[SamT]

I have seen conflicting advise about using petroleum jelly on chickens in winter to protect their combs and wattles from frostbite. One person says it can make it worse?  Can you advise me on what's best to use?  Thanks

[joyfull]

I have never had to use it on my chickens but do know that some people swear by it and some also add tea-tree oil to it as this has medicinal properties

[SamT]

Last year a couple of the tips on their combs went a bit black and dried up so I think they got a bit of frostbite on the tips last year although the combs are very pink and healthy now. They had only just started growing last winter too so now they are a bit older do u think they will be a bit hardier against the cold weather?

[8doubles]

The last thing i do before climbing the wooden hill to bed is check the chooks on the in-coop CCTV.
If it is cold i will see 3 headless hens because they bend their necks over their shoulder (?) and tuck the head under the wing.
During the day i think that a windbreak around the pen would be more effective than vaseline as wind chill is a major factor with frostbite.
If they are free ranging they will find a warmer spot themselves.

[Lindeggs]

Sometimes when my nose gets cold I wish I could put my head under my wing!  :blink:  Maybe next winter I will wear a broody chicken as a hat.   

[pigeonpie]

You know how innocent drinks have a big knit with lots of hats for their smoothie bottles to raise money for charity...
surely there isn't much difference in size between a bottle top and a chicken head...

 

[Beano]

check the chooks on the in-coop CCTV.

I fancy that idea. It means I can watch the chickens even more than I do now. There's nothing on the telly these days.

[8doubles]

check the chooks on the in-coop CCTV.

I fancy that idea. It means I can watch the chickens even more than I do now. There's nothing on the telly these days.

With coop-cam you still get lots of repeats.

[compostqueen]

I put some on my girls last week before the onset of the snow and icy blasts. I was going to do their legs but forgot. Good tip about the tea tree!

The Vaseline is just one in a series of hen protections against the cold weather