Last week we talked about preventing frostbite, but in the event that's it's too late (it has been awfully cold lately!) I want to talk about treating frostbite. Frostbite is pretty easy to identify. It generally affects the comb, wattles and feet of chickens. The affected comb or wattles will be grey, white or even black. Feet will often turn red and it can appear swollen or develop blisters. Frostbite affects the combs and wattles of roosters more often than hens, simply because of their larger size.
Frostbite is very painful and may affect the birds behavior and appetite. If your chicken is acting lethargic, you'll want to add some electrolytes to his water to give him a little boost. Add a little pedialyte or gatorade, just make sure you water it down as they probably won't drink it full strength.
When you notice frostbite on one of your chickens, the first instinct is probably to bring him in and warm him up right away. That's a great idea, however if he's going to go right back outside to the same freezing temperatures it will only make it worse. Thawing then refreezing can cause even more damage to the affected area.
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How to treat frostbite in chickenswas originally posted by Favorite Chicken Blogs
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