Roster with no legs, prosthetics? Cull?

[Bird fanatic]

I live in northern Minnesota, and we also know cold weather.

Let me ask, what are you using as your roosting bars? If you have had 2 chickens lose their feet to frostbite, then I think you have a larger problem than just caring for this one rooster.

FWIW, my roost bars are 2X4s laid flat. That allows the chickens to tuck their feet into their body and keep them warm in the winter. I have seen nighttime temps drop down to as low as -45F, and the chickens will puff themselves up to almost twice their size and trap all that warm body air in for the night. For 2 winters now, I have not seen any frostbite on their legs or toes.

Frostbite is not only due to low temps, but a combination of low temps and humidity. Do you have adequate ventilation in your coop? And by adequate, I mean is the humidity in your coop more or less equal to the humidity outside? If your coop is really humid compared to the outside, then it takes less cold to get frostbite.

I would also check for drafts in the coop. Ventilation is good, drafts are bad. You don't want cold air drafting under the chickens sleeping on the roosting bar at night.

Ours are 2x4s laid flat also but he was a young one and the others kicked him off of the roosting bars that night.

 

[Bird fanatic]

I live in northern Minnesota, and we also know cold weather.

Let me ask, what are you using as your roosting bars? If you have had 2 chickens lose their feet to frostbite, then I think you have a larger problem than just caring for this one rooster.

FWIW, my roost bars are 2X4s laid flat. That allows the chickens to tuck their feet into their body and keep them warm in the winter. I have seen nighttime temps drop down to as low as -45F, and the chickens will puff themselves up to almost twice their size and trap all that warm body air in for the night. For 2 winters now, I have not seen any frostbite on their legs or toes.

Frostbite is not only due to low temps, but a combination of low temps and humidity. Do you have adequate ventilation in your coop? And by adequate, I mean is the humidity in your coop more or less equal to the humidity outside? If your coop is really humid compared to the outside, then it takes less cold to get frostbite.

I would also check for drafts in the coop. Ventilation is good, drafts are bad. You don't want cold air drafting under the chickens sleeping on the roosting bar at night.

The humidity is the same as outside and there are no drafts so idk why he got frostbite

 

[MissE]

The humidity is the same as outside and there are no drafts so idk why he got frostbite

How many square feet of permanent 24/7/365 ventilation do you have? I also am in northern MN. Never had frostbite on feet or legs, and we had days in a row of -45 or colder this winter. Some combs got a little nipped, but not feet.

If you have birds getting kicked off the roost, you need more roost space. Bullying can be dangerous, as you're seen.

As far as keeping him, that's up to you. I wouldn't, but I don't have the resources for the extra care that handsome fellow needs. House chickens are out of the question.

 

[gtaus]

The humidity is the same as outside and there are no drafts so idk why he got frostbite

Well, if your rooster was suffering, then it would be easy for me to cull it. But, if it seems to be doing fine, and if you want to keep the rooster, you might as well keep it.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I personally wouldn’t keep a rooster that doesn’t have any feet but that’s me. It doesn’t get anywhere near as cold here maybe -10 every now and then but I have chickens that free range 24/7 365 in well below freezing temps for most of the winter. They walk around in the snow and sleep in the trees. I’ve never had frostbite on anything other than the combs and wattles occasionally.
The birds health is important along with making sure they’re getting enough water. Without being hydrated well their blood flow slows to a trickle most likely causing the frostbite. Eating snow isn’t good enough for water needs.

 

[Lydia Huizenga]

As long as he is taken great care of as in you're in it for him and not for Facebook likes
May want to revisit your husbandry skills with him losing both legs to frostbite

It's not that hard to do. Most don't notice frostbite until it turns black. By then, there's really nothing you can do

 

[MissE]

It's not that hard to do. Most don't notice frostbite until it turns black. By then, there's really nothing you can do

Noticing it when it happens means you're too late. Prevention is what's needed. You can't reverse frostbite, unfortunately.

 

[Bird fanatic]

How many square feet of permanent 24/7/365 ventilation do you have? I also am in northern MN. Never had frostbite on feet or legs, and we had days in a row of -45 or colder this winter. Some combs got a little nipped, but not feet.

If you have birds getting kicked off the roost, you need more roost space. Bullying can be dangerous, as you're seen.

As far as keeping him, that's up to you. I wouldn't, but I don't have the resources for the extra care that handsome fellow needs. House chickens are out of the question.

It is not a space issue he was newbie to my flock just out of quarantine they were

I personally wouldn’t keep a rooster that doesn’t have any feet but that’s me. It doesn’t get anywhere near as cold here maybe -10 every now and then but I have chickens that free range 24/7 365 in well below freezing temps for most of the winter. They walk around in the snow and sleep in the trees. I’ve never had frostbite on anything other than the combs and wattles occasionally.
The birds health is important along with making sure they’re getting enough water. Without being hydrated well their blood flow slows to a trickle most likely causing the frostbite. Eating snow isn’t good enough for water needs.

My chickens have access to clean water all day and night so it was not that

 

[Bird fanatic]

It's not that hard to do. Most don't notice frostbite until it turns black. By then, there's really nothing you can do

I don't have Facebook I am committed to his care only if I think he is suffering I will have to do what is best but for now he isn't so I am happy I have cared for a chicken with a cross beak she lived until she was 6 years old !!

 

[Devils Flower]

I keep pads on them so he does not rid them raw and I disinfect them every week or so I have in a large cage for the nights and let him out under supervision in the Day

You are a great mommy/daddy to him. Seems like you have everything under control. I wish your little guy a long happy life.