[hardygeranium]

We have 4 new girls who are being introduced to the flock (the other half tried letting the new girls out in the garden when the older girls were already out)  In the commotion that followed, the young RIR found herself under attack by our very young, 18 week old Light Sussex cockerel.  I thought that she had got away unscathed and so she had.  It seems that our cockerel came off worst (that will teach him!).  When I put them away, I noticed his comb looked a bit odd and it turns out that one of the points is almost severed across the base.  I have liberally coated it with Gentian Violet but what do I do now?

[sneezer]

Hi was the comb bleeding?Is gentian violet a wound powder, if not just get some anti-bac wound powder and put this on, this happened to my top hen when I introduced new girls, I think she got bit when new hen was laying in the coop as it was at the front of her comb, the comb has healed fine and she now has a tear but otherwise fine.hope he recovers well and gets his pride back

[Sassy]

Gentian violet is not a wound powder and you only need the powder it it is still bleeding. You could use cornflour meanwhile. Keep an eye on the wound to help if it becomes infected otherwise it should clear up no problem.

[hardygeranium]

Gentian Violet is a mild antiseptic as well as being a wound disguiser, which is why I put it on him (and hubby's hand  ).  In fact, it was the one of the antiseptic of choice in humans up till around the early seventies. 

I had a look at him this morning.  His comb is not bleeding at all and appears to be dry and clean.  There is probably enough left of the "point" connected to the base of his comb to maintain viability, I hope.  Amazingly, he seems none the worse for his experience and is still practicing being a cockerel.  He is still very young and hasn't learnt to be big and brave yet, despite being twice the size of the rest of the avian horde.

[Sassy]

I'm glad he is better. The comments aout the wound powder were for Sneezer