Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: kooringa on November 19, 2005, 18:12

Title: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: kooringa on November 19, 2005, 18:12
When the weather is so cold, it is advisable to cover the chickens comb and wattles with Vaseline every day to stop them getting frost bite, the comb going black and falling off.

Has anyone had experience of this I wondered?
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 20, 2005, 10:33
I have looked it up on the Omlet Forum and most seem to think that it is a good idea.

My chooks combs did feel a bit 'crunchy' when I did it, so I am going to continue to be on the safe side.

I don't fancy them turning black and falling off!

It is a bit of a palavar though, with a squirming chicken in one arm and a tub of vaseline balancing on the top of their run, and only one free hand!  All at 7am in the morning if freezing frost!

They are worth it though.  An hour later I went out there and they had laid 2 large eggs for me.

 :lol:
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: John on November 20, 2005, 18:32
Quote from: "kooringa"

.... All at 7am in the morning if freezing frost!

They are worth it though.  An hour later I went out there and they had laid 2 large eggs for me.

 :lol:


I think you'd need to give me a bit more than 2 eggs to get out in the frost at 7am.!   I reckon you spoil 'em.
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 20, 2005, 20:03
Is that a bit of the green eyed monster talking?  You'd be spoilt if you laid eggs and ate leftovers I am sure! :lol: [/code]
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 20, 2005, 20:05
I forgot to mention - I created and planted up a flower bed in front of their pen so that they had something nice to look at!  Ungratefull little hussies started to peck at the clematis through the chicken wire. :shock:
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: John on November 20, 2005, 20:09
I bet you read them a bedside story as well!
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 20, 2005, 21:30
No just sing them a lullaby - joke!

When are you getting our hen house?
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: John on November 21, 2005, 10:10
I was looking to start around April time - My sister is giving me her ark and I think she will have her new super house built by then.(I hope)

If not, I have plans to build one from Katie Thear

I must admit to hoping the bird flu thing will have resolved by then , some of the other plotholders are concerned. John's biowar lab.
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 29, 2005, 15:11
Coo you are going to be so busy, be sure to keep us updated on your diary page won't you.

All seems to be quiet on the flu thing, I keep reading DEFRA guidelines and looking up the forum sites.

So which will come first, the green house or the chicken house?
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: John on November 29, 2005, 20:34
Well not much of anything is happening at the moment due to the weather!

I think the greenhouse will be first as I need it earlier. I can't really hassle my sister (come on, give it to me!) but I can ask :)

And, yes, I'm keeping up with the diary,- in fact I'll be putting an entry up in a few minutes.
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 29, 2005, 22:03
I am off to read it - hope you literally meant a minute! :D
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: John on November 29, 2005, 22:27
I'm sorry - it took longer as dinner was served.
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: kooringa on November 30, 2005, 09:29
By you?

I read it, I had no idea I was chatting to a VIP
Title: Protecting Chickens against cold weather
Post by: John on November 30, 2005, 10:12
Val's pasta last night - yummy.

The NVS thingy is very interesting. Although I'm not into show growing, there are tips for ordinary growers. I think there should be a show section for organically grown - although I suppose it would be impossible to check.

The show growers could probably teach NASA a thing or two. I've never been in a greenhouse with underfloor heating before. Banks of lights to simulate 14 hours daylight.  Special racking to support the leaves and so forth.

I may pop a web site up for us (the national's site could be improved, IMHO)

Watch this space!
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Laverne88 on May 08, 2009, 06:27
(wonders if there's a market for little half-moon shaped felt hats!)

(eat yer heart out Alan Sugar!)

 :wacko:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 08, 2009, 11:49
(wonders if there's a market for little half-moon shaped felt hats!)

(eat yer heart out Alan Sugar!)

 :wacko:

sorry, you've totally lost me on this one, have you been on the pop or have i?
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Rubellite on May 08, 2009, 15:12
sorry, you've totally lost me on this one, have you been on the pop or have i?
Keep up TMG. Half mooon felt hats to protect the combs from the frost :tongue2:
To save having to get the vaseline out!
Just because it's nearly summer doesn't mean that some people aren't still thinking of the winter  :blink:
Me, I'm an optimist and don't want to think of frost :)
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 08, 2009, 15:15
 ::)  I can't see "Farmer Giles" fitting hats or even greasing his entire flock's combs and wattles whenever there's a frost expected  ::)
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Foxy on May 08, 2009, 15:16
well I think my boys quite enjoyed me rubbing vaseline in! :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 08, 2009, 15:19
 :ohmy: :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Rubellite on May 08, 2009, 15:53
well I think my boys quite enjoyed me rubbing vaseline in! :lol: :lol:

Excuse me.............. :ohmy:
(Auntie, is that allowed?)
 :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 08, 2009, 15:55
Only in private   :blush:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 08, 2009, 23:16

Quote
Keep up TMG. Half mooon felt hats to protect the combs from the frost :tongue2:

how am i supposed to keep up when that post is 4 years old and i've only been a member for a year? :tongue2:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Rubellite on May 08, 2009, 23:22

Quote
Keep up TMG. Half mooon felt hats to protect the combs from the frost :tongue2:

how am i supposed to keep up when that post is 4 years old and i've only been a member for a year? :tongue2:

 :lol: :tongue2: :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 08, 2009, 23:30
i would like to have the last word and point out that i kept almost 70 birds throughout the winter, all free range, not a smear of vaseline in sight, and at the end of winter didn't lose a single wattle :tongue2: nearly lost my fingers to frostbite but the chooks were all just dandy :D all combs and wattles are present and correct.......................
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Rubellite on May 09, 2009, 11:55
Jolly good! :tongue2: (Me neither)
Are you saying (and perhaps you'd better whisper the answer) that faffing about with vaseline is unnecessary? :D

(And Laverne is probably a better person than we 'cos I also haven't read posts from 4 years ago!!)
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 09, 2009, 13:05
if my chooks lived in Antartica there's a possibility they might need vaseline, but here in the good old uk, i doubt it's really necessary, i hope it isn't, cos if my lot think i'm vaselining them upfor a frost they've got another thing coming, frozen wattles or no.
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Laverne88 on May 09, 2009, 17:12
I hate giving advice cos I'm not an expert on anything but I will stick my necK out, on this occasion, and advise NEVER MISTAKE VICK FOR VASELINE........
YOU'LL ONLY DO IT ONCE! :ohmy:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: mumofstig on May 09, 2009, 17:14
Painful :lol: :tongue2: :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: raeburg on May 09, 2009, 17:42
I hate giving advice cos I'm not an expert on anything but I will stick my necK out, on this occasion, and advise NEVER MISTAKE VICK FOR VASELINE........
YOU'LL ONLY DO IT ONCE! :ohmy:

And never mistake Deep Heat for KY....
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 09, 2009, 17:49
I hate giving advice cos I'm not an expert on anything but I will stick my necK out, on this occasion, and advise NEVER MISTAKE VICK FOR VASELINE........
YOU'LL ONLY DO IT ONCE! :ohmy:

And never mistake Deep Heat for KY....

And be careful when you go to the loo if you've been chopping garlic.............................
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 09, 2009, 17:52
oh and air freshener isn't nearly as effective as deodrant..............................may need to get my eyes checked but it was very early in the morning.
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: mumofstig on May 09, 2009, 18:12
Quote
And never mistake Deep Heat for KY....

Oooooooooo even more painful :nowink:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: mumofstig on May 09, 2009, 18:14
Nothing to do with vaseline....but.....never rub your eyes when you've been chopping chilli :wacko:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 09, 2009, 19:01
oh, last but not least, never tell your daddy you want 12 ex batts for your birthday and come back with 60!
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: mumofstig on May 09, 2009, 19:43
Uh oh :blink:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: John on May 09, 2009, 20:33
oh, last but not least, never tell your daddy you want 12 ex batts for your birthday and come back with 60!

Or tell my daughter you'll take a cat in ... the CPL had an ask for 1 get 3 free offer apparently.
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: mumofstig on May 09, 2009, 20:36
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 09, 2009, 21:32

oh, last but not least, never tell your daddy you want 12 ex batts for your birthday and come back with 60!
[/quote]

Or tell my daughter you'll take a cat in ... the CPL had an ask for 1 get 3 free offer apparently.

[/quote]

Did i promise Cara i'd take her cat?
i thought Rosa had a home.......
i will take her if she has nowhere to go.
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: John on May 10, 2009, 09:05

Did i promise Cara i'd take her cat?
i thought Rosa had a home.......
i will take her if she has nowhere to go.


Relax - you're safe. Rosa is in Warwickshire now. However, she's got some ginger kittens...

2nd thoughts - be afraid, be very afraid
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: Foxy on May 10, 2009, 12:08

Did i promise Cara i'd take her cat?
i thought Rosa had a home.......
i will take her if she has nowhere to go.


Relax - you're safe. Rosa is in Warwickshire now. However, she's got some ginger kittens...

2nd thoughts - be afraid, be very afraid

awwww! couldn't you squeeze a lickle ginger kitten in?????  :lol:
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: John on May 11, 2009, 10:19
Foxy, we're up to 5 now  :blink:

The youngsters all get on wonderfully, a real little gang but Mr Squeak isn't too happy with them. I suppose he feels like I would living in a house with 4 teenagers. All a bit much.

Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: dawn 11 on May 11, 2009, 11:32
Hi  I needed  some thing do  so 3 hens came to live with us this ok  Then hubby had a bleed in the brain  so I was very busy  and my son  looked  after  them very well. One year on   have  20 hens,  4 ducks, 10 quai -l one now sitting on eggs - one hen on duck eggs & 7 cockerels   We have a big garden  so they lots of places to lay eggs but they have some nice houses and nestboxes. If you have one,   they just keep  increasing!     
Dawn
Title: Re: Vaseline - to grease or not to grease that is the question
Post by: too many girls on May 11, 2009, 17:33
pardon?