White earlobes with pink/purple discoloration in cold weather

[ChelseyC]

White earlobes have a pink/purple discoloration. We had a drastic temp change this week with it getting very cold for my location (low 20’s at night). Coop is wrapped, etc and hens free range all day outside in the sun (temp gets up to about 40). They are all acting normal, but I am worried this is a sign of cold damage? Has anyone seen this before? It only seems to be on the white egg layer/earlobe hens, which are various ages and breeds, and it is on both sides of their heads, some are worse than others, with some being more on the face area. Any help or wisdom is appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

White earlobes have a pink/purple discoloration. We had a drastic temp change this week with it getting very cold for my location (low 20’s at night). Coop is wrapped, etc and hens free range all day outside in the sun (temp gets up to about 40). They are all acting normal, but I am worried this is a sign of cold damage? Has anyone seen this before? It only seems to be on the white egg layer/earlobe hens, which are various ages and breeds, and it is on both sides of their heads, some are worse than others, with some being more on the face area. Any help or wisdom is appreciated.View attachment 4022930
View attachment 4022932

Welcome To BYC

The color change could be due to cold weather and less blood flow circulation. It would be a bit strange for earlobes to suffer frostbite and not on those large straight combs and wattles.

Here's a good read about earlobes and coloring.
http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/09e03a06.pdf

 

[ChelseyC]

Welcome To BYC

The color change could be due to cold weather and less blood flow circulation. It would be a bit strange for earlobes to suffer frostbite and not on those large straight combs and wattles.

Here's a good read about earlobes and coloring.
http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/09e03a06.pdf

Ok thank you for your input. I just didn’t know if I should be worried.

 

[PandemicChicken]

following - let me know if it heals once the weather gets warmer! my bantam's area above the earlobe is purple too on only 1 side, and it's been like 10-15ºF all week. I'm not sure if it's bruising or bullying or bc of sudden cold temps. She was caught on a mouse trap briefly for like 10 seconds before I got her out, and it was on her leg, so I wasn't sure if it could be that either

 

[ChelseyC]

following - let me know if it heals once the weather gets warmer! my bantam's area above the earlobe is purple too on only 1 side, and it's been like 10-15ºF all week. I'm not sure if it's bruising or bullying or bc of sudden cold temps. She was caught on a mouse trap briefly for like 10 seconds before I got her out, and it was on her leg, so I wasn't sure if it could be that either

It’s been a little warmer here and it seems to have improved somewhat on my hens so I guess it was some kind of reaction to the cold. It was concerning to me though as I’ve never seen it before. I hope your little girl is ok!!