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| Frostbitten wattles and comb |
During the winter months, chickens can become prone to frostbite. Frostbite can occur on combs, wattles and even their feet. Chickens with larger combs and wattles often are the most susceptible. Cold hardy breeds, such as Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Australorps, and Silkies tend to have smaller combs. During colder weather, most chickens will poof out and poof up their head feathers and you will notice that their combs become almost entirely covered by their feathers. Chickens will also naturally roost in the evening. When roosting, the chicken’s body will cover their feet and toes, keeping them warm from the cold winter air. These are two ways that chickens’ bodies help to prevent frostbite. Yet, sometimes breeds succumb to frostbite for other reasons.
- Freezing Temperatures
- No access to shelter
- A coop allows water, rain and snow to leak inside
- High humidity in coop from accumulations of droppings, not enough pine shavings
- Inadequate ventilation
- Large combs and wattles
- Inadequate roosting space
- Chickens sleeping on the floor instead of the roosts
- Drafts
- Apply any one of the following: Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly/Bag Balm/Waxelene/Coconut Oil, to their combs and wattles prior to roosting each evening.
- Keep the coop dry and weatherproof.
- Provide plenty of roosting space for evening use.
- Do not let you hens sleep on the floor of the coop.
- Clean the coop as necessary. Keep the shavings dry and clean.
- If using the deep little method, be sure to add plenty of pine shavings on a regular basis to the bedding.
- Prevent chickens from spilling their drinking water inside the coop.
- Some folks heat their coops, but again, it has do to with the humidity/moisture content of the air. Plus this can be a fire hazard.
- Depending on the severity of the frostbite, you may need to bring the chicken inside to assess the injury.
- Frostbite can put a stress on the chicken’s body, add some vitamins and electrolytes to their drinking water or poultry drench. Some say, roosters can even become infertile at this time!
- Watch for other chickens pecking at the frostbitten areas. If this occurs, you may need to create a hospital area for your chicken. Blu-Kote might also deter other chickens from pecking.
- If left alone, the frostbitten wattles/combs should turn black, dry up, harden and fall off; leaving behind new skin.
- Do not remove the black areas yourself.
- Do not pop any blisters. This risks infection.
- Watch for any signs of infection at the areas of frostbite. This includes any swelling, increased redness, discharge from the wound, odor, and so forth. If this occurs, try treating the frostbitten area with some Neosporin or Vetericyn. If the infection appears to be severe, please consult with a veterinarian.
- Clean the coop and replace all the shavings.
- Re-evaluate the coop’s ventilation.
- Install spill proof waterers.
- It can take up to 6 weeks for frostbitten areas to completely heal.
17 thoughts on “Frostbite and Backyard Chickens”
I had no idea chickens could get frostbite and learned the hard way a few years ago. Here's a link to some before/after pictures of my hens when their combs were frostbitten.
http://www.the7msnranch.com/2011/03/casualties-of-winter.html
Our leghorn has paler spots on her comb, and I've been so worried about her! None of the spikes have turned black, and I coated them with Vaseline… only to find that the Vaseline all over her comb traveled to her head and to her back, attracting all the dirt in the yard and making her look like Pigpen from Charlie Brown! 🙂
This would have been a very good article for me when I first started to raise chickens. I live in Wisconsin and we get pretty cold winter and my chicken got frostbit. I did learn the step above after some time tho. I will share this article with my readers as I forgot to explain to them that even though chickens are though birds they can still get frostbite. Thanks.
Thanks for this article! Unfortunately 3 of our blue Andalusian roosters have frostbit wattles:(
Thanks for the great info. My poor Georgie-boy's (Blue Copper Marans), large comb & wattles look awful because it's been so cold where we live. I put vaseline on him one recent day – he was really upset with me for messing with him, but now I will now do it daily, no matter how much he acts like it's the end of the world! =)
My Leghorn got frostbite last week very similar to the picture you posted. I keep it cleaned and use vaseline. Will it heal nicely or will there always be a chunk missing? I never had this happen with my Silkies. Thank you.
Hi Pam, the frostbitten part will probably not grow back but healthy tissue should form underneath. Glad he has you for the TLC. The Silkies have such small combs that their risk is lower.
I just noticed that one of my California whites has not only frostbitten her comb, the comb is swollen to the point that it is tight and purple! I don't think antibiotic ointment will help – any suggestions on what I should do? There is no veterinarian around here that sees chickens . . . .thanks!
Oh boy! That breed has larger combs. It sounds like her comb probably froze. I think the best thing that you can do is bring her inside to warmer temperatures and allow it to thaw. Delicately try to massage it to return the blood flow and just give her supportive care for a few days. That tissue might die off. It might turn black and naturally fall off. Let it be unless it looks like it is getting infected. Be sure that her coop's bedding is clean and dry. Humidity and dropping temps and lack of adequate ventilation in the coop all can contribute to this happening again.
Hi i am Matthew and my family and i have 6 chickens and we have questions about two of them. the first is our little Americana we don't know why she is loosing so many feathers. she is the bottom of the pecking order and is the smallest. also she doesn't like our cold 20 or bellow weather. in the picture bellow the feathers are a few from this morning we threw away the rest.
enter these links in to the address bar
file:///home/chronos/u-7330648738d57f946c98b730c3ce58240e2941a2/Downloads/DSCN8112.JPG
and
file:///home/chronos/u-7330648738d57f946c98b730c3ce58240e2941a2/Downloads/DSCN8115.JPG
The second is what is on one of our buff orpingtons she has something on her ear
link:
file:///home/chronos/u-7330648738d57f946c98b730c3ce58240e2941a2/Downloads/DSCN8118.JPG
Hi Matthew. I can't see your photos, but feel free to post them on my Facebook page. I'd be happy to take a peek at them for you.
Thanks a bunch – I noticed yesterday my Rooster has it. Very helpful didn't think about using Vaseline. Now the key is catching him to apply it. Thanks for your tips, think I'll be using your tips for chickens from now on. I like that you are straight forward to the point. Thank you! -Carole
Thanks Carole! Poor roo, The Vaseline should help for sure. Sometimes, the best time to "catch" them is when they go in to roost for the night and darkness is just setting in. Glad to have you with us.
My rooster is acting strange and his wattles are really big. Not sure what yo do for him. He acts like it keeps him from eating so we have to hand feed him. No vet here that will see chickens. Hope you can help
Heat hardy breeds can develop large combs and wattles. The best bet would to try and get him to eat on his own. If you can provide more information about his age, breed, and share more details about his "strange" behavior then perhaps I can offer more advice.
Hi, I want to put Vaseline on my hens combs and wattles, as we have freezing temps here at the moment, but my Buff Orp, Tiffany, bites. Tiff has very big comb and wattle and I’m concerned about her getting frostbite. Is there another way I can help her that is less intrusive? I’m pretty sure she’s claustrophobic, as she is also this way when roosting and with the other chickens, as in she bites if they get in her “personal space” as I call it, or if they touch her.
My best advice is to sneak into the coop after sundown when they are roosting. That is the best time to apply the vaseline without too much objection from the flock.