Hello all!
My question is how can I try to straighten, at least partially, a couple girls' big ol' floppy combs.
They are leghorns, so it's partially genetic. But two in particular have enormous combs, folded over their faces so as to blind them on one side.
The cartilage has hardened to bind them in place, but is still soft enough that I can hold them straight by hand. The hens are about two years old.
I tried to research, but it seems no one has ever tried fixing a comb and posting about it. Others have asked, but I didn't find any advice beyond cutting the combs off.
I'd never considered that. I get the feeling that if I asked them, they'd still rather keep their combs.
I went ahead and looked into floppy dog ears, too, since they're both cartilaginous, and it seems that "fixing" puppy ears is generally doable, but agreed that it's impossible once they're adults. However, there are some who have supposedly done so successfully, and posted about it. It seems they simply used prolonged versions of the methods used for pups, plus supplements. If that's all it takes, I'd wonder why it's so uncommon. I would be willing to try anything, though, if I thought it might help.
I have also seen pictures of chicken hats, which could hold combs in place.
Before I go making comb splints and caps, I figured I'd ask the community <3 for advice. Has anyone done this before? Are there other ways? I'd appreciate any insight!
To elaborate, the combs indeed blind them. On the flopped sides, the girls can only see their beaks and the ground. They dip into whatever the hens are eating or drinking, and rub on the ground when they forage. They tend to smack into things, including the hens' own faces when they shake their heads. Even a minor improvement in erection would help with all of their problems.
My question is how can I try to straighten, at least partially, a couple girls' big ol' floppy combs.
They are leghorns, so it's partially genetic. But two in particular have enormous combs, folded over their faces so as to blind them on one side.
The cartilage has hardened to bind them in place, but is still soft enough that I can hold them straight by hand. The hens are about two years old.
I tried to research, but it seems no one has ever tried fixing a comb and posting about it. Others have asked, but I didn't find any advice beyond cutting the combs off.
I'd never considered that. I get the feeling that if I asked them, they'd still rather keep their combs.
I went ahead and looked into floppy dog ears, too, since they're both cartilaginous, and it seems that "fixing" puppy ears is generally doable, but agreed that it's impossible once they're adults. However, there are some who have supposedly done so successfully, and posted about it. It seems they simply used prolonged versions of the methods used for pups, plus supplements. If that's all it takes, I'd wonder why it's so uncommon. I would be willing to try anything, though, if I thought it might help.
I have also seen pictures of chicken hats, which could hold combs in place.
Before I go making comb splints and caps, I figured I'd ask the community <3 for advice. Has anyone done this before? Are there other ways? I'd appreciate any insight!
To elaborate, the combs indeed blind them. On the flopped sides, the girls can only see their beaks and the ground. They dip into whatever the hens are eating or drinking, and rub on the ground when they forage. They tend to smack into things, including the hens' own faces when they shake their heads. Even a minor improvement in erection would help with all of their problems.
