Just got a new rooster with a flaccid comb

[Birdo]

He's adorable, but I think he's a little bit "special"... He was free, a guy with too many roos wanted to find him a new home because he was "too pretty for the pot". He's a mix of blue laced red wyandotte and yokohama. Anyway, his comb hangs right over his left eye just like Flock of Seagulls and I think it prevents him from seeing and eating properly. His beak is even a little bit crooked, I think because he favors eating on the side he can see on. He is skittish, but warming up to me. But it worried me when I put down a handful of scratch grains when he was hanging out with me on the porch and he RANDOMLY and unsuccessfully began pecking at the concrete, possibly in the hopes that some of the treats would be magnetically attracted to his beak and magically make it in there. I mean, my hens have spot-on precision when putting things in their mouth. This was adorable but kind of worrisome.

So my question is: Can/should I do something about his comb? Part of the reason I got him was to warn the girls about predators, and he certainly can't see well enough to do so. And I'm worried about his quality of life too. I think that's one reason why he's so skittish; he can't see what's coming up to him so he runs from everything. He's also only 7 months old, so that comb is only going to get bigger.

(Rest assured, many crooked and flaccid jokes have been made in the last couple of days.)

 

[Birdo]

Here he is:

 

[Birdo]

He's been tripping over stuff all day... what do you guys think I should do?

 

[RedDrgn]

I think that the only thing you can do for that comb, if it's creating a probably, is to dub it (essentially, cut it off). There are several threads and quite a bit of info about it if you do a search of the forums in the search box at the top of the page.

 

[Birdo]

Thanks for your reply, RedDrgn. I think that is what I will do. I'm not certain whether I should do it now or wait a couple weeks while he gets situated with my hens. My instincts say just get it out of the way now because I think he'll be a lot more comfortable and adjust better. But if that would be too much added stress I'll wait.

 

[Pele]

Yes I agree. Despite many people's perception of dubbing, sometimes it is healthy and beneficial to the bird (one of the reason OEGs are still dubbed is because they can grow oversized combs that flop).

There are lots of good videos and instructionals online for performing the procedure. You will improve his quality of life dramatically, and make him less likely to be picked off by a predator. Chickens are a sight-based bunch of critters.

 

[Birdo]

I've only found two videos on youtube, it's hard to see the cutting of the comb in both of them. If you know of any other videos could you let me know? Thanks, Pele.

 

[karlamaria]

Lol the title brought me in.." what a pretty boy, ! Has he always been this way, or is he under the weather and the comb has gone "flaccid" because of poor health? My one hens comb went side ways and pink and we fond it was because of the other birds not letting her eat and drink, I soon took the top bird and put her in chicken jail, she went from top dog to last. Stopped all the problems and the hen got red combed again and it stood straight up!

 

[karlamaria]

Just watched a chicken being dubbed or what you call cutting off the combs and waddles, why in gods name would you do this to a bird if the comb and waddles were normal? Dear god that is sad to see . Like its normal to cut the comb off to the skull, and the waddles and ear parts. Omg sick.

 

[Birdo]

If you watched the same video I saw, of the show bird, yeah that was horrendous. But other than showing, people do it to prevent frostbite or for other health concerns. And they generally do a better job than that a**hat. In my boy's case, he is a mixed breed, so his comb is a mix of different kinds and very top heavy. He is extremely clumsy and jumpy because he only has one working eye. poor dude. He won't leave my side and just wants me to cuddle him.I'm going to dub his comb on Monday and I'll post how it goes.