Homemade Herbal Frostbite Salve for Chickens

This all-natural herbal salve can be used to prevent and treat frostbite in your flock, as well as treat any minor topical cuts or scrapes on your chickens (our yourself!). It's very soft, so it's easy to gently smear on damaged skin without injuring it more.
What you Need to Make one Tin:
1 Tablespoon beeswax pastilles1 Tablespoon coconut oil1/4 teaspoon liquid vitamin E (helps repair damaged skin)Chamomile, fresh or dried (anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, heals skin)Lavender, fresh or dried (relaxant, pain reliever, antibacterial, anti-fungal)Lemon balm, fresh or dried (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory)
Melt beeswax with coconut oil over low heat in a metal can (I like to use a dog food or canned veggie can) set in a saucepan of boiling water, stirring with a wooden chopstick.  This makes for super easy clean-up when you're done - you can just toss the can and stick. 
When the beeswax is completely melted, use a potholder to remove the can from the heat and stir in the Vitamin E until it's mixed in. Add 1/4 cup of infused oil (see below) to the melted wax, stir to blend and pour into a covered container or metal tin with a lid and allow to cool to set completely. Store in a cool, dry place and apply as needed to exposed, frostbitten or damaged skin.
To Infuse Oils:

Add a handful of fresh herbs to a pint mason jar. Pour in enough olive oil to cover the herbs completely. Cut a piece of cheesecloth to fit the top of the jar and secure it in place with a rubber band. Infuse the herbs in the oil for 2-3 weeks, outside in the sunlight is perfect, shaking the jars every day or so. Strain the liquids and discard the solids. Store the infused oil in a covered mason jar until ready to use.

Related Reading:

Treating and Preventing Frostbite

Not a DIY kind of a of person? Green Goo is a wonderful all natural herbal salve that I always keep on hand in both my chicken first aid kit and the one in our bathroom.

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