HALF OF MY COCKEREL'S COMB HAS BEEN DETACHED FROM HIS HEAD AND THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD

[Billcock]

Due to DEFRA Regulations in the UK all poultry at the moment has to be put in a covered area so that wild birds cannot get in, due to Avian Flu prevention. I had to put my hens and two cockerels into my polytunnel. All has been fine until today. The oldest, mature cockerel called Billy with massive spurs has been the boss and each time the younger cockerel (his son!!) Squeeky goes to mount a hen, he gets him off with minimum of force. Today I went to check on them and saw that Billy was quiet and not calling his ladies to eat the treats I'd brought them, then I noticed his head feathers were matted. After I caught him (it wasn't very difficult) I brought him inside and found that his comb, running from the back to the front of his head, was torn away from his head for half its length. There had been a lot of bleeding, hence the matted feathers. I cleaned him up the best I could using an antiseptic in water and just hoped that the wound would clot and stop bleeding. I've had to put him inside a coop on his own now inside an enclosure that is completely covered with wire, so wild birds can't get in, though if one does 'poo' from above then the wire won't stop that coming in. I will leave him until tomorrow and see how he is, and then I will have to keep him separate from the other cockerel and, in time, bring 4 of the hens in with him so he has his girls and the other cockerel can have the other 4. What should I do now though about his comb? I can't stop him from shaking his head and dislodging the partially separated comb.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Can you post pictures?

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Also, Welcome to BYC! I hope you get all the help you look for on this site.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Back in the first winter of me raising chickens, my RIR rooster named Red got his comb eaten off by my gander. If I was you, I'd first make certain it was clean by using something like a Saline rinse on it. Then, (wearing rubber gloves) put some Neosporin with pain reliever on his wound. If I was you, I'd finish removing his comb, or it's just going to keep bleeding and eventually he'll remove it himself. Have some warm, wet paper towels nearby to stop anymore bleeding and after you remove the rest of his comb, place them over it gently squeezing under where you just removed it to slow down the bleeding. Something else to slow down the bleeding is to apply flour to it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes it may be necessary to dub or dock the comb, if it is bleeding and half detached. I would separte him inside a dog crate with food and water in the coop if possible. Flour, corn startch, or styptic pencil can help stop bleeding, but it he shakes his head the comb may start bleeding again. Comb docking is routinely done in some breeds for showing, and it should be done with very sharp scissors. Ice can be helpful to help stop bleeding during a docking. Pictures may help. Here is an article of dubbing a comb do to the comb being so enormous and heavy:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...arge-comb-of-rooster-life-saving-guide.74418/

 

[NatJ]

What should I do now though about his comb? I can't stop him from shaking his head and dislodging the partially separated comb.

I think there are really only two choices:
--leave it alone and hope for the best
--cut off the torn part (dubbing, as several other people have mentioned.)

If you do cut off the damaged part, think before you cut about how it will look afterward. There's no point in making an ugly cut if you could make a nice looking one just as easily.

(I've never dubbed a chicken, but I've done enough carpentry and sewing to have learned that thinking before cutting is usually a very good idea!)

 

[Billcock]

Can you post pictures?

I tried to attach a video but it didn't load up.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I tried to attach a video but it didn't load up.

You have to upload it somewhere else like YouTube then share the link of the video here.

 

[Billcock]

I think there are really only two choices:
--leave it alone and hope for the best
--cut off the torn part (dubbing, as several other people have mentioned.)

If you do cut off the damaged part, think before you cut about how it will look afterward. There's no point in making an ugly cut if you could make a nice looking one just as easily.

(I've never dubbed a chicken, but I've done enough carpentry and sewing to have learned that thinking before cutting is usually a very good idea!)

The idea of dubbing churns my stomach. I will see how he is tomorrow and go from there. From what I have read the dubbing normally takes place above the head, i.e. with a bit of the comb in place, but my cockerel's comb has been torn from his head. I will try the flour remedy if it hasn't stopped bleeding. It looks like I may have to see if I can find a vet who can help if not.

I think there are really only two choices:
--leave it alone and hope for the best
--cut off the torn part (dubbing, as several other people have mentioned.)

If you do cut off the damaged part, think before you cut about how it will look afterward. There's no point in making an ugly cut if you could make a nice looking one just as easily.

(I've never dubbed a chicken, but I've done enough carpentry and sewing to have learned that thinking before cutting is usually a very good idea!)

 

[Billcock]

Back in the first winter of me raising chickens, my RIR rooster named Red got his comb eaten off by my gander. If I was you, I'd first make certain it was clean by using something like a Saline rinse on it. Then, (wearing rubber gloves) put some Neosporin with pain reliever on his wound. If I was you, I'd finish removing his comb, or it's just going to keep bleeding and eventually he'll remove it himself. Have some warm, wet paper towels nearby to stop anymore bleeding and after you remove the rest of his comb, place them over it gently squeezing under where you just removed it to slow down the bleeding. Something else to slow down the bleeding is to apply flour to it.

Thank you for the advice. I will see how he is tomorrow before I decide about the dubbing and who is going to do it. If I wasn't worried about hurting him or him bleeding to death I'd do it, but maybe I will have to see if I can find a vet who knows about hens/poultry to do it...possibly pain free (local anaesthetic?).