Hen with Bleeding Comb?

[ClareScifi]

Oh, that is good to know, Sourland. Thank you for your support. I really appreciate the comforting words.

The man in the other group who recommended my rooster end up in a stew pot really upset me. He wouldn't give my boy any benefit of the doubt, whatsoever. The hens love the rooster, I am sure. And he loves them. If I killed him, where would any of us be?

 

[sourland]

Now, if such behavior and 'accidents' became routine, I too might rule against the rooster, but he has been fine so far. I think the whole thing is just a combination of excessive cold and inadvertant grasping of the hen by the comb.

 

[ClareScifi]

Do roosters sometimes, after going months with good behavior, suddenly start up this comb-grabbing thing? Do they become more aggressive with age sometimes? I am worried that now he may reinjure her comb when he tries to mate with her, and I have no way to isolate her for a month until it heals?

I went and peeked in the coop, and the injured hen has isolated herself. I'm not sure where she normally sleeps, so maybe she is just in her normal spot, but I noticed she is by herself, on the nest underneath the rooster and two other hens who are huddled together. The bloody area still looks very bright red.

The Bantie is also by herself on a high ledge, as usual. It is to get to 22 F tonight.

I am kind of glad the injured hen is off to herself. Maybe the others will be less likely to peck her in the morning because of that?

I'm wondering whether I should get up earlier than normal to let them out? It's so cold, they don't go outside much, and opening the coop makes it much lighter inside it, and easier to see each other. Keeping it closed makes it darker in there, but I'm not sure whether that would prevent them from pecking at her comb or not? Whether it would be dark enough for them not to notice it?

I tend to think I should get up early to investigate, in case they should start pecking at her early?

 

[missnu01]

I have had 1 sick young chicken and 1 really sick young chicken in my coop with all the other birds and they aren't getting pecked and what not. As long as there is enough room for the birds there aren't usually too many issues.

 

[ClareScifi]

Good to know, missnu01. It is almost sunrise, and I heard the rooster crow, so I've been debating when to open the door to the coop and give them their fresh water and greens. It's another icky day, blowing snow, cold.

I am so worried he might try to mate with her again and reinjure the comb.

 

[ClareScifi]

Update: I decided to let the chickens out at 8:30 a.m. Cold, snowy, nasty morning.

They all came out and ate their greens well and drank their water. My hen with the injured comb looked good and had good energy and spirit. The comb has scabbed over. I think she just might be okay.

 

[missnu01]

She'll be totally fine. Anytime you have more than just a few chickens, or a few chickens and a rooster you will see pecked combs, they aren't normally an issue. Combs are pretty neat in what they do for the chickens, but they are in a place to take some punishment, but that is also something they are there for. So try not to get too upset. They scab fast, and don't cause too much trouble. I'm glad she is doing well and the other chickens are leaving her alone with her comb, they probably never even noticed.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thank you so much, missnu01! Let's just hope the rooster hasn't started something new here. I'm hoping and praying it was just a random, freak accident...

 

[missnu01]

Well it will happen again, but it is no big deal...For real, the comb is the spot most likely and able to handle injury. So don't worry about it. My roosters and hens alike often have little pecked spots on their comb, from mating, and arguing both. Never causes any issue though. It seems like the comb is the fastest spot to scab and heal. I really think that is part of it's function. I mean it seems like if it wasn't that wouldn't be the first spot the chickens go for when they are mad at one another.

 

[gibsterl]

I have a NH that has had a bleeding comb off and on now for 6 weeks, seems to heal then reopens...haven't seen any pecking but cant's say for sure that is not happening. Today there was more bleeding then I have seen in the past, and the last time it was bleeding was about 2-3 weeks ago. I have put blue cote on it but it is still oozing through several hours later-none of the other hens seem to be paying any attention to it I am wondering if it is ok to apply some silver nitrate to it to stop the bleeding and essentially cauterize it.