Me Too # Hen Trashed by Cockerel

[fluffy07]

Just shattered by the state of her neck! Having pulled all her neck feathers out he has now ripped her neck skin. The blood was dried by the time I got to her, but he has bitten down to the neck bones. She's my favourite hen. All I could do was to catch her and then bath the neck in warm water with a bit of Dettol in it, and then apply Germolene. I have separated her, which she is not impressed by, and put an antibiotic in her drinker, as clearly his beak won't be clean and she could suffer some horrible infection. He hates her, because he doesn't do this to the other hens. Anybody else had this problem? At the moment, he's going to be shot tomorrow morning because my son and husband are on his case!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

. He hates her, because he doesn't do this to the other hens. Anybody else had this problem? At the moment, he's going to be shot tomorrow morning because my son and husband are on his case!

You clearly misunderstand chickens.. And I'm sorry your gal has been savagely attacked.. Did you see the cockerel do it.. or was she scalped by a coon/hawk and he's taking the flack as likely suspect??? Again, sorry your hen was hurt.. her body will make it's own antibiotics.. and usually cleaning the wound once is enough to prevent infection in MOST environments.. and under good nutritional management. Are you able to post photos of the wound? Quick word of support.. chickens, ducks, etc.. are extremely resilient creatures and recover FULLY from things far worse than what you are describing!

As a cockerel.. he is a hormonal raging idiot not yet able to control his actions FULLY.. and your beloved is not submitting to his whims is what this *sounds* like. With other questions following.. his behavior does not warrant death.. and if so.. then harvest his carcass and make use of the life he gave IF you are able or offer him to someone who can. He will die sooner or later like we all do.. just because that's part of life.. not because we deserve it. It is NOT the cockerels fault for being kept in condition unnatural to him. EVERY thing that happens in poultry keeping IS the fault and/or responsibility of the KEEPER.. even if it was an accident. Unforeseen incidents aka accident happen.. it's how we learn, unfortunately.. what doesn't work.

BUT.. we DON'T play the blame game here.. nobody wins that way and everybody loses. So after you take a few deep breaths and calm down from what *possibly* looks worse than it is.. I hope you can consider all your options in a more rational and less hurt way. I'm here to support you and your entire flocks well being, whatever that means to YOU!

Start by separating your fella instead of the alleged victim.. I say alleged not because I fail to believe you.. rather because I haven't heard all the facts or clues yet and I've seen WAY too many things take place that were not expected.. including of course Stew Pidasso cockerels/rooster.

Is you lady an elder hen from prior years or one if his own brood mates? How many birds in how much space? How long have they been together? How old is he actually?

Might you consider.. offering probiotics and some vitamin supplement (human B complex, Poultry nutri drench, Rooster Booster brand Poultry Booster or Poultry Cell) to support your birds natural immune system instead of also killing off beneficial bacteria in the hopes of fighting what MIGHT not even be an issue? The body really does this magic thing called self repair seen in science fiction movies.. just not usually at that speed!

Ask your son and husband to cut that poor boy some slack for having a brain the size of a walnut if he's lucky.. If they're gonna shoot.. that is considered "humane".. but no need to cause fear.. better to cull/euthanize from a place of peace.. knowing this is the right thing for your family AND your flock.. rather than a place of anger... killing him won't resolve that emotion.

FWIW.. I keep a stag pen, some call bachelor flock.. I grow ALL my boys out separately and allow them to practice their antics on each other and through the fence with the ladies.. This give the ones who will be selected for breeding the chance to gain some maturity before facing the real world.. Cockerels brought up with a mature ROOSTER in the flock will also often not face these same issues as they are taught manners earlier on.. Hang in there, I KNOW your lady will recover quickly! NO cockiness or rudeness intended in any of my statements.. despite the confidence that exudes brashly at times. Please look past if that's the case here.