Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Westie]

Hi All

 

Tonight it is going to go down to around -3c, and while I'm night too worried about my gang being cold, I'm trying to decide whether I need to try and vaseline their combs. It is said to be -1c at 9am tomorrow but then going warmer.

 

When do others start panicking?

 

Westie

[xScrunchee]

I don't know if I would vaseline their combs to be honest.

I know that some people never have and their chooks have been fine-even in freezing conditions.

 

I can't help thinking that putting wet, sticky vaseline on their combs would make them feel colder-after all, it is wet.

[The Dogmother]

it's supposed to protect them from frostbite and chapping. I've never done it and mine haven't suffered at all.

[Scooby]

We've started putting on our girls for the past two nights. They don't seem to mind and their combs and wattles now have a very healthy glow to them

[Egluntyne]

I've never bothered.

 

On the Omlet US forum, they report much lower temperatures than we ever get, and I think they start to consider it at about minus 10degrees C.

[Lesley]

I did it for the Whitestar when we only had 8 hens - I don't do it at all now we have over 60 birds.

[little chickadee]

isn't it just for breeds with really big combs you're supposed to do that?

[Westie]

Dear All

 

Many thanks for the advice. It's sometimes hard to judge especially as this will be our first chucky winter. I understand the point about brids with large combs being particularly susceptable but what breed is considered to have a large comb.

 

Have to say our girls love the porridge mix although our youngest decided it was passed her bedtime and didn't come back out for her warming supper.

[The Dogmother]

If the bird's comb is big enough to flop, then the circulation in the extremities will be less effective, making it more likely to suffer from the frost. Rose comb hens like most of mine are fine.

[Richard]

um never even thought about it to be honest. I've not had any problems, and Doris (when she was alive) and Georgie used to play in the snow.

[The Dogmother]

Last winter, my girls ran around the garden trying to catch the falling flakes - had me laughing!