WI frostbite on rooster-help please!

[BachinskiS]

I've read I might have to bring in my rooster temporarily to help heal my rooster's frostbite. It doesn't seem to be getting better on its own. We have added more ventilation to our coop. If I bring him in, when do I know it's safe to put him back out to the coop? And is this bad for him, going from extreme cold to warm & back out to cold again??
Any advice is appreciated!!!

 

[SIMZ]

Can you post a picture of him? I don't know what your weather is like, but here in Northwest Indiana my roosters always seem to get frostbite. They will normally be just fine if it's MINOR and you don't need to bring them in, so a picture would be helpful. You can put some neosporin (without pain relief stuff) on it or something to keep it protected.

Please post a picture and we can help you more.

 

[BachinskiS]

Can you post a picture of him?  I don't know what your weather is like, but here in Northwest Indiana my roosters always seem to get frostbite.  They will normally be just fine if it's MINOR and you don't need to bring them in, so a picture would be helpful.  You can put some neosporin (without pain relief stuff) on it or something to keep it protected. 

Please post a picture and we can help you more.

 

[BachinskiS]

I will get a picture of him this afternoon. His is pretty bad. Half his comb is white. He's got a few black spots on the very top, but those are not getting worse. I have put Neosporin on for him-which I will do again today. I've decided to move him to a friend's shed for a few days to see how he does there. I'm afraid to move him all the way inside our house bc of the temp difference. Her she'd will be warmer but easier to acclimate back outside. I hope this works!

 

[chickens really]

A picture is not needed, for me anyways.......Yeah, frost bite can be pretty bad.....Bringing him into the house for treatment will not hurt him....Vaseline on his comb and wattles.....Let him warm up a bit and he will be fine......



Cheers!

 

[BachinskiS]

He is now in our basement, completely out of the cold to hopefully help him heal. Oh I feel so bad for him! He is eating/drinking.

 

[High Prairie]

@BachinskiS

You're not alone! Several of us have been talking about our frostbitten birds on another thread. My May has been in the laundry room for two days. I've been applying antibiotic ointment. We're getting up to 40 here in Ks today so I'm returning him to his hens once the temp gets above freezing. This is just for my peace of mind. He would've been ok if I returned him back to the coop yesterday when it was colder. I think your guy will be fine eventually, too. He'll loose the damaged parts of his comb and wattles, and it's a process that can take a few weeks from what I've learned from others. But they heal up just fine and can be in the coop during the healing process as long as your other birds aren't picking on the injured area. It sounds like this whole process will make them better able to deal with future cold spells so there's hope!

 

[chickens really]

He is now in our basement, completely out of the cold to hopefully help him heal. Oh I feel so bad for him! He is eating/drinking.

That is good.....He should recover soon....


Good luck..

Cheers!

 

[High Prairie]

If you scroll down in this Emergency forum to the thread called Frostbite on Rooster's Wattles, you'll see some great pictures and stories of the healing process that will put your mind at ease. I was so worried and upset about May but feel much better now. Good luck to you!

 

[SIMZ]

OUCH! It looks nasty but he's going to be fine, especially if he's eating and drinking. Just give him some extra good treats - like scrambled eggs - and he'll be fine. It does take a while to heal, though, so be prepared for that. You only have one rooster, right? Keeping him separated is fine as long as he's not going back into a flock with another rooster. I find after about 3-4 days they'll fight if they've been apart.

Best of luck to your guy! Winter is so unkind to those big combs and wattles!