Brooding hen has chicks in nesting box

[holz]

Morning All,

 

I fear my chooks have frostbite already.... I live in the south East, and to my knowledge, we haven't had temps below -1 yet this year, but my Pekin and Rhode Island Red have black bits on the tips of their combs that seem to break off when you touch them.... I feel terribly guilty as had assumed that it would have to be much, much colder before this occurred?

 

They live in an eglu with paper in the base, cozy coop on top of that, and straw and paper in the nest box - what are we doing wrong here?!

 

I have bought some vaseline and have been putting that on since we discovered the frostbite yesterday, butI've been reading horror stories on the internet about combs completely falling off, and frostbite being very painful, and someones Silkie losing her feet due to frostbite.

 

Help!

[Egluntyne]

It is quite unusual for them to get frostbite in the UK, unless the weather plummets to well below zero.

 

However, the deadly combination of damp and cold may predispose them to it.

 

I'm not a fan of either paper or straw in the Eglu itself as I find that things stay damp, cold and claggy. I'd consider a more absorbent bedding material, such as Aubiose, and change it regularly. The hens give off quite a bit of moisture at night - open the door of the Eglu and you'll see the vapour from their breath.

 

Try this and one of the many balms for frostbitten combs that are available on 'tinterweb, and you should see an improvement.

 

More winter weather advice here **Click**

[holz]

Okay - thank you. I'll try and get some Auboise for the Eglu.... What do you use to plug the hole in the nest box if not lining it with paper?

 

I found something on the internet called "bag balm" does this sound like the right stuff for the frostbite? It was on Ebay for about £10 for a pot, and it said it has antiseptic properties?

[Plum]

Doesn't sound cold enough Could it be they had been pecked and it was bits of dried blood falling off.

[Luvachicken]

To plug the hole in the egg box cut up the side of a big plastic milk bottle and cut 2 holes (kind of near the middle but so they fit the gap) for a heavy nut and bolt. These weigh down the plastic and stop the aubiose falling out. Cut it to the right size and it works fine.

[Redwing]

Use a proper balm or some gentle hand cream on the comb. Dont use vaseline, its not good for the comb

[Charlie7]

What temperature should it be, before I protect my girl's combs (rose combs) from frostbite and what is the best to use? Some say vaseline, others hand cream.

Also, how cold should it be, before I put the Snugglesafe in to them at night?

[percy049]

i would say below zero for both. you can use vaseline/petroleum jelly for combs/wattles. if they turn blacky blue, then you do definitely need to apply some.

[Alis girls]

How often do you put the vaseline on? - i have probs with one of my girls refuses to be caught

[Egluntyne]

Some winter care advice **Here**.

[Dizzy-Deb]

its cold here today, off out in a bit to put some vaseline on the girls. Sure that will be a new experience for them aswell as me.

[Eggie232]

How much vaseline do you put on? Does it have to be thoroughly massaged into the comb so it disappears or liberally smeared over?

 

I'm really worried coz one of my ladies has a small, very dark, almost black patch on her comb, which I assume is frostbite!

I've applied vaseline this evening and gave it a good massage in. Just not sure if I applied enough though really? Will check on her tomorrow. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Erica x

[Gertie]

I have just attempted to put vaseline on my hens - they were not that keen! I have not had a winter with hens yet, so do not really know whether I am doing it right either.

 

One woke up this morning with a greyish tinge to the tips of the combs. It could have been dirt, but I didn't want to take any chances!

 

I just smeared it liberally on the combs. I did not do the wattles.

 

Do people recommend doing this in the day when it is below freezing, or just at night? I think its going to be a bit sticky, as when I peeked in after they had straw stuck to their heads!! Better than frostbite though.

[Eggie232]

Awwwww, just laughed out loud Gertie when I read the bit about your hens having straw stuck to their heads!

Little scarecrow chooks! LOL!

xxx

[jill the potter]

Do people recommend doing this in the day when it is below freezing, or just at night? I think its going to be a bit sticky, as when I peeked in after they had straw stuck to their heads!! Better than frostbite though.

This really made me laugh!!!

 

 

To be honest we went down to -9c last year and I didn't use anything and girls were fine.

[Gertie]

Hee hee, me too!! Interestingly this morning when I let them out the Vaseline had been absorbed completely & they wernt wearing any straw!

 

I really didn't think that I would be bothering with Vaseline either but the grey tips are still there today. I'm going to try to get some Aubiose incase it's a dampness issue.

[Trougher]

I was worried to death about my ex-batts last night as it dropped to -5, and although the advice on here seems to be that they cope well with the cold, I was still worried. I put extra bedding in the house and the run is covered, and this morning they came out fine and chipper, and each has laid an egg this morning. Their combs seem nice and red and healthy, so although the vaseline is ready they don't seem to need it. I am very relieved - the expression 'tough old birds' springs to mind.

[Burtie14]

We've just put a spot of vaseline on our hens. They didn't seem to mind their wattles being done, but they didn't enjoy their combs too much.

 

The approach we're taking with vaseline is similar to how humans would look after their lips - apply a light coating, and re-apply fairly regularly.

 

We realised pretty quickly that if we put anything more than a thin coating on, it'd be covered in aubiose before you could say "Now be a good girl and don't put your head in the... oh you daft hen!"

[Gertie]

Hello Everyone

 

I wonder if you can advise if there is anything else I can do? I have applied vaseline to my hens combs. I did this last night for the first time because Rosemary's comb had grey tips when she woke up on Friday. Today I went out for the day and returned after dark. I went to put more vaseline on their combs. Rosemarys comb looked even greyer tonight -but she has been out in the run in the day. I am planning to get some Aubiose in case it is a damp issue, but the run is covered and dry inside. I didn't put vaseline on in the morning (I can try that).I thought this only happened when it was really cold. My other 6 hens combs seem fine. She is a Maran hen, is not moulting, seems healthy, eating well, wormed and deloused recently etc.

 

Thanks

[Olly]

If it's only one hen, then I doubt if it's the cold. Is she moulting, do you think? Three of my hens are still laying intermittently and their combs are red, but Sadie has gone off lay since the shorter days, and has had a mini-moult, and her comb is a pale pink.

 

Provided your hen is eating/drinking and looking perky, I wouldn't be too worried - she may just be having a moult or have stopped laying for a bit. Just to add - I have never put vaseline on my girls' and they have always been ok.

[Gertie]

Hi Olly

 

Thanks for replying. I don't think she is moulting. She is still laying regularly and there are no feathers lying around or missing. She is a hybrid that I got at POL in April. I know her eggs as she is in with 3 younger hybrid hens who have just started laying so their eggs are much smaller. She seems healthy in every respect, apart from the recent grey comb. I wondered if it may be because the other hens in my cube are sleeping in the nesting box so she may be on her own on the roosting bars.

 

I may just be worrying as this is my first winter with hens (so no comb experience!) and only my second Surrey winter which is far snowier and more icy than most previous ones!

[Gertie]

Ok, I have an admission... Diatom + Vaseline = grey comb!!!

 

After henwatching all morning I've figure it out!

[abwsco]

Ok, I have an admission... Diatom + Vaseline = grey comb!!!

 

After henwatching all morning I've figure it out!

 

LOL's a huge relief though I bet

[Plum]

You had me wracking my brains why they would go grey

[sandyhas3chucks]

Use a proper balm or some gentle hand cream on the comb. Dont use vaseline, its not good for the comb

oh why? what does it do, I see it recommended often?