Cockerel savaged Hen

[EggWalrus]

Her underwing looks very similar, just horrible About a 4”x4” area under one and 2”x2” under the other. She is molting as well so has less feathers than normal, so I’m sure that made a difference.

I've had to sew some up, like what you're talking about, where the skin was not just torn, but the exposed muscles cut too. After stitching them up, I cut the spurs of every rooster I could get my hands on. Didn't have any more problems with Hen Slashing for about a year. Then i cut spurs again.

 

[BarryTheBold]

Does this little Roo have spurs? The damage you describe is usually attributed to an older Rooster with long sharp spurs.
When Roos are in their teen age months, and their hormones are flaring worse than hemorrhoids, they can be really bad about leaving hens "bare back" or pulling out all their neck and head feathers. Do you have any older Roosters, or is this little guy your only male?

She hatched 2 roosters and they both are going to be gone. I had already decided on the other one. My mom is visiting and I wanted to wait to dispatch them until she left, as to not upset her. My plan didn’t work
I will post pictures tomorrow. Thanks again everyone for all of your support and help.

 

[slordaz]

I've had to sew some up, like what you're talking about, where the skin was not just torn, but the exposed muscles cut too. After stitching them up, I cut the spurs of every rooster I could get my hands on. Didn't have any more problems with Hen Slashing for about a year. Then i cut spurs again.

Sorry offf topic OP,sounds like i need to learn out to trim spur, I have a 6 year old rooster that still throwing nice chicks with his almost 3 year old hens and a few younger, one spur broke off chasing a loose dog back home but that other one is getting pretty bad

 

[BarryTheBold]

Not saying one way or another but is it possible that if it was who OP thinks it was that caused the injury that he grabbed onto the hen instead of the wings? Or in trying to grab the wings clawed the b'jeezus outta the hen? Is that possible? No sarcasm or disrespect meant, I genuinely wonder.

I think he just clawed her and she fought him- they ended up in the corner of the outside run, she was pinned in. Heard her screaming from the bathroom and ran out to him savaging her. She guaranteed was fighting him every second because that’s the kind of bird she is! She’s tough!

 

[Folly's place]

Spurs are HARD and difficult to trim. You can use a Dremel on them, or twist them off (if you feel up to it). Have one person holding the bird, and the other working on the spurs.
Mary

 

[BarryTheBold]

Awww, poor hen! I agree with the previous posters' suggestions & wish you both good health and peace in the flock. If he's responsible for that nonsense then good job taking action. If you really want or need a roo, there are lots of nice ones who won't hurt their flock. (Ay yay yay, those younguns & their hormones sometimes!!)

Hope she heals quickly. And you may want to give the rest of the ladies a once over to be sure that no one else has any injuries that need tending or watched over.

thanks! I was so trying to give him a chance. He’s gorgeous and sweet to some of the other hens. But he is really mean to my older hens, and I really like them- so I’m playing favorites and taking my girls side.

 

[Folly's place]

He's not sweet enough!

 

[BarryTheBold]

my 9 month old cockerel didn't even have but spur buds, but almost gave his life defending his hens. At this age hormones are just now starting to kick in and we all know how that goes until it levels out. He's your cockerel to do with as you please, but in all fairness you should have kept him separated so he couldn't do this when hormones hit. I would think the kind of damage your mentioning is more likely from a predator trying to get your hen than the cockerel.
Why not post a picture of set up? so maybe we can help you figure out the issue
My hens come and go as they please and have plenty of room to get away and hide from a hormone crazed teenage cockerel

I was keeping him separate, but allowed him back in at night so he could be safe. I thought the girls were all up on the perches and good for the night. You are correct, I should have continued to keep him separate, but I’ve never had a problem cockerel like this before and it wasn’t something I was prepared for. Learning a lot and hoping she’ll be able to recover from this!

 

[EggWalrus]

Spurs are HARD and difficult to trim. You can use a Dremel on them, or twist them off (if you feel up to it). Have one person holding the bird, and the other working on the spurs.
Mary

Some can be pretty hard. I've tried the hot potato twist, where you stick a hot potato on the spur to soften, then twist the spur off with pliers. That just seemed to get the outer covering. I tried to sand them down with a file and then with a dremel, but it was too slow. Now I just take a pair of dog nail clippers and snip about half the spur off. They seldom bleed more than a few drops if at all. If they need more trimming, I wait about 2 weeks and do it again. It's quick, easy and I can do it by myself. Clippers in one hand, bird upside down in the other hand. And Snip!

 

[Folly's place]

I have very good dog nail trimmers, and find that the big spurs on my Chanteclers are too tough to cut with them, at least for me. It's funny, really, but there it is...
Mary