Rooster comb injury....need advice please

[Hippiefrog]

Yesterday, I noticed my rooster had dried blood along the tips of his comb. He seemed fine and everyone seemed to be getting along so I decided to keep an eye on it. I knew catching him was going to be difficult. We got him at 4 months(he's a year old now and so are all of the hens)and as soon as he arrived here, he escaped. Hours and two neighbors later, we never caught him. It was getting dark and he violated our quarantine rules and followed all of our ladies, into the coop, that night. It seemed to workout. Anyway, today, I let them into the run and an hour later, I returned to let them out to free range(our daily routine)and he comes running out looking like this.

Our flock includes, our rooster(Apollo), 12 hens, four 11 week pullets, two 11 week old cockerels and a 13 week old pullet. The younger ones have been raised by our two broody moms, with the flock, from day one.

I'm wondering if maybe one of the cockerels could of done this? One of them seems more aggressive than the other and is also a little bigger. They're still pretty small compared to Apollo though. If not the cockerels, maybe a disgruntled hen? Idk but someone got him and he's usually the man in charge. Thoughts?

I was finally able to outsmart(something that willprobably never happen again), and I caught him! He is now isolated, inside, but I'm waiting for help to get home before attempting to clean his wounds and apply ointment.

I'm wondering how long we should keep him contained before sending him back to the raptors? Any tips on keeping him calm during the clean up?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks! Sorry for the long post!

 

[Birdie mom]

Looks like he got his comb scratched on something, a piece of wire maybe? I would keep him isolated until the wound is no longer obvious.

Try keeping his eyes covered while you are cleaning him up. Chickens are afraid to move if they can't see anything. (And when you clean him up, make sure that you get all the clotted blood out of his nostrils)

Comb injuries are almost never serious, so even though there looks like a lot of blood, the wound itself is probably small.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you isolate him, he may not be accepted back into the flock. Having young cockerels in the flock, they may start to challenge him. Vetericyn Hydrogel wound spray can be used on his comb. A wire dog crate with food and water if set inisde the coop, would be one way of sepearting without being totally gone. What have your lowest temperatures been recently? Have you seen any evidence of frostbite where you live?

 

[kerbotx]

Swaddle him like a wee babe. Might try using a spray bottle to irrigate the wound without having to touch it, but have a backup plan if that stresses him, like wet paper towels, dripping water onto the comb. Only keep him separated if he needs to heal, or if they peck at the wound.

 

[Hippiefrog]

Looks like he got his comb scratched on something, a piece of wire maybe? I would keep him isolated until the wound is no longer obvious.

Try keeping his eyes covered while you are cleaning him up. Chickens are afraid to move if they can't see anything. (And when you clean him up, make sure that you get all the clotted blood out of his nostrils)

Comb injuries are almost never serious, so even though there looks like a lot of blood, the wound itself is probably small.

I hadn't thought about him cutting it on something. Maybe that's it. I'll do a thorough inspection of the coop wire, tomorrow. Thank you for the tips, I'll definitely cover his eyes and get his nostrils.

 

[Hippiefrog]

If you isolate him, he may not be accepted back into the flock. Having young cockerels in the flock, they may start to challenge him. Vetericyn Hydrogel wound spray can be used on his comb. A wire dog crate with food and water if set inisde the coop, would be one way of sepearting without being totally gone. What have your lowest temperatures been recently? Have you seen any evidence of frostbite where you live?

That's an option. We might be able to put the crate he is in, inside of the coop. I'm in Virginia and the lowest temps have been in the mid to upper teens but not consistently. I have seen frostbite on him once but that was, in November. We've had roller coaster weather.

 

[Hippiefrog]

Swaddle him like a wee babe. Might try using a spray bottle to irrigate the wound without having to touch it, but have a backup plan if that stresses him, like wet paper towels, dripping water onto the comb. Only keep him separated if he needs to heal, or if they peck at the wound.

Great ideas! Thank you so much! I'm sure he will love being swaddled lol

 

[theoldchick]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...y that chickens,chicken wire around their run.

 

[ameliathedominant]

probably got caught on wire... when cleaning if he refuses to stay still just put him on his side. warning, he will protest. once you get him down just dont keep him there for more than a minute or theyll get dizzy. good luck

 

[ameliathedominant]

flip him on his side if he refuses to stay still. but not for too long! warning, he will struggle