Vicks Vapor Rub

[LizzyJo]

I have a friend who got gored by a pitchfork thru his calf--all the way thru, one hole going in and one hole going out--when he was 6 years old. This was on a farm with livestock and manure and germs. His mother treated it by putting a band-aid on each of the holes!

Lucky there weren't too many mothers like his and the one that made the kid eat Vicks! It's lucky we survived.

 

[frenchmaranser]

My Parents used to give us a capful of Lee's "Save The Baby" to swallow when we had a bad cold as kids. Main ingredient: Camphor. Product was produced in the basement of a small home in watervliet, NY for 80 years and sold all over the Northeast. They sold the formula to the company that produces VetRx for animals when the FDA outlawed the use of Camphor on kids. Directions said you could rub it on your chest but don't know if it was recommended for consumption ever. It was the most awful tasting stuff I ever encountered...absolutely bitter and tasted like poison...which is what I told my parents as they chased me around the kitchen table trying to get me to take that capful. No amount of sugar could kill its vile taste. I guess I knew better than they did.

 

[HickoryHollow]

Sometimes I think things are a "knee" jerk reaction. For over 100 years a remedy is used successfully, then somebody, or some animal has a reaction to it. Then some "college boy" (and I work at a University) decides to do a study. Out of 100 rats with Vick's applied to them, 7 had some kind of reaction, and 2 died.

The FDA is then called. A 60 page report is created by a comity made up of 4 students involved in the study, and 4 FDA investigators. The Center for Disease Control is contacted and a congressional comity is formed. Chemists from the Vick's corporation are consulted then subpoenaed to testify before congress.

It is finely ruled that if Vicks is willing to put their product in a red bottle and include a 9 page warning letter with each bottle, they can keep it on the market.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, Martha has been using it all along just fine, and can't figure out what the hell is with this "new red bottle" they came out with.....................

 

[srosales1996]

Lol when my husband was sick as a child his grandma would make him eat Vicks. When he told me that I thought the old women was crazy but I hear many from that generation ingested it and gave it to their kids. I myself use it on everything from chapped lips to bloody noses on me an my kids and nobody ever died.

 

[HickoryHollow]

I originally came to this thread because I had 2 really bad pecking injuries yesterday. One was bleeding from the top of her tail area, the other was all bloodied up right at the vent. I had them isolated, but was out of dog carriers, waterers, and feeders.....so one more injury and I was in trouble. I needed to get them back with their friends in the brooders.

Tonight, I "smathered" their injuries with Vicks.......It works awesome!! I hope nobody gets sick from it, but I WILL tell you that it works as far as the others leaving them alone. Nobody paid any attention to them. Last night they were zooming in on the blood and going crazy over it. Tonight............nothing!

 

[CrunchyChick]

Isn't camphor in the VetRx?

 

[Seymore]

Time to bump this thread...

I have a vent pecking issue, from one Sussex on a Wyandotte, and reading a bunch of threads here, some say it's ok to use Vicks Vapor Rub while other say DON'T USE IT!.

So, what is the general consensus? Does anyone know if the formula has changed and/or if it is safe to use on the backside of our Wyandotte to discourage the Sussex from these sneek attacks? BTW, the Wyandotte has been separated from the flock for a few days, in the same brooder but with hardware cloth between...

We are new to having chicks, but old enough to know when to ask questions.

You can see my intro, with more info, here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/972608/greetings-earthlings-o#post_15150226



Cheers and TIA...

 

[Seymore]

Oh, to add to the above post...

We have 9 day old chicks. One of our Wyandotte is a runt, had the vent pecked bloody, was isolated but still is a runt. The other Wyandotte also had vent pecking by the Sussex... so they both got isolated. Both Wyandottes are doing much better and the runts vent has healed quite well. Epsom salt soaking, vaseline and due diligence, every hr or two over 2+ days, took care of the runts vent issue.

So, still concerned about vent pecking, once we reintroduce, from the Sussex towards the Wyandotte. (we will be culling the runt. also suspect neurological issues...) We have Vicks, but still on the fence based on what I've read here and other locations on the WEB.

Help, please?

 

[Seymore]

OK, culled the Wyandotte runt tonight. Wasn't easy for either of us.

Used the Vicks on the larger Wyandotte, reintroduced and whata ya know... there was one serious vent peck by the Sussex, a serious head shake like "what did I stick my nose into" and it has not happened since. I know the Vicks will wear off, but this is a great sign and I'll reapply if needed. If the Wyandotte does ever get pecked there, I can hear her squeal from the other side of the house. Hope I don't get to hear that (much) again.

RE: everyones health after the smelly situation, seems everyone is doing well. Granted, it's only been a few hours... but time will tell and I'll be monitoring closely over the next 24-36.

 

[minihorsemama]

I originally came to this thread because I had 2 really bad pecking injuries yesterday. One was bleeding from the top of her tail area, the other was all bloodied up right at the vent. I had them isolated, but was out of dog carriers, waterers, and feeders.....so one more injury and I was in trouble. I needed to get them back with their friends in the brooders.

Tonight, I "smathered" their injuries with Vicks.......It works awesome!! I hope nobody gets sick from it, but I WILL tell you that it works as far as the others leaving them alone. Nobody paid any attention to them. Last night they were zooming in on the blood and going crazy over it. Tonight............nothing!

I'm definitely going to put a little vicks on all of my hens that have bald spots on the tops of the base of their tails. I witnessed 2 of my hens pecking out the feathers of those other hens & eating them! Vicks worked on me & my sisters for MANY years. We're still alive & very healthy at age 63, 62, 57 & 55. None of my pecked hens are bloody so I don't see that it will burn them. It's worth a shot.