What is pulling combs off my hens?

[kaumlauf]

Today I found 2 of my hens with their combs pulled practically completely off. Both are quite bloody and appear in pain. One is worse than the other. My Plymouth Rock rooster is about 6 to 7 months old. I suspect him. They are enclosed in a very secure coop at night, and during the day they freely roam in a secure half acre meadow. We have hawks and eagles around. I suspect the roo, as he likes to pull on the back of their heads when he mounts.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Do you have a picture? Around what time did you find them like this? Did you check on them last night and this morning as well?

 

[Yardmom]

Any chance of them catching their heads in something such as a fence?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have heard that putting Vicks on the hens' combs can teach the rooster not to grab the hens by the comb. This is only hearsay but I wonder if it might be worth a try. You might have to apply it every morning before letting the hens out. This is a terrible habit and if he continues ... well if he were my roooster I would not find it acceptable at all.

 

[kaumlauf]

Do you have a picture? Around what time did you find them like this? Did you check on them last night and this morning as well?

It happened this afternoon. They were fine this morning.

 

[kaumlauf]

Any chance of them catching their heads in something such as a fence?

Nope.

 

[kaumlauf]

I have heard that putting Vicks on the hens' combs can teach the rooster not to grab the hens by the comb. This is only hearsay but I wonder if it might be worth a try. You might have to apply it every morning before letting the hens out. This is a terrible habit and if he continues ... well if he were my roooster I would not find it acceptable at all.

This is his last day with us, we are giving him a permanent solution.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Do you have any waterfowl in with your hens, particularly geese? I had a gander who ate the comb off a rooster.
I've had roosters, other hens, and even fencing clip the very back of the comb (the blade), and once where a rooster took about half of the fingers off, but it can still be hard knowing exactly what is doing it, especially if you don't see it happening. If you're getting rid of your rooster and it keeps happening, I'd suspect the waterfowl.

 

[kaumlauf]

I have 2 guineas, but no waterfowl. The combs were cut cleanly at their bases. One was cut about 1/2 way through, back to front. The other was cut 7/8's way through, back to front, down to the base of her skull and the comb is dangling down over her eyes and beak, still bleeding. I think I will cut the remainder off, and clean her up and dress the wound. These girls have lived peaceably together in the same fencing/coop arrangement for 3 years. The rooster is new- 6-7 months old. He has shown aggression towards me too- although a swift kick in the caboose put and end to that.