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Preventing and treating cold-related injuries and illnesses such as frostbite in chickens.
Here in humid subtropical Tampa, Florida, you don’t have to worry about preventing and treating cold-related injuries and illnesses most of the time. On average we get one (1) day when it freezes a year. We usually only have eight days when the temperature goes below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This is mostly due to the latitude but also thanks to the Gulf which helps in lowering our temperature.
Growing up in Niagara Falls, New York was a different story. My flock of 30 or so birds has been confined every winter for him many days in a row. My father often swam the half-acre path from the house to the barn so we could easily get to the backyard poultry. If you’ve seen the viral videos of ducks and chickens walking down a two-foot-wide snowless path – that was my absolute childhood crush every year.
To remind me of the good ol’ days, I called veterinarian and assistant professor Yoko Sato. Dr. Sato works at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. And in Iowa it gets cold! She teaches elective classes for veterinary students looking to study poultry. I’ve received many accolades and awards, but my favorite was 2018’s Mark Cook Pullet-what Award, Faculty Member of the Year at the Midwest Poultry Federation. I’m mad I didn’t make that pun!
Dr. Sato takes a keen interest in advising on large herd and herd problems and also has experience with small backyard herds. I contacted her to learn more about preventing and treating cold-related injuries and illnesses.
in the thermoneutral zone
She told me that the age of the birds matters when talking about cold-related problems. “The chicks want to be closer to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and any draft will cause the chicks to get cold.”
“An adult chicken – once mature – has a thermoneutral zone between 65-79 degrees, anything above that is heat stress and anything below that is too cold.”
The thermoneutral zone is the temperature of the environment at which an organism can easily maintain its body temperature. Chickens can live and thrive outside this range; It just means that they will need to adjust their behavior or food intake to maintain their body temperature.
She says that chickens are generally cold tolerant and more susceptible to heat stress.
Bird feathers are also a factor. Older birds and deciduous birds are less protected. “Bantams are generally not the most active of birds,” she says. If you live in a cold area for extended periods of time, she recommends standard breeds that are generally more cold-hardy.
Frostbite treatment
“Frostbite always occurs when the temperature is below freezing,” she reminds us. If the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, they simply cannot get frostbite. “It’s okay to give them access, but they may not be interested in going out.”
You won’t let them out if the temperature is below freezing. But on a warm sunny winter day they should be fine.
If you expose them to freezing temperatures and they get frostbitten, part of the tissue will rot. “At this point, backyard poultry owners don’t have to do anything by themselves.” She tells me stories of backyard owners trying to use a hair dryer to heat up injured body parts. This can cause heat stress and won’t do anything to the tissues because they are already dead.
Dr. Sato recommends a warm water bath, drying the bird completely, and then allowing the skin to heal over time. She says it will take several weeks to heal. If it’s a foot or metatarsal, it will probably fall off and backyard poultry owners can use a triple antibiotic ointment like Neosporin advertised for humans.
“If their feet are exposed to feces and dirt all the time, wash them to prevent the build-up of rocks, dirt, and feces and keep them clean.” Transferring them to a smaller pen that you can clean out regularly is a good idea.
In addition to freezing temperatures, frostbite usually occurs when there is a lot of moisture and a sudden drop in temperature. It is important to keep the mulch and bedding clean and dry.
“If their cages are outside, make sure they have a water heater, which will allow them to always have access to clean water, because the birds will become dehydrated,” says Dr Sato.
Keep the air flowing
The most common illness associated with a cold is respiratory problems. This problem increases not only due to cold weather but mostly due to ventilation.
“If you have a window, most people will close the coop to conserve the birds’ body heat, but then the airflow decreases and the ammonia increases because there is too much nitrogen in the feces,” says Dr. Sato.
The combination of increased litter moisture leads to higher coccidia numbers, and then the parasite burden can go up. Because of the cold, Dr. Sato says, the birds’ immune systems are “not very happy” and they are more susceptible to parasites.
“A lot of bacteria and viruses like cooler temperatures and they survive better in a cooler temperature.”
To keep air flowing, Dr. Sato recommends a mixing fan. “I get worried about heaters for barn fires. As long as it doesn’t start a fire and if they have enough room to get away from the heat source, it’s okay to have a fireplace in the barn.”
If you don’t want to use electricity, Dr. Sato says a tarp over the vents when it’s less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit is fine. When it’s above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, be sure to roll up fabrics, especially during the day to allow airflow.
Don’t forget to keep the coop predator proof. “I worry about raccoons, foxes, and owls. It’s a warm environment and there are free chickens inside.”
Takeaway
To keep your animals healthy, remember this mnemonic: check your blemishes?
Feed – Do they have access to clean forage?
theEight – Do they have ample light?
aIR – Is the airflow adequate?
wAtir – do they have clean water?
sanitation – Is their bedding clean?
Kenny Coogan is a food, farm and flower columnist. He has a master’s degree in global sustainability and is passionate about flora and fauna in Florida. His latest book, Florida’s Carnivorous Plants, is now available at kennycoogan.com.