Rooster attacked our 18-month-old son pretty bad this morning!

[bargain]

Sorry for your son and you!

I would clean his wound area with hydrogen peroxide.

It's cold but won't burn Then neosporon on top....I'm guessing none need stiches and praying not. Yes, check with his pediatrician if he needs a tetanus. If inside I wouldn't bandage...When outside depending on nature of cuts/scratches and where he's playing I'd bandage.

On somethings like this, I'd be tempted to use a very clean scarf or tied together bandannas because bandaids can hurt to pull and remove on a regular basis.

Keep an eye on them for infection and keep his hands busy so he doesn't pick on his face.

Will pray for the both of you....I hate when I get flogged as I call it but if it's a child I just cry and get too empathetic.

Take care and God bless you all.

 

[paxicotrader]

Wow, thanks for all the advice and support. A couple of people mentioned brining... Does that mean to soak the whole (cleaned/processed) bird in salt water for a while just before cooking?

 

[WalkingWolf]

With a 18 month old you really can't even trust your hens. A broody hen, even without spurs, could put a child's eye out, even chicks will peck at eyes. Older children give them a half inch 2 foot dowel rod, 3ft for adults, to tap chickens on the butt that get to close. All my chickens understand what the spanking stick is and they respect it very much even though it only takes a tap. All children should wear safety glasses while around any chickens.

 

[JamesA]

Nothing taste better than a mean roo !!

 

[sillybirds]

That's terrible about your son being attacked! I agree with the advice about putting Neosporin (or generic triple antibiotic ointment) on the cuts and getting a tetanus booster shot if he hasn't had one in the last ten years. If it is possible, I would also keep the deeper scratches covered with Neosporin and band-aids/other adhesive dressing, so as to minimize scarring.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
I have a spanking stick too. It's also referred to as the Staff of Power.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

First of all, sorry to hear your son was flogged in the face. I'm sure you will do the right thing to get him better. I just wanted to say, small kids and any livestock do not mix. A small child can bring out the worst in any animal, good or bad. You really need to pen the chickens until the child gets older and can be taught to deal with aggressiveness. I have had aggressive roos and some down right mean, however most were taught very quickly who was boss. I raise RIR's and thats just one of the traits of the breed that I have to deal with. Remember roos are flock protectors. Children in the neighborhood come to see my chooks know that if they want to play with the girls to come knock on the door so that I can put the roos up before they can go into the run(supervised of coarse). I gladly do this as a part of having them. I even have a couple of hens that do not tolerate small children, so they are put up as well. I guess I could cull any roos that showed any aggressiveness at all, however I do not want to raise a line of wimpy roos that will beat the girls into the coop if there is a threat. My chooks are my pets, however they are livestock first and foremost.

The next time you have a menacing roo, nip it in the bud right then. It will save you both some grief. Wishing you the best!!!

Marty

 

[destiny_56085]

Just curious, but why was an 18 month old left unsupervised for long enough for a rooster to attack him in the first place? A rooster's job is to guard his flock. Same as if you left the kid in with a bull, boar, ram, etc. Sure a rooster is alot smaller and might do as much damage, but you gotta use a little common sense. Pen the chickens up where the kid can't get to them or keep an eye on the kid.

Edited to add that I agree with Chook...we must have been typeing at the same time. Well said!

 

[drsmile]

Quote:
Correct! However, Neosporin is mostly Petroletum Jelly also. I hate the stuff. Use a antiseptic cream, NOT ointment. Antiseptic sprays also work great, and they usually have an analgesic/anesthetic in them like Lidocaine or Benzocaine to take the edge off.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Clean the cuts carefully with soap and water then apply a topical antibiotic. Monitor closely for several days for sign of infection and if one develops get him to medical care straight away.

Eliminate the rooster even if you don't do anything but compost him.

Pecking order dominance can change with growth of a rooster, the dominant one becoming sick or injured, or for reasons we never become aware of.

At eight months he'll be tough, but there's never been a bird so tough that a pressure cooker could not tenderize them.

.....Alan.