How Much a Tiny Wound in the Comb Can Bleed (Graphic Images)

[Henrik Petersson]

Experienced chicken-keepers have probably once or twice heard or read that "even a tiny and harmless wound in the comb can bleed a lot", often said as a response to worried chicken-keepers who've had chickens that got their comb caught on a thorn, or perhaps got it cut open during a harmless pecking-order scuffle. Today I actually got to see images of the phenomenon, and even I was surprised just how much blood that can come from such a wound.

Here's the subject, looking like he's been an extra in a particularly gory horror movie:

Here's our hero again, literally one day later, after a bit of cleaning up:

Well, there you have it. Just wanted to show how much a tiny comb-wound can bleed, and perhaps soothe a worried chicken-keeper who might some day find one of their chooks all bloody.

 

[Melky]

Thanks Henrik. Definitely like the after photo. Wow impressive. Hope wound superficial and cleaned up well without permanent damage to comb. I cut my finger years ago in farm accident and nearly to the bone but it probably bled less than other wounds. Applied pressure quick for 10 minutes and most bleeding will stop. If not styptic powder or vet bond a good solution after cleaning up a bit with soap and water.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Yeah, it can look bloody awful when cockerels start to attempt pecking order change.

 

[Shadrach]

Good post.
That amount of blood looks quite concerning.
Between 8% and 10% of a chickens body weight is blood.
Roughly, for an average sized chicken this is a bit over 3 ounces.
For a human the ratio to body weight is quoted as the same as a chicken, 8% to 10% of body weight.
A human can lose 1 pint of blood without any serious effects. If the average human has 8 pints of blood it can lose one eight of the total.
10% of 3 ounces is a lot of blood!
For say a 4lb chicken at 10% that's about two thirds of a cup, or for Henrick and others that find the metric system easier, roughly 150ml.
Tip 150ml of liquid on a surface and you can see that although the blood loss from such wounds looks a lot it is probably a lot less than you can safely donate without health consequences.
(complicated by conversions to and from metric system)
Newell GW, Shaffner CS. Blood volume determination in chickens. Poultry science. 1949;29:78-87.

 

[Henrik Petersson]

Good post.
That amount of blood looks quite concerning.
Between 8% and 10% of a chickens body weight is blood.
Roughly, for an average sized chicken this is a bit over 3 ounces.
For a human the ratio to body weight is quoted as the same as a chicken, 8% to 10% of body weight.
A human can lose 1 pint of blood without any serious effects. If the average human has 8 pints of blood it can lose one eight of the total.
10% of 3 ounces is a lot of blood!
For say a 4lb chicken at 10% that's about two thirds of a cup, or for Henrick and others that find the metric system easier, roughly 150ml.
Tip 150ml of liquid on a surface and you can see that although the blood loss from such wounds looks a lot it is probably a lot less than you can safely donate without health consequences.
(complicated by conversions to and from metric system)
Newell GW, Shaffner CS. Blood volume determination in chickens. Poultry science. 1949;29:78-87.

Thanks. You bring up a good point: Even though the wound itself may be small and superficial, the blood loss might cause problems.

I agree that the rooster looks fine in the top image, judging by your calculations, even disregarding the fact that the second image proves that he healed up nicely. Four lbs could be a good guesstimate for his weight, he looks on the small side. Two thirds of a cup (in this case, "cups" was actually a more useful measurement than "milliliters" for me) is enough to ruin half a sweater - people like me who are sloppy coffee drinkers know this. I'd say his neck seems to have less than 10 % of that on it. But then, some of his blood might have ended up on other places than his neck.

There's something else to look at: The color of the comb and wattles. It seems to me that if a chicken was truly suffering from blood loss, the comb and wattles would be pale.

 

[Shadrach]

I have a rooster here who managed to snap both his spurs off at the leg joint in the space of a week! There was blood and snot everywhere. I only noticed because of the blood spots on the ground. I got him into the house and of course, being injured he was nervous and jumped about, he sprayed blood up the walls etc. Looking at the blood one might have though he had cut his throat. I got him calm, disinfected and slapped pine tar on the wound. The next day one wouldn't have known it had happened. There's something about blood that makes it look like there is much more of it than there actually is ime; probably something to do with our perception of it.
Well worth putting up those pictures though. It does help show what looks like a murder was only a pin prick.

 

[MissChick@dee]

It’s just like in humans. Head of facial wounds can bleed allot. Apply pressure (pinching) until it stops. Sometimes it takes awhile but it’s the only way to stop the bleeding.

 

[Henrik Petersson]

It’s just like in humans. Head of facial wounds can bleed allot. Apply pressure (pinching) until it stops. Sometimes it takes awhile but it’s the only way to stop the bleeding.

Really, it can't stop on its own?

 

[Noellereagan]

Experienced chicken-keepers have probably once or twice heard or read that "even a tiny and harmless wound in the comb can bleed a lot", often said as a response to worried chicken-keepers who've had chickens that got their comb caught on a thorn, or perhaps got it cut open during a harmless pecking-order scuffle. Today I actually got to see images of the phenomenon, and even I was surprised just how much blood that can come from such a wound.

Here's the subject, looking like he's been an extra in a particularly gory horror movie:

Here's our hero again, literally one day later, after a bit of cleaning up:

Well, there you have it. Just wanted to show how much a tiny comb-wound can bleed, and perhaps soothe a worried chicken-keeper who might some day find one of their chooks all bloody.

That’s amazing. Just like a human head wound. I once drive myself to the hospital after hitting and cutting the top of my head. I bent down for my vertically challenged friend to look at for me and blood spilled all over the floor. I mean poured and pooled. I put firm pressure on it with one hand and drove to the hospital with the other for stitches. When I got there- the nurses could not find anything but a little scrape. I was so embarrassed. But that’s the same concept.
I never knew it applied to a roos comb. I’m really glad that you posted this so I don’t get swallowed by the same panic as when I cut my head.
On a related note- what a beauty he is. He reminds me of this bird I just seen a picture of on an article about flytie a. It was a kind of - pick of the flock bird to represent the breed (or landrace - idk) as a whole and looks just like your guy here. What breed is yours?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Really, it can't stop on its own?

Sure...it can. But if it’s profusely bleeding it definitely could use some help. Pressure helps. Little wounds stop bleeding all wounds stop bleeding...depends on how much blood you’ll let happen. They could bleed out (not from a superficial wound) too guess that would qualify as the bleeding stopping. lol
Come on Henrik! Your killing me