Trimming comb?

[Biddieacres]

I have never heard of it but it sounds incredible cruel to me. Sorry. Imagine cutting your earlobe off or something. They must feel it. It is freezing here and their huge combs are fine with just some vaseline.

 

[Akane]

No one really knows if it actually hurts. You aren't the chicken and they can't talk. However frostbite definitely hurts. Despite my efforts and keeping the coop pretty warm my silly bantam roo got his head wet drinking water in the evening and then froze his comb on a night that was hardly below freezing.

I can understand why some people dub but I won't believe it doesn't hurt until you find a chicken that can tell you so

and I don't think it should be done unless you know there is a good risk of frostbite. I think it would be much better to try preventing it instead.

Oh my roos behavior has also not changed in the least since frostbite except he's very touchy about his comb and hides his head if you try to handle it. He still crows, drinks, eats, and mates nonstop with his hens. He acts like nothing is wrong yet from other behaviors I know it does really hurt. Which again is why I say you can't always tell if they are in pain. Animals evolved to hide their pain so predators and others of their own species don't think they are weak and easy prey.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
Kind of agree.. We cant really tell if it hurts or not for sure. and they probably do... But if it was to hurt a chicken (or at least BADLY) you would get a reaction. Everyone of my chickens (and ones i've come in contact with) will get a reaction when in pain (serious pain) Usually followed by trying to get away, screaming. etc... Maybe i should become a scientist and test it to see if they actually DO get hurt or not..since no one else has. they just go off of assumptions. either way.. In every conversation you have people who believe one side is right. and others who believe the opposite. Not worth getting a thread closed down (like most of the dubbing pages are. due to fighting/arguing etc, same with the game chickens (be it. Old english games, american games. oriental or other due to people pushing sterotypes)

 

[al6517]

No I don't think we have reached that stage yet. but all valid points, For those who do Dubb I am sure thier reasons are just in keeping of the best intrest for the Rooster. Sometimes things that must be done hurt, but they must be done. Like when a human gets shots, or getting a tooth pulled, or surgery. I do not think folks do this procedure to be unkind as it is quite a tasks.

AL

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

I never thought I would consider doing this, however, after exhausting all my options (ex: checking for drafts, but maintaining adequate air exchangeg, vaseline, low moisture in coop, massaging the comb and wattles) my rooster's comb has still suffered. I would rather do something quick and sterile, rather than possibly resign him to the recurrent pain I truly believe he feels from the frostbite.

-C

 

[Opa]

Frostbite can be a real issue and I'm trying to prevent it from happening by applying Dionne's Udder Balm with Frost Protection to my roosters Combs & wattles. I would suggest you obtain a copy of Backyard Poultry Magazine Nov/Dec 2008 for a very comprehensive article on dubbing. It's definitely one I intend to keep for reference if I'm forced to do it. According the article frostbite can definitely affect fertility.

 

[cheeps]

I know that animals have a higher tolerance of pain than we do, but on the other side of the coin, they don't show pain like we do either. I work at a vet, and sometimes we'll have animals with broken bones, etc that don't act like they're in pain, but obviously they have to be.

As for me, I'm going to stick to the Vaseline. Has worked fine for us, even on Julius's big comb. I know we don't get sub zero in NC in the winter but it get bitterly cold, and I've had no problem with Vaseline.

Go Panthers!!!

 

[Wandamj]

That does make sense, hard to believe they don't feel any pain, that is great.

That is bs

 

[Wandamj]

Of course they feel pain

 

[tlcmurphy]

Of course they feel pain

This thread is 15 years old.