Chickens comb is bleeding on both sides!!! What to do? Pics included

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

A few months ago, my overzealous cockeral tried to mate one of his hatch mates, and grabbed her comb, instead of her neck. It ripped 3/4 of the comb off. I noticed it when I got home from work and by the time I came out with the "chicken first aid kit" somebody pulled off the dangling comb. We were afraid she wouldn't have any comb for cooling, but because she was young, and the comb was still growing, she's actually growing a really cool, flat, blade -like comb with no points. Chickens are amazing little healers. She's perfectly fine now. My point of that was to let you know that your pullet will be okay. Just keep the disinfectant, I use blu kote, on it, and she'll be back with the flock in no time.

Ryguy, boy did that message make me smile so big it brings me tears! Thank you SO much. Its over the moon encouraging. This is my first go and this mishap was a doozie for sure! All we can do is the best we can. Thank you. When your chickens comb was ripped off, how old was she? And also, did it bleed a lot?? What did you do? I am using the vetericyn and antibiotic ointment. I decided not to do the bluekote b/c someone here mentioned that at first, while she’s isolated, its good to be able to see the wound and healing. Shes acting very normal in the house and I wonder when i may be able to inter grade her back with the flock. No infection is the #1, so, I’ll wait a bit. Maybe after 5 days or so. Thank you again Ryguy.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

It seems to me as if it's high time to separate the aggressive bully hen, before they start a carnage.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-during-roosting-time.1488065/#post-24810782

Some more dominant/aggressive hens do better with a rooster to keep them in check.

LaFleche, thinking and thinking more about it, i dont think it was a friend that did this, instead; when they roost, they smoosh up against the metal window with the tiny squares. I think she caught it and it ripped! Its a clean rip, equal on both sides and thats it! That my instincts. Last night i placed cardboard along the spot that they smoosh up against. They smoosh so hard their little feathers stick through the holes! Thank you for your time and advice! I do have one gal that pecks a bit harder then the rest and even will bite, but I dont think its a serious issue. Not yet anyway! I got my eye on her tho

 

[NatJ]

I once had a chicken who ripped her comb half off. It was a single comb, not a rose comb, but I just left it along and made sure no-one picked on her and left it alone. It did not get infected, but the ripped half ultimately turned black and fell off, and for the rest of her life she only had the front half of a comb.

(I know that mine ripped hers on hardware cloth, because she was broody and in a cage with on other chickens. She paced frantically, trying to get back to her nest, and at some point she had a ripped & bleeding comb.)

So if your hen's comb does not stick back together, there is a chance the back part may die and fall off. As long as it doesn't get infected, that should not be a big problem, but I'm mentioning it so you won't be as surprised if it does.

I notice someone already mentioned that you could cut off the loose part, which is also an option.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Get Vetrycin instead of Blukote, it won't stain ev.ery.thing nor will it impede your being able to monitor the wound.
I'd let her rest in a crate, get her eating and drinking.
Might put crate out with the flock, in the run or coop.

This advice was solid! Good thinkin’ aart. I did the same based on your advice! Your makin’ the chicken world a better place aart!

 

[NatJ]

they all want this spot. Very strange b/c the other side of coop is a mirror image of the one they fight over!

Maybe it's got a prettier view out the window? Or maybe the window on that side gets more air movement because of which way the wind blows? (I'm just trying to think like a chicken, and making guesses.)

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I once had a chicken who ripped her comb half off. It was a single comb, not a rose comb, but I just left it along and made sure no-one picked on her and left it alone. It did not get infected, but the ripped half ultimately turned black and fell off, and for the rest of her life she only had the front half of a comb.

(I know that mine ripped hers on hardware cloth, because she was broody and in a cage with on other chickens. She paced frantically, trying to get back to her nest, and at some point she had a ripped & bleeding comb.)

So if your hen's comb does not stick back together, there is a chance the back part may die and fall off. As long as it doesn't get infected, that should not be a big problem, but I'm mentioning it so you won't be as surprised if it does.

I notice someone already mentioned that you could cut off the loose part, which is also an option.

The thought of cutting that makes me so nervous. I wonder tho…..when i apply the vetericyn and ointment, it gets everything super moist. I know we should let wounds dry out. When, in your opinion should i stop the vetericyn and antibiotic ointment?! Thank you kindly Natj

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Maybe it's got a prettier view out the window? Or maybe the window on that side gets more air movement because of which way the wind blows? (I'm just trying to think like a chicken, and making guesses.)

The window they prefer is the one closest to my coop (my house) where they were in a brooder for 6 weeks. Thats the only thing I can think of. Last night, i elevated one roost so its actually above the window and 4 of 5 were up there smooshed against the wall! (Smooshed….such a funny word), lol Thanks Natj

 

[NatJ]

The thought of cutting that makes me so nervous.

Me, too. That's why I didn't with mine.

I wonder tho…..when i apply the vetericyn and ointment, it gets everything super moist. I know we should let wounds dry out. When, in your opinion should i stop the vetericyn and antibiotic ointment?! Thank you kindly Natj

Hopefully one of the people who recommends those treatments will be able to answer that. I don't know when to stop those because I never used any (but mine had a smaller area of damage, because her single comb was so much narrower than your hen's rose comb.)

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I once had a chicken who ripped her comb half off. It was a single comb, not a rose comb, but I just left it along and made sure no-one picked on her and left it alone. It did not get infected, but the ripped half ultimately turned black and fell off, and for the rest of her life she only had the front half of a comb.

(I know that mine ripped hers on hardware cloth, because she was broody and in a cage with on other chickens. She paced frantically, trying to get back to her nest, and at some point she had a ripped & bleeding comb.)

So if your hen's comb does not stick back together, there is a chance the back part may die and fall off. As long as it doesn't get infected, that should not be a big problem, but I'm mentioning it so you won't be as surprised if it does.

I notice someone already mentioned that you could cut off the loose part, which is also an option.

Like cutting off part of a scab?!

 

[NatJ]

Like cutting off part of a scab?!

Sort of. Probably more like dubbing a cock's comb. The descriptions I've seen involve very sharp shears and something to stop the bleeding afterward.

If it was me, and the bleeding had stopped, I probably would not try cutting anything. But if she rips it more and it starts bleeding again, or if it is flopping loose and seems to bother her, I would seriously consider cutting off whatever amount of comb is dangling. It won't be fun for you or the chicken, but having her rip it over and over might be even worse.