Frostbite can damage combs and wattles.
Frostbite in chickens is serious medical concern in parts of the world where temperatures are frequently below freezing. Frostbite turns body parts black and can cause them to fall off. Tissue can be slow to heal, and the process may be painful and frustrating for the bird. Roosters can become infertile; hens sometimes do not regain the ability to lay. However, birds typically survive and in time will thrive.
Combs and Wattles
Frostbite is very common for roosters with high combs and long wattles living in areas where the temperature lingers below freezing for lengths of time. Frozen tissue will be very pale. As it thaws, it can appear swollen and/or discolored. Occasionally wattles will crack and bleed. Over time, the affected tissue may fall off.
Coat the affected tissue with an antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. Open wounds should be washed before applying the ointment, and the bleeding should stop before the animal is put back in the coop.
Feet and Toes
A severely frostbitten foot will be discolored and swollen. If infection has set in, the swelling might feel hot to the touch. The animal may not be able to move its toes because of nerve damage or because it might be too painful to put weight on the leg. The bird should be moved to a secure, warm location. Veterinary assistance should be considered if the bird is not improving or the tissue has become infected.
Eventually the skin will start sloughing off and the dead tissue will shrivel up. Toes and even whole feet might fall off, leaving nubs. The chicken will usually heal and regain mobility but will still need extra protection from predators and will likely remain at the bottom of the pecking order.
Protecting from Re-injury
Several simple things can be done to keep your birds from getting hurt again before they're fully healed. Applying petroleum jelly to combs and wattles is a common practice. It does not actually prevent the tissue from freezing but can protect frozen tissue from getting scratched and infected. Install a wider perch that allows the birds to sit flat with their feathers over their feet to protect healing toes. It is extremely important that the coop stays dry. Secure waterers so that they cannot tip. Use a waterer with a narrow reservoir so that the roosters won't submerge their wattles while drinking. Chickens have very moist breath. In a coop with insufficient ventilation, the moisture will condense and then freeze. Heat lamps are helpful, but only if the birds stay dry.
Hypothermia
Birds struggling with frostbite may also be more sensitive to hypothermia. While chickens have feathers that do an excellent job of keeping them warm, if they lose too much body heat, the feathers won't be enough. A bird experiencing hypothermia will be pale and listless. It will not be interested in eating or drinking. Exposed tissue will likely be frozen. Let the bird rest somewhere warm and protected. Offer the bird sugar or electrolyte-supplemented water. After an hour, you should be able to assess how much additional assistance the bird will need to recuperate. If the animal is already walking around and eating, it can return to the coop, but the coop should be modified to prevent future injury. Doing a complete headcount every morning and night during stretches of extreme cold will help you find a suffering bird before it's too late for a successful recovery.
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