Rooster's wattles are swelling

[IloveBuffy]

My rooster's wattles are bigger and a lot wider than they were. He isn't outside with the others, he's just sitting on the roost. His whole face seems to have gotten a bit bigger. What's happening to him? Is it contagious?

 

[Eggcessive]

The 2 things I can think about is frostbite or fowl cholera (pasteurella) as being a cause of swollen waddles. Frostbite can happen if he has gotten his wattles wet in a water bowl, then very cold temperatures can immediately freeze them. Here is some info on fowl cholera: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/61/fowl-cholera-pasteurellosis

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC by the way. Here is a picture in this thread of frostbitten wattles and comb: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741901/rooster-with-swollen-comb-and-wattles

 

[IloveBuffy]

OK, I don't think it's frostbite, he is acting fine but a little lazy. At night he comes down and is normal (except for the swollen face).

 

[IloveBuffy]

Eggsessive, just saw your 2nd post, probably is frostbite.

Is there any cure for it?

 

[Eggcessive]

I've never treated frostbite, but someone on another thread mentioned that their vet gave them Silvadene Cream to put on it--that is what they use on bad human burns to help heal and prevent infection. If you have some neoporin or other antibiotic ointment I would coat them plus the comb in case he gets more. Besides fowl cholera, I also think that coryza can cause swollen wattles. Coryza is a respiratory disease that causes thick nasal secretions and usually swollen eyes or face, and it usually has a bad smell.

 

[Eggcessive]

I haven't used this site so don't know how legit it is, but I found silvadene without a prescription for animals here: http://www.vetdepot.com/silver-sulfadiazine-cream-1-percent-50-gm.html

 

[IloveBuffy]

OK, but he is a Polish Crested, so his comb doesn't have it and probably wont, because of the feathers protecting it. But I'll do his comb too

 

[IloveBuffy]

I did Vaseline, is that good?

 

[Eggcessive]

Many people use vaseline to prevent frostbite. Just watch for any infection signs. Here is a good link to read: http://www.tillysnest.com/2013/01/frostbite-and-backyard-chickens.html