White comb tips- possible frost bite? Please help!

[chicksofclaridon]

Hello,

I am a first time chicken mom and totally freaking out. I have 6 hens (2 white leg horns, 2 wyandottes and 2 ameraucanas), all are 8 months old. Last night and this morning have been bitterly cold, -9F/-18F with wind chill. Last night I coated my leg horns combs with green goo just to be safe, afraid of any possible frost bite (their coop is ventilated, but I am a worrier!). This morning everyone looked and acted fine, except all the tips on the leg horns combs are pale/white. They feel very warm to the touch. I made them oatmeal this morning with cayenne pepper to help their circulation, but a few hours later and it doesn't look any different. I am not sure if this is the beginning of frost bite or just reduced circulation or what. They have a well ventilated, straw filled coop but they are preferring to stay out in the sunshine despite the low temps. Their run is roofed, filled with straw and wrapped with tarps to keep the wind out, and they have a little panel heater in the run right now (just during this extreme cold). I honestly don't know what more I could do to keep them safe and comfortable, but any tips or insight about what is going on with their combs would be so appreciated.

(First post here, I tried to attach a photo but if it isn't visible please let me know!)

Thank you in advance!

 

[PirateGirl]

Reduced circulation is in a way the beginning of frostbite. I have not had a chicken yet with frostbite, but it is similar with people, and white patches are a bad sign. The good news is that most chickens tolerate frostbite quite well. You don't want to mess with their combs, because you risk doing more damage than good, however you are definitely on the right track in making sure that the coop is well ventilated, dry, clean bedding, etc. I haven't seen your setup, but another thing I do is make sure food and water is relatively far from the roost, I think this encourages them to move around, scratch grains scattered or meal worms scattered will do the trick too. If they have to walk a few feet to get some food and walk a few feet back to their roost a few times a day it should help keep the blood flowing and help warm them up a bit. I'm not really sure what else you can do, it sounds like you are doing the right things. Maybe others will have some ideas.

 

[chicksofclaridon]

Thank you for your input! Their food and water are kept outside, in the run. They have been pretty active so hopefully that is helping.

I attached a couple of pictures of their set up, just in case there is something I am missing (they were taken a couple weeks ago so there is now more straw in the coop and the run has plenty of straw too since it has been snowing, windows are kept closed and ventilation is at the peaks of the roof ends, far above their heads when they are roosting).

 

[Eggcessive]

I think the lighter pinkish tips are mild frostbite. It may end up being heeling and being okay, but I would not rub or massage the comb. Sometimes it may take a week or more to see the damage done with frost bite. These are some photos of frostbite in different stages:

 

[Eggcessive]

This is after a week or two of moderate frostbite.
It may first look white, turn black, or tan. The frostbitten tips will eventually become rounded. In frostbitten wattles that have gotten water on them from drinking, will also look brown, then become rounded or smaller in appearance.

 

[chicksofclaridon]

View attachment 1648726
This is after a week or two of moderate frostbite.
It may first look white, turn black, or tan. The frostbitten tips will eventually become rounded. In frostbitten wattles that have gotten water on them from drinking, will also look brown, then become rounded or smaller in appearance.

Thank you so much for your help! Should I apply more green goo or Vaseline before they go to bed? Or leave it totally alone?

 

[WindingRoad]

Thank you for your input! Their food and water are kept outside, in the run. They have been pretty active so hopefully that is helping.

I attached a couple of pictures of their set up, just in case there is something I am missing (they were taken a couple weeks ago so there is now more straw in the coop and the run has plenty of straw too since it has been snowing, windows are kept closed and ventilation is at the peaks of the roof ends, far above their heads when they are roosting).

What about wind?

 

[WindingRoad]

I

Thank you so much for your help! Should I apply more green goo or Vaseline before they go to bed? Or leave it totally alone?

I'm not sure that putting anything on to prevent frostbite helps. IDK. I wonder if it might have encouraged frostbite. Again IDK But for now refrain from putting anything on there the tissue is fragile. Keep out drafts. WIND

 

[WindingRoad]

Thank you for your input! Their food and water are kept outside, in the run. They have been pretty active so hopefully that is helping.

I attached a couple of pictures of their set up, just in case there is something I am missing (they were taken a couple weeks ago so there is now more straw in the coop and the run has plenty of straw too since it has been snowing, windows are kept closed and ventilation is at the peaks of the roof ends, far above their heads when they are roosting).

Think you need to cover that whole run with a tarp. I got a clear tarp from Amazon. That way the sun can warm the run. I wonder if you are getting a draft from the run.

 

[chicksofclaridon]

What about wind?

Well I don’t think there’s any major wind/draft in the coop, and with the especially low temps I added another tarp that covers the majority (maybe 3/4) of the front of the run, too. (It’ll come down tomorrow when we’re back in the 30’s). Anything is possible, but it’s only the tips of the leg horns comb. All waddles and smaller combs are totally unaffected!