Unknown Injury to head

[dewpetals]

I have a 4 month rooster who stays in our Big Bird run with a 1 1/2 rooster, 2 other 4 month roosters and about 9 hens and pullets. They've all been together from hatch. One minute he's fine, we fed them scraps and went about our business. 15 minutes later we found our 4 month old walking around with a bloody beak and swollen eye. Upon closer inspection I think his jaw is broken. I cleaned him up with vetercyn spray and antibiotic oint around his eye. Gave him Nutri drench and have separated him. What else can i do if anything? He's obviously stressed and still has blood dripping down his beak. Idk if it's from his eye or nose.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your rooster, but he has most likely been beaten by the older rooster. He is at that age where he is maturing and starting to breed. I am worried that his left eye may be punctured, because of the red jelly-like substance. Keep him separated in a pen or wire dog crate with food and water. His beak looks injured on top, but hopefully, it is not fractured. The beak can regrow on top in time, but it is very painful now. Getting him to drink water and eat some moistened feed for the next few days will be a challenge. Add some electrolytes to his water, and encourage him to drink. Flush his eye with either some eye wash or saline, and apply either Terracin eye ointment, Vetericyn eye gel, or plain Triple antibiotic ointment twice a day for the next week.

I would separate the cockerels and roosters away from the hens and pullets, except for the one you want to keep with them. This is a common problem, since cockerels this age may be stupid enough to challenge the head rooster and mate with his girls. They are usually running around driving the females crazy.

 

[dewpetals]

Sorry about your rooster, but he has most likely been beaten by the older rooster. He is at that age where he is maturing and starting to breed. I am worried that his left eye may be punctured, because of the red jelly-like substance. Keep him separated in a pen or wire dog crate with food and water. His beak looks injured on top, but hopefully, it is not fractured. The beak can regrow on top in time, but it is very painful now. Getting him to drink water and eat some moistened feed for the next few days will be a challenge. Add some electrolytes to his water, and encourage him to drink. Flush his eye with either some eye wash or saline, and apply either Terracin eye ointment, Vetericyn eye gel, or plain Triple antibiotic ointment twice a day for the next week.

I would separate the cockerels and roosters away from the hens and pullets, except for the one you want to keep with them. This is a common problem, since cockerels this age may be stupid enough to challenge the head rooster and mate with his girls. They are usually running around driving the females crazy.

Thank you for your advice. I will continue to treat and hopefully he will recover. I will get them separated, I thought I had more time.

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how he gets along.

 

[dewpetals]

He survived the night!! Eye is still swelled (looks like a hematoma) but he does try to open it. Not sure if he's seeing anything out of it though. His beak looks a lot better, it seems straighter and he's not oozing from his nostril. I heard him eating a bite or two, saw him eat a piece of scrambled egg. Tried to give him water (with syringe) but he wasn't having it. It's in the cage if he wants it though. Stool is watery, I'm sure that's stress. I did add electrolytes and nutri drench to his water. Still keeping him isolated for now. I'm going to have to rehome him and the other young roo though. I have 3 runs because of the older roosters and didn't need any more. Maybe someone will want him. I'm just glad he's still alive.

 

[dewpetals]

He's doing great and can see out of that eye!

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad that he is doing much better. Thank you for the update. This is really a common issue when hatching birds. You alway have to come up with a plan for the extra cockerels.