Severe Frost Bite on Combs causing Infection

Hi Everyone,

I would like to give some helpful information for anyone who has chickens/roosters as family members suffering from severe frost bite. I have quite a few birds as family members so I was heart broken to find my most handsome exchequer Rooster with frost bite, my husband and I took every measure possible to try preventing it to get worse, but unfortunately it did. Currently in Ontario we are experiencing -20 degrees Celsius down to -40 degrees Celsius which for all you fellow bird lovers in the states is -4 degrees Fahrenheit -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Extremely cold!!! Anyways his frost bite turned infectious and pretty much any exposed skin around his handsome face swelled four times its normal size. I was told from all the local chicken farmers he'll more than likely pass; 12 - 56 hours everyone kept saying, I came on BackYard Chickens and read a couple forums that said the same thing. I was extremely outraged at this, thinking that there must be SOMETHING I could do.

A few months ago our two dogs got into a fight over some human treats and the one suffered a pretty nasty gash, which we had to get stitched up, alongside the stitches they gave us some antibiotics. I had 2 pills left over and decided that I would try it as a last attempt to save one of my most prized birds. He's guaranteed to die if I don't try. I cut the pills in half, crushed them, added some water and gave them to "Roo-Roo" orally. Three days later I ran out, I physically went into my vet for more antibiotics, they have given me a liquid form of Clavamax; 1ml (0.0338140225589 fl. oz) twice a day. The antibiotics were fairly pricey, priced at $60.00 with tax for a 7-10 day supply. He is now back crowing standing on his own, eating and drinking & the swelling has substantially subsided. I expect a full recovery within the next 2-3 days. He will most likely loose the most severely frost bitten parts of his comb and facial tissue, but he WILL survive!

I Really wanted to post this for families who have young children & their best friends or these feathery beings. Or for people like us who have a love for birds and hate to see them suffer.

Good Luck to You All.

If you have any other questions about what I have just posted please reply to this forum.

The Rennie Family