Torn comb

[CoordinatedChaos]

Need advice. I went out this morning to find one of my girls had blood all over her head. I immediately brought her inside and set her up in a large kennel with food and water, and when we were able to investigate, it looks like the back of her comb is torn at the base. We cleaned it as best we could with water and applied a small bit of Neosporin. Should we keep her isolated? If so, for how long?

A few things that might help: We have 6 Amberlink hens about 7 months old, and no roosters. While they do squawk at each other from time to time and occasionally nip, I've never seen any of them really go hard after another and drawn blood. We are first time chicken owners though, so I'm not sure how fast things can escalate with them.

 

[Laurasb65]

I had the same thing happen to one of my girls. Crazy what they'll do at night.

 

[CoordinatedChaos]

I had the same thing happen to one of my girls. Crazy what they'll do at night.

Can I ask how you cared for her? I still have her separated, but I heard you shouldn't keep them separated for longer than a day or two, but I also don't want to put her back too early and have her get hurt again.

 

[kattabelly]

I wouldn't separate unless the others keep going after her. Just try to wipe the blood off her feathers as best you can and maybe put a dab of something like food dye over that area if it's still bloody after.

Last time this happened to one of mine I didn't do anything at all and she's completely fine.

 

[Laurasb65]

Can I ask how you cared for her? I still have her separated, but I heard you shouldn't keep them separated for longer than a day or two, but I also don't want to put her back too early and have her get hurt again.

I didn't separate her. I cleaned the area with wound cleaner and to get the blood off her feathers. Then I put antibiotic powder on. I got it off of Amazon. Then I sprayed Blu-kote on. With in a couple days it was healing up. She’s all good now. Haven't had any issues since.

 

[CoordinatedChaos]

I wouldn't separate unless the others keep going after her. Just try to wipe the blood off her feathers as best you can and maybe put a dab of something like food dye over that area if it's still bloody after.

Last time this happened to one of mine I didn't do anything at all and she's completely fine.

Thanks for the info! We've been cleaning her up as much as possible. Her feathers aren't as bad as the picture anymore, but they are still a dingy-ish brown. Will chickens peck at other chickens if they have the red colored blood on them? My son said he read they would, and if so, is it the blood or the wound they're drawn to?

 

[CoordinatedChaos]

I didn't separate her. I cleaned the area with wound cleaner and to get the blood off her feathers. Then I put antibiotic powder on. I got it off of Amazon. Then I sprayed Blu-kote on. With in a couple days it was healing up. She’s all good now. Haven't had any issues since.

Thanks! Is there a specific chicken safe (or avoid) antibiotic powder, or will any human grade one work? We put a little Neosporin on it last night, and it seems to look ok today, just crusty with some blood at the base of the feathers that we can't really wipe off w/o scrubbing, and that seems to be quite sensitive for her, understandably.

 

[kattabelly]

Thanks for the info! We've been cleaning her up as much as possible. Her feathers aren't as bad as the picture anymore, but they are still a dingy-ish brown. Will chickens peck at other chickens if they have the red colored blood on them? My son said he read they would, and if so, is it the blood or the wound they're drawn to?

Some will. I've never found it to be much of an issue personally, so long as they have enough space and there isn't any bullying happening already.

I'm not sure how much they distinguish between wounds and blood elsewhere. They'll peck at anything that looks like it might be edible.

 

[Laurasb65]

Yes, you can use Neosporin or generic. I used the powder because it helped stop the bleeding. the one I used is Polvos de Sulpha menper. From Amazon. I used just a little bit. I had the same issue with getting blood off, it took a month or so for it to finally disappear.