{"id":1127,"date":"2018-09-05t20:38:09","date_gmt":"2018-09-05t20:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poultry.mystagingwebsite.com\/?page_id=1127"},"modified":"2020-03-20t06:08:20","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20t06:08:20","slug":"frostbite-in-chickens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"\/\/www.bkpromos.com\/beplayapp网页 \/poultry-health\/frostbite-in-chickens\/","title":{"rendered":"frostbite in chickens"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

written by<\/span><\/i><\/b>: dr. jacquie jacob, university of kentucky<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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photo by aineslabaugh, wvu braxton county extension service<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

well-designed and maintained coops should prevent frostbite in chicken flocks, but with extremely low temperatures (single digits and below),\u00a0frostbite has can become a problem.\u00a0frostbite is more likely to occur during the nighttime hours in a cold, poorly ventilated coop with damp bedding.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

birds’ combs, wattles, and possibly toes are the most vulnerable to freezing. frostbite is most common in roosters because they typically have larger combs and wattles, but any hen with a large comb, such as a leghorn, can be vulnerable as well. the incidence of frostbite in chickens with the smaller comb types, such as pea and strawberry, is much less.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\"rooster\r\n
rooster with frostbite. photo by brigid mccrea, auburn university<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

how can you tell when chickens have frostbite?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

frostbite results when the fluid in tissues freezes, damaging cells to the point that the cells die.\u00a0these dead areas appear off-color and will eventually blackened areas of the tips of combs or toes or the ends of the wattles.\u00a0the tissues, as a result of freezing, lose blood supply, depriving the cells of oxygen. freezing also causes physical damage to the tissues to varying degrees.\u00a0the dead tissue will eventually dry up and fall off, not to regrow.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

what should you do if your chickens get frostbite?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

the affected areas should be warmed slowly. do <\/span>not<\/em> use direct heat, such as a hair dryer or heat lamp. do <\/span>not<\/em> rub or massage the affected area. do <\/span>not<\/em> trim the blackened area(s) unless it becomes infected. removing a blackened area can expose the area beneath to frostbite as well as infection. the blackened areas actually protect the remaining comb. it is important to monitor the damaged areas for infection. with infected areas, there will be swelling, increased redness, discharge from the wound, and a bad odor.\u00a0if blisters appear, leave them alone; they are filled with a “natural band-aid”\u00a0for the damaged tissue beneath. breaking the blisters exposes the area to infective organisms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

frostbitten feet should be soaked in slightly warm water to slowly bring their temperature back to normal.\u00a0in extreme frostbite situations, it is possible that major portions of the combs\u00a0or feet will freeze. in such situations, especially if feet are affected, there is not much that can be done.\u00a0if possible, limit the exposure of affected chickens to the extreme cold. thawing and refreezing of exposed tissues will cause more damage.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

healing from frostbite can take four to\u00a0six weeks. if possible, keep pen mates from pecking at frostbitten areas. oral medications for pain are not needed; some are lethal to chickens. chickens experience pain differently than humans and will generally appear unfazed by their injuries.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

both egg production and fertility may be affected by extremely low temperatures, whether or not frostbite is evident.\u00a0the birds will recover their reproductive status as temperatures warm up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

how can you prevent frostbite in chickens?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

prevention of frostbite is best. postpone cleaning out the coop until spring. the extra layer of bedding material in the coop over winter will help insulate the building. it is important to top dress the bedding as needed throughout winter to keep it dry. proper ventilation is necessary to prevent moisture and ammonia increases that can negatively impact the birds.\u00a0chickens generate a great deal of moisture from their breathing, feces, and water spillage.\u00a0if there is condensation on windows or uninsulated walls of the coop in the morning, ventilation must be increased to keep the coop dry.\u00a0note that when the temperature is low, drinking water might freeze. select\u00a0drinkers carefully and consider using drinker warmers to prevent drinking water from freezing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

extreme cold (sub-zero for a few days) can be reduced by a heat lamp.\u00a0it is important to recognize, however, that heat lamps are a potential fire hazard.\u00a0care must be taken when placing heat lamps.\u00a0each year, chicken coops (and some attached houses) have been lost to fires caused by heat lamps.\u00a0in addition, the heat lamp may disrupt chickens’ lighting schedule, which might also reduce egg production.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

some flock owners like to cover the combs and wattles with petroleum jelly. for mild freezing, petroleum jelly helps, but coop beplay官网全站苹果 is the real key. flocks can do well at sub-zero temperatures if you use a deep litter system and an in-bucket water warmer, with\u00a0no external heat required.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

back to poultry health menu<\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

written by: dr. jacquie jacob, university of kentucky well-designed and maintained coops should prevent frostbite in chicken flocks, but with extremely low temperatures (single digits and below),\u00a0frostbite has can become a problem.\u00a0frostbite is more likely to occur during the nighttime hours in a cold, poorly ventilated coop with damp bedding. birds’ combs, wattles, and possibly … <\/p>\n