Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and the underlying tissues. In chickens, it occurs when fluid freezes in the cells of the wattles, comb and sometimes the feet. Since the surface area is so small, it does not take an extensive amount of time for frostbite to occur. Recognizing and treating frostbite at the first signs is crucial for a speedy and full recovery.
It’s crucial to keep your chicken coop well-ventilated all year round. Without proper airflow, moisture can accumulate, increasing the chance of frostbite on combs and wattles. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, ventilation is vital for your flock’s health!
How to Prevent Frostbite in Chickens
As with almost everything, prevention is key! The most obvious thing that can help prevent frostbite is a dry, draft-free shelter area for the birds. In colder temperatures, chickens will spend less time venturing out and more time inside the coop.
Your chicken coop should feature cross ventilation (one window won’t cut it). When thinking about the word “dry,” we usually make reference to being “out of the elements.” This also applies to the bedding inside the coop. I suggest implementing a deep-litter method and turning over the bedding often. By doing this, the droppings that chickens produce can be more readily absorbed, thus created less humidity and moisture inside the coop and keeping it dry.
Inspiring the birds to venture outdoors can be of great benefit as well. If your space allows it, you can place things on the ground such as dry straw, pallets or logs to create a dry landing space on which the chickens can hang out outside of the coop. Dry material is crucial for protecting their tiny toes, too!
I once had a chicken stand in the snow for an hour or so just walking around (sometimes they aren’t the brightest animals). She got frostbite so badly on her feet that three of her toes became necrotic and fell off. It took over a month of nursing her back to health and healing the tissue, but she went on to live a normal life after that.
Since that event, I’ve always put straw down to aid in preventing this. A few easy alterations to the barnyard and I haven’t had an issue since!
Hydration is another key factor in preventing frostbite, so always have a warm-water source for the chickens during the colder months. If you have a rooster with an incredibly large comb or wattles, you can use petroleum jelly to coat those body surfaces and aid in prevention.
Symptoms of Frostbite in Chickens
Here are some symptoms of frostbite in chickens to look out for:
At first glance frostbitten wattles and combs will begin to appear gray in color, whereas feet will first become a darker red. In roosters with very large combs and wattles, you might notice the area beginning to swell as well. Swelling indicates more than just minor frostbite, and if you notice tissues that are black or necrotic-looking this would be considered severe and most treatment at this stage wouldn’t be beneficial.
I have had a situation like this happen on my farm. We had well below zero wind chills, and it took only a few hours for frostbite to set in on one of my rooster’s large combs. I quickly noticed the black tips and brought him into the garage, out of the elements, to set up a safe space for him. I used ambient heat and deep bedding to keep him comfortable and let the area return to normal for a day without doing anything. Rubbing the area could have made it worse.
Once his comb started to look like healthy tissue, I applied a coconut oil balm and he was as good as new! Paying attention to the bird’s behavior can be helpful as well. Chickens and similar birds are relatively good at hiding pain, so knowing their normal behavior and recognizing any deviations can be a good first defense as well. If you think your chicken has frostbite, here is what you can do.
How To Heal FROSTBITE In Your Herd/The Holistic Chicken Keeper/ Videoshop 2021 03 24 22 44 56
FAQ
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