De-wattle?

[chickenlady]

No they don't basicliving. My modern game birds are dubbed for showing purposes. I didn't do it myself though. I've heard it does not hurt. I sure hope not.

 

[rooster-red]

Since the comb & wattles are living tissue with nerves I really can't see how it wouldn't hurt.

 

[basicliving]

I'm guessing this subject has been discussed on these forums before - and is apparently a little controversial. I can certainly see why! I did not mean to start anything ugly here - I tried to search for de-wattle on the forums, but no hits came back. I guess I called it the wrong thing. I was unfamiliar with dubbing, although in retrospect, I do remember it being briefly mentioned in a post or too. I just found the whole de-wattling thing very curious and wondered why one would do that to their chicken.

Thanks for all the information. I understand it now.

Penny

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Glad I could help.

LOL. There are not many things that aren't "controversial" honestly.

If you would like to search for it, you would get better results using "Dubbing" than "de-wattling."

If the Dorking rooster you saw that was "de-wattled" still had his comb, more than likely he injured his wattle(s) somehow and the owner saw fit just to dub the wattles. If the bird was completly dubbed, wattles and comb, it was done in prevention of frostbite.

Dorkings are not a game breed, so it is not required to dub for any reason. Dorkings do however have very large combs and wattles in which I can see them being dubbed for precautionary measures.

-Kim

 

[rooster-red]

I could see using this method to repair an injury.

 

[basicliving]

The webpage gave no explanation - just a picture of the Silver Gray Dorking with something like "Here's my de-wattled rooster" underneath of it and there were lots of other chicken pictures and no mention of de-wattled. The SG Dorking still had his comb, which may be what seemed so odd to me. At any rate, you are probably right that it was an injury. I have to be honest - I think injury is the only reason I would ever dub one of my chickens. I LOVE their little wattles and combs! My SG Dorking is only 5 weeks old and his are gorgeous!

Penny

 

[Wolf-Kim]

The Dorkings look best with their combs and wattles. It very much adds to their "look".

It does sound like an injury since that particular Dorking still had his comb.

-Kim

 

[Chickaroo!]

Personally, I think that is sad to do to a chicken. I couldn't even finish reading the artical on the link!! It made me quizey.

 

[fivebigreds]

Quote:
I couldent agree more , I will not mutilate my animals just because some idiot show judge thinks it's the thing to do. There's a great deal of pain and suffering man puts animals through that is unnessary.

 

[Poohbear]

Many people are truely uninformed about dubbing, especially for frostbite. I too get angry when I see someone being painted in an unfair light to foster an untruth. I dub large combed fowl and do NOT consider myself uncaring of the welfare of my fowl. Ms Prissy, although you have personal anger about dubbing, do not allow it to impare your judgement of dubbing. Chickens DO get frostbite from cold and no, not everyone is involved with "Extremely ugly" aspects of fowl just because they dub. It could be from a genuine feeling for the fowl when their combs turn black and wither. Dubbing is far more humane than watching fowls comb turn black and shrink from behind drawn curtains. You seem to cast a rather wide net as to the character of fowlers that dub. Just because you feel you are right, does make everyone of a different mindset wrong. "Mutilation" is just another sad and uneducated word to use when your ideals are unmatched and unshared by others on this subject, fivebigreds. Although Roosterred and you, along with many others agree dubbing is not for you, (and you certainly have that right) please take the time to study the subject of dubbing before making an irrational statement. "Stupid Judges" are the life-blood of foundation stock in the world of fowl. Without standards to recognize the superior from the standard all fowl would soon become mediocre chickens. Men and women that have raised fowl for decades have decided what the standard of perfection in fowl is, NOT the judges. Judges only adhere to the SET standard to keep superior breeding methods moving into the next century. To pursue constant improvement.