Possible frostbite

[jnicholes]

Hello everyone,

So I went outside to take a look at my chickens, and I noticed that there combs have a lot of white spots and some black spots. Some parts of the comb are actually very white, as if frost completely covered them. I don’t know what the problem is, it’s been pretty cold here at night. I did not heat the coop because I thought they had feathers and that they can handle the cold.

Is it Frostbite?

Jared

 

[Chickens are the best]

Pictures would be helpful, how cold was it, do you have enough ventilation?

 

[BY Bob]

Frostbite usually comes from moisture more so than cold. Do you have any windows on your coop and is there frost on them?

Pictures would be very helpful. My Leghorn's comb was very white yesterday I put vaseline on it last night. It is back to a beautiful cherry red today. She is mad at me, but it looks great.

 

[jnicholes]

Hello,

Here is a picture.

Jared

 

[jnicholes]

 

[AmazingRachel]

View attachment 1230074

The black tip is the final stages of frostbite. The other black spots look like scabs from pecking. When the comb is whitish, that's mild frostbite in the early stages. When it turns black and shrinks, it means that the frostbite was severe enough that the point/tip of the point lost blood supply and the tissue died. Due to most people not noticing the white tips, they will see it a week later when it turns black.
Post pics of the other chickens you suspect have frostbite.

To prevent frostbite, you can cover the larger combs and wattles in petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or make more vents (but not where they roost).
Frostbite is caused by high humidity in a coop with low temperatures or by a strong draft or exposure to strong gusts of wind. You could try partially wrapping your run in clear plastic (like a shower curtain) to act as a windbreaker.

 

[jnicholes]

Hello,

Thank you so much for the information. I really appreciate it. The coop is kind of drafty, but I can fix that.

Again, thank you so much for the information. I will get pictures of the other chickens for you guys so we can make sure.

I will do that tomorrow because it is 7:00 PM here where I’m at.

Jared

 

[jnicholes]

Hello,

Forgot to ask, would it be advisable to put a heat lamp or a source of heat in the coop so that they could have some warmth?

What should I do about the frostbitten parts of the comb? How do I treat it?

Jared

 

[AmazingRachel]

My roo just got frostbite and I took him to the vet. She gave us a topical cream to be rubbed on his comb for about 2 weeks. It's an antibiotic and it helps burns heal faster (frostbite is theoretically a burn).

 

[AmazingRachel]

Hello,

Forgot to ask, would it be advisable to put a heat lamp or a source of heat in the coop so that they could have some warmth?

What should I do about the frostbitten parts of the comb? How do I treat it?

Jared

No, they don't require additional warmth (other than to keep the water from freezing during the day). A temporary fix would be to cover their combs and wattles in Vaseline. A long-term solution would be to fix the drafts (you could staple Tyvek to the outer coop walls) and/or add more vents/holes just below the ceiling so there isn't a humidity buildup.

As for treatments for the already frostbitten combs, it depends how severe. My roo's front half of his comb was partially frozen. I took him inside immediately and put a lukewarm wet paper towel on that area to SLOWLY thaw it out. You do NOT want to rub it because if it bleeds, it's going to bleed a lot and it's going to cause more damage. I then placed him in a 45 gallon tote w/ screen on top (my brooder box) and placed him near the window in my unfinished basement where it doesn't go below freezing. I let him out a couple times a day for about half an hour each time (it's still cold here). I'm going to keep doing this until the black parts of his comb gets close to falling off.

So, for example, the pic you posted, I wouldn't do anything with that one. If you have some others that have a couple points whitish or turning black or swelling I would bring those inside/in a garage or unfinished basement (where it's a little bit above freezing).