A freak accident.
A diferent cockeral got into the wrong pen while we had Mr Java at the show.
And there was still 5 java pullets & 1 hen in the Java pen.
The oldest, a 1 1/2 yr old hen, was screaming when we got home, under the coop.
DH ran to see what was up & we caught her & put the stray cockeral back in his pen.
The Cockeral had stood over the obedient squating hen & torn out all her back feathers & repeatedly pecked her to hamburger.
She had several 1" gashes exposing meat...and hundreds of pokes through her skin.
The invading cockeral even tore a point off her comb!
I washed her & debrided with Betadyne.and cleaned all the soil out of her wounds.
Then I sutured 3 stitches on the one gash shown, and another on her other side.
Then slathered her in triple antibiotic & cut off a sweat shirt arm for a sweater..figured to both keep dirt off, let air in & keep her warm.
No antibiotics.
Today I looked at her back & it has risen to bruises as which will happen the day after..and she is black & blue but happy & active and such a love.
Such a super sweet Java hen!
her sweat shirt:
her name is little girl.
Will keep ya posted on her recovery.
Still have no idea why he attacked her unless (being the oldest) she was defending the flock in the Java Cockeral's absence (he was at the show)
I have never seen this happen before, ever.
CR said he had a cockeral attack a silky hen last year..wonder why it happens?
