chickmomma03
Songster
Someone mentioned vaseline on a comb and feet/legs in another thread, so I had some questions. Temps here at night have been JUST below freezing on some nights. My cockerel's comb is a bit off on a couple of the tips. What temp for vaseline? Is it safe if it warms during the day here? And how to keep it from gunking up? Also, do the pullets/hens try to mess with it?
Is it really anything I need to mess with? If I don't do something and his comb looks blueish on the tips what should I do or do I need to do anything at all? Would it be ok like that?
I haven't had any issues with their feet/legs, they have a bar they roost on at night (it's on the edge of their nesting shelf), so I think it's been helping to keep their toes/legs safe (from what I've read they're less at risk than if they are flat at night).
Keep in mind, I live in a fairly humid area year round, humidity mixed with cold can be a big problem from what I understand?
I don't want to do anything to compromise my babes, I just want to make sure they're all safe. My cockerel is the one with the issue of discoloration on his comb, the girls all look good.
On the RARE occasion we actually have a winter storm, I also need to be prepared for possible issues that may come up. Once in a while we may have an ice storm or snow roll through, it doesn't USUALLY last long, but we did have a nasty one several years ago that went on for a little over 2wks before FINALLY warming up enough to melt the ice (which also means we were stuck here with no power for those 2wks, we don't have the plows etc like I grew up with in Illinois).
I've tried to take in/do as much research as I possibly could BEFORE owning chickens, but it seems like there's ALWAYS something to learn (but I love that).
Is it really anything I need to mess with? If I don't do something and his comb looks blueish on the tips what should I do or do I need to do anything at all? Would it be ok like that?
I haven't had any issues with their feet/legs, they have a bar they roost on at night (it's on the edge of their nesting shelf), so I think it's been helping to keep their toes/legs safe (from what I've read they're less at risk than if they are flat at night).
Keep in mind, I live in a fairly humid area year round, humidity mixed with cold can be a big problem from what I understand?
I don't want to do anything to compromise my babes, I just want to make sure they're all safe. My cockerel is the one with the issue of discoloration on his comb, the girls all look good.
On the RARE occasion we actually have a winter storm, I also need to be prepared for possible issues that may come up. Once in a while we may have an ice storm or snow roll through, it doesn't USUALLY last long, but we did have a nasty one several years ago that went on for a little over 2wks before FINALLY warming up enough to melt the ice (which also means we were stuck here with no power for those 2wks, we don't have the plows etc like I grew up with in Illinois).
I've tried to take in/do as much research as I possibly could BEFORE owning chickens, but it seems like there's ALWAYS something to learn (but I love that).