I am not going to fuss over it. Thanks everyone.

Beth