Co-Parents Turned Ugly - What to do?

[azygous]

Roosters sometimes have strong nesting instincts. They do have investment in the eggs since they fertilize them, so they want to see the ladies get comfortable in a nest to lay those eggs. My roosters enjoy hopping into a nest even if a hen isn't interested.

Some rooster will even help raise the chicks, and will even sit on a broody nest while the broody takes a break.

 

[Cierrascoop]

Agreed. My rooster has recently been setting in the nest boxes just like a little hen lol. He is invested in seeing babies I suppose

 

[mrsmistoffelees02]

Last winter one of my hens had a really bloody comb and I was not sure why. I cleaned her up and soon she was fine. What was your rooster doing in the nest box?

Lol - my Serama rooster stays in the nesting box every night with his favorite girl!

 

[mrsmistoffelees02]

Combs bleed a lot, just as scalp wounds do on humans. A tiny wound can appear more serious because they bleed more than other types of wounds.

Once, years ago, a rooster and three hen were all in a nest box together. Things went from amicable togetherness to a quarrel. After the dust settled, the nest box walls were splattered with blood and looked like a chicken had been slaughtered in there, but darned if I could find any serious wounds on anyone.

I didn’t consider this a comb wound because it’s on the back of her head, are you saying it counts as a comb wound?

Learning something new every day!

 

[The Birb King]

Roosters sometimes have strong nesting instincts. They do have investment in the eggs since they fertilize them, so they want to see the ladies get comfortable in a nest to lay those eggs. My roosters enjoy hopping into a nest even if a hen isn't interested.

Some rooster will even help raise the chicks, and will even sit on a broody nest while the broody takes a break.

Sometimes my roo will get in the nest box for a couple seconds and make a cooing noise. He is showing the hens where to lay.

 

[azygous]

Scalp wounds are just as bloody. I've sure had my share of those in my flock. Heads are the favorite target when two chickens quarrel, just as the nose seems to be the favorite target when two humans fight.

 

[mrsmistoffelees02]

Scalp wounds are just as bloody. I've sure had my share of those in my flock. Heads are the favorite target when two chickens quarrel, just as the nose seems to be the favorite target when two humans fight.

I will keep that in mind. Definitely good to know. I just cleaned her up, and you were right - barely any wound at all, just bloody. Now I know, and I’m much more at ease!

 

[Yardmom]

I think you need to treat this as more than a normal hen spat. I don't think the wound looks to bad. I would not expect any problem with the other birds. You do need to observe the two mamas carefully to make sure the mom who went to roost has truly given up her rights to the chicks. The behavior doesn't surprise me except that they were ok together to start with. If it appears that the roosting mama has given up and moved on no need to do anything. If tomorrow she wants to be by the chicks, I would use extreme caution in allowing her to. Boodie hens are not quick to give in in a fight, and it could result in injured chicks. If you see the slightest aggression between the moms I would crate the one who went to roost for a few days. If possible keep the crate in the coop.

 

[mrsmistoffelees02]

I think you need to treat this as more than a normal hen spat. I don't think the wound looks to bad. I would not expect any problem with the other birds. You do need to observe the two mamas carefully to make sure the mom who went to roost has truly given up her rights to the chicks. The behavior doesn't surprise me except that they were ok together to start with. If it appears that the roosting mama has given up and moved on no need to do anything. If tomorrow she wants to be by the chicks, I would use extreme caution in allowing her to. Boodie hens are not quick to give in in a fight, and it could result in injured chicks. If you see the slightest aggression between the moms I would crate the one who went to roost for a few days. If possible keep the crate in the coop.

Thank you. I have the crate at the ready. I’ll see if the other mom shows interest in the babies in the morning and will crate her if I’m nervous about it… Hopefully she’s moved on.
Just don’t want to come home to a tragedy, especially since I will be at work most of the day. This makes me want to look into a coop cam to keep an eye on things when I’m away, I wish I knew how the issue was resolved.