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Combs look horrible, black - but it's not frostbite

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by vermontgal, Jan 18, 2009.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 18, 2009 #1
    vermontgal

    vermontgal Songster

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    Mar 24, 2008
    Salt Lake City / Sugarhood
    My gals' combs are looking horrible. They are nearly all black.

    I realized that this is because I have been putting vaseline on the combs, and then I gave them a bin full of woodstove ashes to dust bathe in. [​IMG]
     
  2. Jan 18, 2009 #2
    william9792

    william9792 Songster

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    Nov 23, 2008
    graham, nc
    i do not see how this will hurt them it will rub off i think in time
     
  3. Jan 19, 2009 #3
    Splash_Guard

    Splash_Guard Set Free

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    Dec 3, 2008
    Michigan
    Thanks for the post, I'll have to learn about dust bathing in wood ash as I've not heard of that. Fireplace ashes, right? Hummmmmm. Anyway, before I go into hours of searching, any information on this dust bathing in wood ashes?
     
  4. Jan 19, 2009 #4
    BJ

    BJ Songster

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    Mar 20, 2007
    You should be happy that it is just not frostbite! A little dirt won't hurt 'em!
     
  5. Jan 19, 2009 #5
    crazyhen

    crazyhen Crowing

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    Aug 26, 2008
    mtns of ,NC.
    Do you use straight wood ashes? They are very alkaline . I would mix with sand. grass will not even grow where you put them until the rain washes some of the stength away. Jean
     
  6. Jan 19, 2009 #6
    vermontgal

    vermontgal Songster

    767
    20
    174
    Mar 24, 2008
    Salt Lake City / Sugarhood
    Mixed with sand, yes. The ashes are out of there now, because they were also eating them, and I was worried about too much dust. The combs were scary looking until I realized what it was. I've been worried about frostbite all winter, and it was -30F last week.
     
  7. Jan 19, 2009 #7
    waynesgarden

    waynesgarden Feathers of Steel

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    Mar 30, 2008
    Oxford County
    Jeeze, why don't you just tar and feather them? [​IMG]

    Wayne
     
  8. Jan 19, 2009 #8
    vermontgal

    vermontgal Songster

    767
    20
    174
    Mar 24, 2008
    Salt Lake City / Sugarhood
    I had a similar scare when they were pooping bright red/pink as chicks. Then I realized my dad had been giving them beet peelings. [​IMG]

    Wayne, they did this treatment to themselves.... but I think people do put tar on chickens, and they are already feathered. [​IMG]
     
  9. Jan 19, 2009 #9
    americana-chick

    americana-chick Songster

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    Jun 18, 2008
    they should be fine, just give them time [​IMG]
     

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