Spots on bills...freckles or frostbite?

[Percipen]

I noticed these spots on both of my fawn and white runners bills. It has been cold the last week. The lowest around 15 degrees. My welshie boys don't have anything like this and the rest of my flock has dark bills, so nothing obvious with any of them. I tried looking up images of frostbit bills, but i cant find any. Does this look like anything to be concerned about?

 

[KaleIAm]

My ducks have spots like this and we haven't gotten cold enough to get frostbite. I never thought it could be frostbite, I just thought it was cute. Their bill freckles seem to change when they molt.

I'm not confident about your case, but that is my experience.

 

[Isaac 0]

Here is a similar post:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite.1443099/#post-23947993

 

[Percipen]

Here is a similar post:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite.1443099/#post-23947

Yes I did see this post the other day. What's throwing me off is that the spots are on the ends of my girls bills and the pekins spots were closer to her face. My gut tells me that they're freckles, but I didnt want to ignore it just in case it was frostbite.

 

[Percipen]

My ducks have spots like this and we haven't gotten cold enough to get frostbite. I never thought it could be frostbite, I just thought it was cute. Their bill freckles seem to change when they molt.

I'm not confident about your case, but that is my experience.

Thank you for your help! My girls are at the tail end of molting right now, so it would make sense that I would notice changes in their bills at this time

 

[Isaac 0]

Yes I did see this post the other day. What's throwing me off is that the spots are on the ends of my girls bills and the pekins spots were closer to her face. My gut tells me that they're freckles, but I didnt want to ignore it just in case it was frostbite.

If frostbite were to develop it would likely occur on the outer regions of the bill, where blood flow is limited, regardless of the fact, I can say with certainty I've never seen a necrotic bill due to frostbite in ducks.

 

[Percipen]

If frostbite were to develop it would likely occur on the outer regions of the bill, where blood flow is limited, regardless of the fact, I can say with certainty I've never seen a necrotic bill due to frostbite in ducks.

Thank you for your help. There haven't been any changes in the spots and the girls are pretty much done molting, so I guess they're getting some cute freckles

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you for your help. There haven't been any changes in the spots and the girls are pretty much done molting, so I guess they're getting some cute freckles

I took photos of my ducks' bills for you last night, in case it helps you feel better. They visit an avian vet several times a year and they have never commented about bill freckles. I had to give the first duck medicine so I was able to get a close up.

The second photo isn't as good, but that duck used to have an entirely orange/yellow bill. Over the years she keeps accumulating more black! Before one molt she just had a few polka dots, and now she's got a mostly black bill!

 

[Percipen]

I took photos of my ducks' bills for you last night, in case it helps you feel better. They visit an avian vet several times a year and they have never commented about bill freckles. I had to give the first duck medicine so I was able to get a close up.

The second photo isn't as good, but that duck used to have an entirely orange/yellow bill. Over the years she keeps accumulating more black! Before one molt she just had a few polka dots, and now she's got a mostly black bill!

Oh wow! That is really good to know. My girls with the spots are only 3 months so I'm sure they have many freckles to come in the future. The almost all black bill is crazy! I didnt know that could happen (I'm obviously fairly new to ducks...my oldest is 6 months). Your ducks are so adorable! I do have one question...Do you worry about your crested injuring the soft spot on her head? I really would love to get a crested, but I am terrified of a possible head injury.

 

[KaleIAm]

For reference my crested (Thimbleberry) is 7 years old, and the other duck is 6.

I do worry about Thimbleberry more than my other ducks. I only have girls, but when they "mate" they hold onto her poof with their bills. They "mate" less now that they are older but they do it everyday, still.

She's a delightful duck and I love her charming poof. Personally I wouldn't purchase a crested duck, Thimbleberry was rescued when she was a year old.