Bleeding comb that won't stop

[Angiebubs]

Maria....just saw your posts from my same problem last year. And yes that was by far the most trauma I have had to deal with with my chickens so far! When I was done I looked like i had butchered half my chickens-covered in blood. And I had the same problem,my roo didnt like me holding him down to hold the cornstarch on his comb. But he got so weak he finally let me-I had him pinned and I was shaking so bad. My story had a happy ending though_ I put a heat lamp in and gave him extra protein (scrambled eggs and BOSS) and he was fine within a couple days. I re homed him a few months later and he was doing fine!!

Good luck and let me know how your hen is doing!!!

 

[mariaschickens]

Wow, yes my experience was very tramatic for me and my hen. After about 5 hours of bleeding, blood all over the house and me. I couldn't get the bleeding to stop.... cornstartch didnt work, bloodstop didn't work, she wouldntlet me apply pressure to the wound and she kept shaking her head, causing blood to go everywhere. I almost gave up! Finally she got so weak i thought she was going to die, i decided to try cold water. So i took her to the bathroom and stuck her poor little head under the cold water in the bath tub, she didnt like it but she didnt fight. after about 5 or 10 min on and off with the cold water i wrapped her up in a warm blanket and held her for 45min straight. thank goodness the cold water slowed down the bleeding enough for it to clot. I was so greatful, and i bet she was too. Im so sorry you had to go through the same thing, because it was awful. Anyway,i kept her in the house for 2 days and fed her yogurt and lots of medicine in her wate. Then let her go outside with the rest of the flock, she's doing fine. Thank you for asking about her!

 

[Angiebubs]

GOod news! Glad to hear it worked out for you!!! Scary stuff

 

[mjames]

Oh my, this is very timely. I just found one of my hens with her comb bleeding. Based on the two eggs so far this morning I know exactly which two hens were in the boxes. One had a bleeding comb and the other had blood on her back most likely from the first shaking her head. So I am guessing there was a disagreement with who wanted what box. The cold water did the trick. I wrapped her in a towel and ran cold water over her comb. It took three different times because it would start bleeding again within 15 minutes or so but after the third it seems to be holding. My biggest concern is the others will pick on her. I have put her back with the flock but will watch in case I need to bring her in for the night. Thanks for the idea. I would have never thought of this.

 

[Angiebubs]

mjames: Do you have any BluKote? It covers any reddness and prevents others from picking at her. Good stuff to have on hand. One tip-if you can find it with the swab its much easier to use then just the bottle that coats your hands purple for days (And you can avoid the crazy questions from friends!). I had a hen once that wanted no part of it-grabbed the swab out of my hands and flung it, drops felw everywhere-I ends up with purple "freckles" on my face LOL

 

[mariaschickens]

Oh my, this is very timely. I just found one of my hens with her comb bleeding. Based on the two eggs so far this morning I know exactly which two hens were in the boxes. One had a bleeding comb and the other had blood on her back most likely from the first shaking her head. So I am guessing there was a disagreement with who wanted what box. The cold water did the trick. I wrapped her in a towel and ran cold water over her comb. It took three different times because it would start bleeding again within 15 minutes or so but after the third it seems to be holding. My biggest concern is the others will pick on her. I have put her back with the flock but will watch in case I need to bring her in for the night. Thanks for the idea. I would have never thought of this.

It took some doing to figure out what to do, but after 5 hours you tend to do anything! The water idea came to me just in the nick of time. I'm so glad that it helped you and your hen sooner than later.

 

[mjames]

Thanks for the BluKote idea. For now, all is good. No more bleeding and no picking. We seem to be back to normal without too much drama. The only thing left is a little dried blood that no one is bothering. Brilliant!

 

[youngclucks]

Same thing is happening with one of my chickens. The comb is torn about 1/2 inch from her head. The bleeding stopped overnight and I thought it was better. But the torn comb hangs in front of her eye and she is trying to scratch it to get rid of it, making it bleed even more. I don't think I am going to be able to do anything to keep her from messing with it. I have her in a pen in the bathroom right now. Any suggestions? I feel like it should be removed . . . maybe.

I tried putting some blue kote on, but that seemed to irritate her and may have been what made her start scratching at it. Will try to upload a photo

 

[MelissaTXRn]

I have read on here of people cutting off part of the comb that was hanging off. I have not ever had this situation though.

 

[sdm111]

Dub her