Rooster with severed comb

[lishah2000]

I found my rooster with his comb severed from the point it connects to the back of the head almost all the way through to the top. It was hanging and he kept shaking and causing it to bleed heavily. It was already turning black, so I went ahead and removed the hanging part. (about 2 inches of the back of the comb).

The bleeding stopped pretty quickly and he seems to be doing well. Should I just leave it alone to heal? I did clean it right after and put wound coat on. Should I just leave it the shape it is? It's a little odd. I don't care how it looks, but want him to be comfortable.

I can't find anything he could have cut it on, unless it was fencing. It was a pretty clean cut through about 2 inches of comb (he has a really large comb). Could a hawk or cat cause that type of damage? Didn't look like something another rooster could have caused.

 

[Wynette]

I suppose a hawk might cause it, but I doubt a cat would. Cats typically leave chickens alone - and especially a wiley rooster!

I think what you did is the right thing; you'll really want to separate him from any others, because when other chickens see blood or even darkness like dried blood or scabbing, they will go into attack mode and he would literally be pecked to death. Separate until he's healed, and he should do just fine.

Good luck!

 

[lishah2000]

Thank you.

He is only about six months old, but very large. He free-ranges during the day and is usually alone or with two young pullets (they are independent little girls who have been free-ranging alone since they were little chicks. I couldn't keep them in).

I've been keeping an eye for any pecking. He's the biggest chicken out there and I only have a few free-ranging. He is sleeping in a crate at night.