Vaseline on feathers

[hellokittyfive]

My rooster, Mr. Big is susceptible to frostbite. He has a big comb and long wattles. I put vaseline on his comb a few weeks ago and when he preened himself, it wiped all the vaseline on his feathers. He now looks like he was in a street fight! Matted and dirty. Is there any way to clean it off?

 

[PirocaKeeper]

Yes, there is a way you can clean him up. You can use a worm wet sponge with Dawn liquid detergent and rub it gently on his feathers, once you have latter him up good with the warm soapy bubbles, use a clean sponge (or wash the soap off the sponge and rub him again, repeat until most of it is gone. Make sure you dry him up and if it is cold outside. I assume is cold where you live and that is why you put the Vaseline to begin with. You can also let him be and don't clean him, as chances are you will be putting some more. If you decide to clean/wash him, please make sure he is totally dry before you placed him back outdoors, (even if it means blow dry his feathers), wet feathers in cold temperature would actually be worse than having his feathers not look as fancy as they would normally would due to the Vaseline.

 

[Curlyginger]

I've vaselined my hens combs a few times (when it gets below zero). Their heads all look filthy now. I'm probably going to have to do it a few more times (we're having a tough winter in Massachusetts this year), so I'm waiting until Spring or Summer before I clean them up. They don't see, to mind looking a bit grubby.

 

[PirocaKeeper]

Mine are looking very dirty too, but I don't worry much, I rather they have the Vaseline that helps them with the frostbites. When it gets warm, if it ever does (also in Massachusetts), they will go back to looking great.

 

[One Chick Two]

Yes, oiliness and feathers do not mix.

In reading these posts, it got me to thinking... In scaly leg mites, I've used oil with vaseline covering worst areas, and then afterward, "floured" their legs with DE to keep their underfuff feathers from getting oily. This works surprisingly well, and keeps the oil on longer.

My suggestion to think about and consider perhaps to try... would be to first vaseline the comb, and then coat with DE. The oil (plus the mineral oil) in vaseline becomes well absorbed by the absorbent DE but pliable, creating a long lasting, lubricated coating that stays on the legs much longer (a few days at least), and the feathers no longer get messed up when on the roost- nor do they slip off the roost anymore. Yes, he would have a white coated comb tip for a bit, but it would have added thickness too. Many chickens use DE to dustbathe in so it is reasonably safe, so this might not be an unreasonable solution. Perhaps I will test one of my own roosters and see if this makes any difference.

 

[hellokittyfive]

Thank you all for your comments. I too am on the east coast - NJ and I think this has been a brutal winter, temp wise. My poor rooster Mr.Big has lost most of his tips to frostbite in the last year. His waddles are about 2 1/2 inches long and the bottoms of those get frostbite as well. I feel so bad for him, it has to hurt. I put blue kote on his waddles and comb last night, his comb was bleeding. I was wondering if wrapping his waddles somehow would help? It seems like he is getting no relief when the daytime temp is below 32.

Any thoughts on wrapping the waddles? I know I would have to make sure I don't do it tight. I have vet wrap so I thought that might help keep a non-stick gauze pad on, with neosporin or bag balm on his waddles.

One Chick Two - by DE you mean diatomaceous earth?

 

[One Chick Two]

Thank you all for your comments. I too am on the east coast - NJ and I think this has been a brutal winter, temp wise. My poor rooster Mr.Big has lost most of his tips to frostbite in the last year. His waddles are about 2 1/2 inches long and the bottoms of those get frostbite as well. I feel so bad for him, it has to hurt. I put blue kote on his waddles and comb last night, his comb was bleeding. I was wondering if wrapping his waddles somehow would help? It seems like he is getting no relief when the daytime temp is below 32.

Any thoughts on wrapping the waddles? I know I would have to make sure I don't do it tight. I have vet wrap so I thought that might help keep a non-stick gauze pad on, with neosporin or bag balm on his waddles.

One Chick Two - by DE you mean diatomaceous earth?

Yes. Diatomaceous earth.

A friend had to put down her valuable old Wade Jeanne line roosters due to extreme frostbitten feet. Really keep an eye on this.

 

[hellokittyfive]

Thanks for that. His feet seem to be fine, even my three hen's feet are ok. I'll keep an eye on them though.
I just went out and tried to get a picture of Mr. Big, he doesn't like paparazzi . . . .
I waited till he got done drinking and realized his waddles were all wet. That is blu-kote on his comb. The bottom of his waddles are frostbitten.

What are your thoughts on wrapping them?

 

[hellokittyfive]

Here he is in his prime . . .


With all his tips . . .