Rooster with black comb

[ShouldabeenaVET]

View attachment 1223833

Rooster with black comb

 

[Pyxis]

Looks like frostbite. That part of his comb is going to die and fall off.

What that means is that there's not enough ventilation in your coop. You're going to want to add some ASAP.

As a stopgap you can apply Vaseline to his comb every couple of days to protect it and prevent the frostbite from getting worse until you get the ventilation issue worked out.

 

[pennyJo1960]

View attachment 1223833

Rooster with black comb

appears to be frostbite

 

[ShouldabeenaVET]

i had to send that with my phone but hate to type on it. So I dont think its frostbite. I saw in a thread about using Teramyacin but can't find that thread now for dosing info. I am able to do any doctoring. I have him in the tackroom away from other chickens. His poop looks normal. He is acting normal today. He was hanging back for a few days. He is usually right out front letting the hens know where the food is etc. His wattle is now showing signs of black. I guess it could be frostbite as we have had -20 wind chill. He lets me do anything I want. I prefer not to use a vet. I don't mind doing a necropsy myself if necessary. I do love Bob though. He is a rooster that hatched from eggs here on my place.

 

[ShouldabeenaVET]

Thank you. My coop is around 30 degrees during this storm. There is two windows and a door with a chicken door in it. There is never any moisture on the windows. What should the humidity be?

 

[Pyxis]

There are no diseases that I am aware of that cause big chunks of the comb and wattles to go black like that. Terramycin is an eye ointment to help with eye injuries and infections, so it won't help him, unfortunately.

Really all you can do now is try to keep it from getting worse. What has happened is moisture has built up in the coop, either from a waterer being in there or just from the moisture from the birds' breath and poop, and it condensed on his comb and wattles and then froze, leading to frostbite.

So, what you need to do is get the moisture in the coop down by adding more ventilation, and apply Vaseline or Bag Balm, etc, to form a protective barrier on his comb and wattles to prevent even worse frostbite from occurring until the ventilation issue is resolved.

Good news is it won't kill him, he's just going to get a 'winter dubbing' and lose a chunk of his comb and wattles most likely.

 

[Folly's place]

Frostbitten combs and wattles heal eventually, and will be okay. Big combs and wattles are difficult in cold weather! He should be able to go back to his flock. Make sure that the coop is blocked from wind and ventilated so there's no condensation.
Mary

 

[junebuggena]

Thank you. My coop is around 30 degrees during this storm. There is two windows and a door with a chicken door in it. There is never any moisture on the windows. What should the humidity be?

To prevent frostbite, you need to have a DRY and well ventilated coop. Roosts need to be positioned so that the birds are out of the direct path of airflow. Generally, you need at least 1 sq ft of permanent (open all year long, in all weathers) per bird.

 

[ShouldabeenaVET]

Thank You!! I will try all of those. Thank You Thank You!!!