What's your "rule" for greasing combs?

[maine chicks]

Nothing wrong with that buff. He looks just fine in his own way. I get the bag balm out when it stays below freezing all day or if the wind chill is bad. I think they like the attention-the grease doesn't seem to bother them at all.

 

[CUDA]

Quote:
I'm sorry if my post was directed at you personally, it wasn't personal. I just get tired of hearing the same old thing about dubbing over and over again. Until you have done it, and seen for yourself, you just won't understand, no matter what anyone tells you. If you choose not to do it, that's fine, just don't tell me how a chicken feels if you haven't done it. Once again, I apologize if I offended you.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
No he's a good roo but I'm in the process of raising up one of his sons to take his place because he's going on three years old.

 

[Akane]

They don't feel pain like you do

How do you know that? I will not say dubbing is cruel because I do not know but to say an animal just doesn't feel pain the same way seems dumb to me. Of course they feel pain. Just because they can't say ouch only means we don't know how much it hurts. It might hurt even worse to them and they just don't react the same. The claim that animals don't feel the same pain is never a good way to justify anything to me. We know they feel pain. We've seen them cry and yell and act sick from pain. You should never assume something doesn't hurt. Unless they scientifically prove the nerves are not sending the same level of responses to the brain and the chemicals and hormones do not change from stress when something is done I will not believe or assume that it doesn't hurt them. Even if they don't appear to be in pain.


Now as for greasing combs I've been told it's really the act of rubbing them and increasing the blood flow that lessens the chance of frostbite. I would also think though that it helps provide a moisture barrier but I haven't seen any proof of that. Frostbite is a lot more common when there is more moisture to freeze. If they are inside I don't see how 20F could cause frostbite. I've experienced frostbite and my extremities (including ears) don't even come close to feeling like that until about 0F. For that reason I don't think I'll worry until it gets into the negatives. Which might be tonight. Low is predicted at -1F. I got a heat lamp on and I'm going to get the utility space heater out there when I finish the cage to protect it so I don't risk causing a fire.​

 

[CUDA]

I didn't say they didn't feel pain, just not the way a human does. And, as I said before, if you haven't done it, you don't know, period. I have seen it first hand, so my opinion is based purely on actual experience.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

I personally believe that chickens feel pain just like we do, but since we also, as a society, kill and eat them, I honestly don't care as much as I do about people. Livestock, not pets.... that said, i will go buy vaseline tomorrow, and (ewwww) rub it into his comb, though i will admit the tips are a little dusky (maybe light frostbite?) I just assumed that since it never got below 20 in the coop, that they'd be fine... my roo is slightly nasty, and bites and claws and freaks out if i try to catch him, so it'll have to be at bedtime... wish me luck!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I've heard you can use Vaseline, but I've never done it. Even at -30°F.

No frostbite.

 

[cluckychick]

There is an excellent article in this months Backyard Poultry magazine on dubbing. It shows step by step on how to do it. If there is excess bleeding then just dab alittle flour on it, that takes care of that.

 

[ivan3]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain wrote: I've heard you can use Vaseline, but I've never done it. Even at -30°F. No frostbite.

And, the Finns (no slackers on the slippery stuff themselves) don't like vaseline, etc. very well (makes the damage worse).

http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259882/isbn9514259882.pdf

We are at the balmy -39° lat. Our roo lost his tips owing to 30mph NW wind (temp. bottomed out during afternoon before they were herded back into their tarped run). Avoid wind and excess humidity and surgery isn't really necessary.​

 

[annmarie]

Thanks for all your responses. I guess I won't worry about greasing combs unless it's supposed to fall below 20 degrees (or more?), based on the answers I got here, especially from the person from Alaska who doesn't do this at all! I just wanted to see if my arbitrary rule of 20 degrees was at all similar to what others are doing. It's true, what someone mentioned about them liking the attention. I think they love being held for a minute or two on some of the coldest days, and getting a little one on one face time, and since I only have 3 chickens (all with pretty large single combs), this isn't too much trouble. I'm sure if I had 30 or 40, I'd have to come up with a different system. I do plan on looking for some breeds with nice pea combs when I expand the flock this Spring! Please keep answering this post with your temperature greasing rule if you haven't already!
(I love the "when my ears start tingling" rule. I don't suppose that wouldn't work too well with me though since my hair makes a nice insulator!)