Winter gear to prevent frostbite

[birdofhermes]

my pet rooster loves to go outside when i leave his coop door open but now it's -10c here and he gave himself a bit of frostbite on his comb. I made him a little hat out of a sock but he won't keep it on. Anybody know if there's actual winter gear so my buddy can go outside? His coop has a heat lamp in there that keeps him warm overnight but he just can't help but go outside and get frostbite before he notices during the day. Also would like to keep him warm when i let him outside to poop because it will get much colder as winter sets in (-30 to -50 c)

 

[azygous]

He does look rather stylish, but I also know how quickly he can rid himself of that fancy gear.

Try Vaseline or Bag Balm on comb and wattles. Also, make sure he can't drag his wattles in his water source and get them wet.

Frostbite is more likely to occur at night when chickens sleep. They aren't moving, and if the air also doesn't circulate, water vapor from their breath condenses on exposed flesh and freezes. Therefore a well ventilated coop is key in preventing frostbite.

If it's freezing and windy, it's best not to let chickens outside under those conditions.

 

[birdofhermes]

He does look rather stylish, but I also know how quickly he can rid himself of that fancy gear.

Try Vaseline or Bag Balm on comb and wattles. Also, make sure he can't drag his wattles in his water source and get them wet.

Frostbite is more likely to occur at night when chickens sleep. They aren't moving, and if the air also doesn't circulate, water vapor from their breath condenses on exposed flesh and freezes. Therefore a well ventilated coop is key in preventing frostbite.

If it's freezing and windy, it's best not to let chickens outside under those conditions.

ty! i will get some and try it out. he didn't get frostbit bad (just a little black spot on the end of his comb) but it was just from him being outside for a half hour. i wish he'd have the sense to go back in or leave his hat on so i could let him have a good time

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not sure, but I don't think he is getting frostbite during the day, after being outside. If he is moving around, and I assume he is, any moisture that would settle on him would evaporate.

As stated above, dry keeps birds from getting frostbite. When there is a difference in temperature, such as cold outside air, warmer inside air inside a coop, then the moisture in the air condenses on the bird, and then freezes.

Turn off the heat lamp, and put in more bedding in the coop. Open a window to move the wet air out. It is considerably better for their health to worry about keeping birds dry, and not worry about keeping them warm. When people worry about warm, they want to add heat lamps, lock up the coop tight, instead they should open the window on the far side of the prevailing wind, and add more bedding.
Mrs K

 

[birdofhermes]

I am not sure, but I don't think he is getting frostbite during the day, after being outside. If he is moving around, and I assume he is, any moisture that would settle on him would evaporate.

As stated above, dry keeps birds from getting frostbite. When there is a difference in temperature, such as cold outside air, warmer inside air inside a coop, then the moisture in the air condenses on the bird, and then freezes.

Turn off the heat lamp, and put in more bedding in the coop. Open a window to move the wet air out. It is considerably better for their health to worry about keeping birds dry, and not worry about keeping them warm. When people worry about warm, they want to add heat lamps, lock up the coop tight, instead they should open the window on the far side of the prevailing wind, and add more bedding.
Mrs K

his comb was fine when i took him out of his coop in the morning and only got a black end on it after i left his door open for him to go outside for a half hour. pretty sure it was a touch of frostbite since we're way up north in Labrador. he really hates the cold so i'm not sure if i have the guts to try leaving him out there without his heat lamp! lol

 

[Mrs. K]

You are WAY far north of me, too far north for me to give advice. Are you close to the ocean? That may skewer things too.

I am assuming you have heard of Icelandic chickens.... they may be a better bet for you.

 

[birdofhermes]

You are WAY far north of me, too far north for me to give advice. Are you close to the ocean? That may skewer things too.

I am assuming you have heard of Icelandic chickens.... they may be a better bet for you.

ty! my rooster is adopted from somebody who had to give him up at 2 weeks and he hasn't met other chickens yet so i'm still considering whether or not i should get him any

 

[lazy gardener]

What is your general location? And I assume he is cooped outside, and not inside your house? What are the dimensions of your coop? What does it have for ventilation? Can you show a pic of the coop, including any ventilation. I'm guessing that it's a humidity issue inside your coop.

 

[birdofhermes]

What is your general location? And I assume he is cooped outside, and not inside your house? What are the dimensions of your coop? What does it have for ventilation? Can you show a pic of the coop, including any ventilation. I'm guessing that it's a humidity issue inside your coop.

i'm at about the 50th parallel in the North. very cold! the coop he sleeps in is about 4 x 4 x 5 but he has an outdoor enclosure that he likes to go out into and get himself frostbit. most of the day he spends in the house. his coop has a heat lamp and some tiny cracks that allow ventilation. the temperature stays between 10 and 20 C. he hasn't been waking up with frostbite and it was really only after i let him go out in his enclosure for a half hour that he got a bit of frostbite on the tip of his comb.

 

[centrarchid]

At -30 to -50 Celcius is will be very difficult to prevent frost bite if he goes outside, especially if wind is involved. A fare amount of my frost issues are during the day as birds leave wind cover provided by barn. This case even when temperatures are warmer during the day. Either keeping him out of weather or dubbing are processes I would follow. Latter not for faint of heart.

An option I will try some day is to make so birds can stand or perch on a warm surface when it gets really cold. That will allow birds luxury of shunting more blood flow to comb and wattles preventing the tissues from freezing.