Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: MY-Five-gals on May 27, 2008, 20:08

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: MY-Five-gals on May 27, 2008, 20:08

I kept my hens in their run today as i was suprised to see the local fox hanging around at 7.30am ( normally gone by dawn). Anyway I have come home to one of them, with a torn comb and a bloodstained face, she has been pecked by one of her gang..

Do I need to take her to a vet?

Once they have started on her, does that mean I will have to cull her to protect her from any more bullying by the others.

Is the the norm with hen house mates...it's worse than Big Brother(TV)

Help  and advice  received with thanks :?:

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 27, 2008, 20:11

You need to separate her from the other hens but so that they can still see each other.  Treat the wound (I would use wound powder).  You can put her back in once the comb has begun to heal and is no longer blooming.

Good luck let us know how things go  :D

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: babe on May 27, 2008, 20:12

the other will go after any week spot and peck at it.

has the bleeding stopped..can you clean her?....do you have any wound powder.

im now panicking with you...poor little lady :(

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: muntjac on May 27, 2008, 20:14

id treat it with wound powder not germolene in this case and then put some vasaline over it to stop any muck getting in or it getting wet :wink:

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: peggyprice on May 27, 2008, 20:15

I'd just add (from my own experience of bullying/feather pecking, though nothing that's drawn blood), don't be too quick to put her back in , and the anti peck rings or spectacles are BRILLIANT.  Assuming you've only got one or two birds doing the pecking, not hundreds  :wink:

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 27, 2008, 20:51

It may be that she has damaged her comb on the wire netting by trying to push her head through and not been pecked until it was already bleeding  :idea:

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: MY-Five-gals on May 27, 2008, 22:23

she is the one that you normally see pecking at the others. but she is also the one who bottom ( bum) feathers have never grown back and it always looks red.
The bleeding had stopped, and they have all gone to roost...Have I done the wrong thing,should I go to the coop and bring her indoors for the night??

Title: comb torn
Post by: MY-Five-gals on May 27, 2008, 22:26

Is wound powder like sterile talc? Could I use that or should I wait until morning and go to the pet supplies

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: Foxy on May 27, 2008, 22:29

Dont worry,should be fine overnight!
Comb injuries always look worse than they actually are, when I had 2 brothers fight there was blood everywhere!!! But didn't take long to heal. I used wound powder and then coated with vaseline,no problems with healing at all. Did have to separate them mind you! :shock:

Title: HELP comb torn off
Post by: peggyprice on May 27, 2008, 22:39

Mine didn't fight at all inside the house, even when they were at their scrappiest during the day.  I separated the bullying one into a puppy cage next to the run for a day, then the next day started her off in the cage then let them freerange together for a while - but only after she'd had her anti peck ring fitted  :D   Carried on like that for a week or so, then they all settled down and get on fine.