Severe frostbite, help!

[jk_olive_MI]

Our rooster has what looks like severe frostbite on his comb (as pictured). His spurs are darkened too. We put him in a crate in the barn out of the wind (gusts up to 60 mph today and about 35°) with a heat lamp on him. He's eating and is very vocal because this is obviously not his favorite place to be away from the girls. Has anyone else experienced this before? Is there anything else I can do to help him?? Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[jk_olive_MI]

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Just leave it alone and it will fall off. Nothing you can do for frostbite.

 

[MissChick@dee]

The only thing I would suggest is to bring him in when the weather is freezing. You don’t touch or to treat that with anything at this point. You could double check the ventilation in your coop. But I find when you have frostbite like that it’s probably from the way he sleeps. But as @A_Fowl_Guy said it’s best to not treat it.

 

[jk_olive_MI]

The only thing I would suggest is to bring him in when the weather is freezing. You don’t touch or to treat that with anything at this point. You could double check the ventilation in your coop. But I find when you have frostbite like that it’s probably from the way he sleeps. But as @A_Fowl_Guy said it’s best to not treat it.

He is free range and it was a cold/very windy day with a low wind chill. It could have happened in the coop but likely not bc he's had no problem with much colder/negative temps over the last couple years. I think he was just out in the wind too long.

Do you think I should worry about infection?

 

[MissChick@dee]

He is free range and it was a cold/very windy day with a low wind chill. It could have happened in the coop but likely not bc he's had no problem with much colder/negative temps over the last couple years. I think he was just out in the wind too long.

Do you think I should worry about infection?

Messing around with it is how you’ll get infection.
The tissue that is damaged/dead keeps the good tissue protected that’s why you don’t want to apply globs of Vaseline that smothers bacteria and the tissue is so easy to damage with just a touch.
In time it drys completely and one day you’ll notice it’s gone. After the dead tissue falls off (in spring) you can apply antibiotic ointment at the base to encourage the remaining comb.
He’s got a real good case of frostbite. Just keep an eye on him eating/drinking/activity.
When the weather is going to be bad I’d make sure to keep him out of the wind.
The good news is he should be fine. The even better news is his comb will be a bit smaller and less likely to get frostbit again.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your rooster with the frostbitten comb. What is your coop interior like? Since high humidity is what causes frostbite during freezing weather, I would make sure that he doesn’t roost near the ceiling, if your coop is small, and that their is good overhead ventilation up high from one end to the other. Avoid wet litter, since that will also raise humidity.

I would try to keep him with his hens, unless they start pecking at the comb. Do not massage or rub anything onto the comb or it can damage the skin and be more painful. No vaseline should be put on after frostbite has occured. If you want to medicate it, use Vetericyn Spray or Betadine/povidone iodine. I usually do nothing from comb frostbite. If he needs to be separated, then placing him in a crate near his hens would be best.

If his legs are affected, a picture would help. Here is a good article on frostbite:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/frostbit-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

 

[Dee Hazell]

Messing around with it is how you’ll get infection.
The tissue that is damaged/dead keeps the good tissue protected that’s why you don’t want to apply globs of Vaseline that smothers bacteria and the tissue is so easy to damage with just a touch.
In time it drys completely and one day you’ll notice it’s gone. After the dead tissue falls off (in spring) you can apply antibiotic ointment at the base to encourage the remaining comb.
He’s got a real good case of frostbite. Just keep an eye on him eating/drinking/activity.
When the weather is going to be bad I’d make sure to keep him out of the wind.
The good news is he should be fine. The even better news is his comb will be a bit smaller and less likely to get frostbit again.

My Buff leg horn roo got frostbite on his comb. He was ok for a couple of days then became quite lethargic. I isolated him and gave him a heating

He is free range and it was a cold/very windy day with a low wind chill. It could have happened in the coop but likely not bc he's had no problem with much colder/negative temps over the last couple years. I think he was just out in the wind too long.

Do you think I should worry about infection?

 

[Dee Hazell]

My Buff leg horn roo had frostbite on combs over a week ago. He was ok for a while then became listless. He developed a wheeze. I isolated him in a cage with a warming pad gave him suppliments in his water. He died last night some time. Not sure if his wheezing and laboured breathing was the result of anything related to the frozen comb. Like a spreading infection? Sad.

 

[Eggcessive]

My Buff leg horn roo had frostbite on combs over a week ago. He was ok for a while then became listless. He developed a wheeze. I isolated him in a cage with a warming pad gave him suppliments in his water. He died last night some time. Not sure if his wheezing and laboured breathing was the result of anything related to the frozen comb. Like a spreading infection? Sad.

So sorry for your loss.