Very bad frostbite on a hen

[Sparrowsong98]

I came down tonight to feed the girls, and one of my leghorns (of course a leghorn, who else?) has horrible frostbite. Her wattles are almost completely black, and the tips of her comb are black. Is there anything I can/should do for her besides seeing a vet? And is there any weather-proofing I can do on the coop to lower the possibilities of this happening to the other girls or my roo?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Where are you located? What are you temps? Could you post a pic of your set up?

I've read you could put vaseline or Bag Balm. Someone was going to try "sock hats", not sure how that worked out. Hopefully someone with more experience with frostbite, I've never had to deal with it. Hang in there someone will come on with help ....

 

[micstrachan]

So sorry about your hen. Frostbite isn’t much of an issue where I live, but I read a fair bit about it. What I’ve learned is that ventilation is a much larger factor and temperature when it comes to frostbite. Is your coop well ventilated? I do think knowing your location will help in getting advice from everyone else.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

So sorry about your hen. Frostbite isn’t much of an issue where I live, but I brought a fair bit about it. What I’ve learned is that ventilation is a much larger factor and temperature when it comes to frostbite. Is your coop well ventilated? I do think knowing your location will help in getting advice from one else.

Yeah it is well ventilated. Her comb and wattles were double the side of my roo's though, so I am surprised they made it through 6 winters. It dipped into the negatives last night, so I imagine that was what got them. That js unusually low for Pennsylvania though.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

Where are you located? What are you temps? Could you post a pic of your set up?

I've read you could put vaseline or Bag Balm. Someone was going to try "sock hats", not sure how that worked out. Hopefully someone with more experience with frostbite, I've never had to deal with it. Hang in there someone will come on with help ....

I live in Southwestern PA. Normally we get maybe into the 10's, but this year we have had negatives. I cannot post a pic, but the setup is a 30 bird coop with 26 occupants, and one window and a door that faces north, and well as two "ventilation holes" in the walls which I open in the day and on nights when it is not like 9 degrees with a nasty wind blowing. It was -5 at 6:00 A.M. today, so I imagine that is what got her.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

UPDATE: I went down tonight and one of the wattles is missing. I know it will not come back, and I put on vaseline, but I am figuring it is only a matter kf time until the other wattle and comb tips go. Will this effect her a lot or can she just go on living her life?

 

[pennyJo1960]

hey put Vaseline on them do it at least 3 or 4 times a day and just keep a close watch how many birds in the coop ? and the size of it please ?

 

[pennyJo1960]

UPDATE: I went down tonight and one of the wattles is missing. I know it will not come back, and I put on vaseline, but I am figuring it is only a matter kf time until the other wattle and comb tips go. Will this effect her a lot or can she just go on living her life?

they will continue to live

 

[CruellasCoup]

I was hoping for some advice also. Have a leghorn and her comb was bleeding. Brought her in 2 nights ago, cleaned her up but the tips look swollen 2 me. I put neosporin on once ( not the painkiller kind ). But I hate to put her out yet having single digits for a few more days and like I mentioned the tips seem swollen. Any advice appreciated.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I was hoping for some advice also. Have a leghorn and her comb was bleeding. Brought her in 2 nights ago, cleaned her up but the tips look swollen 2 me. I put neosporin on once ( not the painkiller kind ). But I hate to put her out yet having single digits for a few more days and like I mentioned the tips seem swollen. Any advice appreciated.

put vaseline or bag balm whichever you have 3 or 4 time today