Margaid
Well-known member
As a newbie to chickens as well as the forum, I read most of the posts and I'm learning a lot. I noticed Foxy's comment that some people have recommended using honey - it was in the thread about proplapse. As a one-time beekeeper I'd like to add a few words of caution.
Honey has natural antibacterial properties but as far as wounds are concerned the most important thing is that it is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the surrounding environment. It works really well, if somewhat messily, on wounds because it deprives the bacteria of water so they die.
What is vitally important is the type of honey used. There are lots of claims made for Manuka honey but I don't know very much about it, apart from not liking the taste much! What MUST be avoided is "runny honey" particularly major branded honeys. If you are going to use honey (and it's now quite expensive) try and find a local beekeeper or search out locally produced honey in health food shops. Honey starts out liquid and left alone, will eventually go solid (granulate). This happens at various rates depending on the type of nectar collected. Oil seed rape honey goes solid in about 3 weeks and even the bees can't get it out of the comb to use; other honeys can take 12 months or more. The granulation starts at the bottom of the jar and gradually creeps up to the lid.
Honey like this is really safe to use. If it has gone solid, just put some in a cup or mug and stand that in a bowl of hot water. The heat will start to soften it and you can then start stirring which speeds the process up.
BUT commercially produced "runny honey" has been heated to quite a hihg temperature which generates a really nasty compound in the honey. This is (HMF) - hydroxymethylfurfural. It has been shown to br=e carcinogenic in rats. It's no longer used in the EU for food flavouring.
Sorry if this is a bit long winded but honey is such a fanatstic product when it's not been mucked about - it's great fo putting on bee-stings too!
Honey has natural antibacterial properties but as far as wounds are concerned the most important thing is that it is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the surrounding environment. It works really well, if somewhat messily, on wounds because it deprives the bacteria of water so they die.
What is vitally important is the type of honey used. There are lots of claims made for Manuka honey but I don't know very much about it, apart from not liking the taste much! What MUST be avoided is "runny honey" particularly major branded honeys. If you are going to use honey (and it's now quite expensive) try and find a local beekeeper or search out locally produced honey in health food shops. Honey starts out liquid and left alone, will eventually go solid (granulate). This happens at various rates depending on the type of nectar collected. Oil seed rape honey goes solid in about 3 weeks and even the bees can't get it out of the comb to use; other honeys can take 12 months or more. The granulation starts at the bottom of the jar and gradually creeps up to the lid.
Honey like this is really safe to use. If it has gone solid, just put some in a cup or mug and stand that in a bowl of hot water. The heat will start to soften it and you can then start stirring which speeds the process up.
BUT commercially produced "runny honey" has been heated to quite a hihg temperature which generates a really nasty compound in the honey. This is (HMF) - hydroxymethylfurfural. It has been shown to br=e carcinogenic in rats. It's no longer used in the EU for food flavouring.
Sorry if this is a bit long winded but honey is such a fanatstic product when it's not been mucked about - it's great fo putting on bee-stings too!
