Bleeding Comb

[Fluffy_Feathers]

I have a hen that I noticed has blood on the side of her comb. It wasn't gushing or anything, but enough to cover that side and to smear blood where it touches, and when she shook her head dots of blood get on the wall of the coop. I'm not sure where the wound is. When I first examined her, it looked like two tips had small flaps of broken skin on it. I'm thinking that's where the blood came from. As I am writing this, I went back out to look for exactly where the wound was, and the blood was all dry! She was bleed for 3-4 hours, and the last time I checked on her (20-30 minutes ago) it was still wet, and now...dry!... I read that chickens will mercilessly peck at blood and turn cannibalistic. Could chickens peck at the now dry blood and break it open again? I would wash the blood off, but it is toooooooo cold for that. She, along with 6 other chickens, are roosting now, so would they still peck? My other main concern is frostbite if the bleeding starts again. It is 12 degrees F here, and is expected to get to 2 degrees as the night goes on! Could a chicken get frostbite from wet blood on a bleeding comb? Thanks a bunch!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Combs bleed occasionally and it always looks like a massacre because of the head shaking. I've never done anything for it and they always heal up. If you see a problem than some bluekote can be sprayed it to disguise the color.

Generally hens tuck their heads under a wing. So if she good at it than it should be fine. A few of mine get slight frostbite at times but are fine and it doesn't slow them down.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I have chickens who gets bloody combs every once in a while. Most I've ever done is try to get the bleeding to stop and try to wipe away the wet blood. When one of my chickens is bleeding on their comb or waddle I take a paper towel, surround the would with it, then try to squeeze the comb or waddle to cut of the blood flow. That usually works to stop the bleeding. I've never tried to clean the chicken afterwards, but I have tried to brush the dried up blood off my Silkie rooster. If you use a paper towel you might want to wet it down some, but it isn't really necessary if you don't want to or it is too cold too.

 

[Latestarter]

Sounds to me like the comb tips got frostbitten or froze and that's caused the bleeding. The other hens will generally peck at any blood they see. It can cause additional damage. Yes, wet blood can and will freeze... it's water based. Perhaps you can bring the affected bird indoors in a box or basket to allow the affected area to warm up, then assess/clean/dry/coat the area with Blukote spray to disguise the blood and aid in healing.

You can also lightly coat combs, wattles, toes with an OIL based salve such as Vaseline or Bag Balm etc to prevent moisture build up and help prevent further frostbite/freeze damage. Just be careful with already damaged areas as you can easily slough off damaged skin.

Good luck with your cold temps. Been there, done that, had the T-shirt.

 

[Ash_lie]

Styptic powder to stop the bleeding, then a little bacitracin. <3 On nights with terrible temperatures... bag balm, burts bees non petroleum salve, or coconut oil. It gives the cold a barrier. Henny and Roo sells comb and wattle salve, there are also recipes on Pinterest.

 

[iml8agn]

I just noticed my buff orphington has a bloody comb as well. She has always been the outcast of the group and now I fear it will be worse. I have put her in a crate in my garage hoping she will warm up a bit and then will try and clean up the wound and put the blue kote on it. She is very unhappy in the garage. Poor girl. We've been hit with a cold snap, -10 here this morning, coop is only 0 degrees. We have a heat lamp along with a radiant heater hanging above the roosting bars. Not sure what else we can do.
Should we be keeping the coop closed up and not letting them out in the pen? They really love to go out each day but it's so darn cold. The outer pen has plastic weather wrapping but it's still pretty cold. Any help is welcome.

 

[Latestarter]

If they'd like to go out, let them go out. If they prefer to stay inside, they'll do that themselves. They may go out for a bit and decide inside is better.

PLEASE be careful with heat lamps and radiant heaters... So many people have burned down their coops and barns, lost their animals... It's really devastating.

 

[iml8agn]

If they'd like to go out, let them go out. If they prefer to stay inside, they'll do that themselves. They may go out for a bit and decide inside is better.

PLEASE be careful with heat lamps and radiant heaters... So many people have burned down their coops and barns, lost their animals... It's really devastating.

I also know of that but we don't really have a choice since we have been -10 or lower for over a week and the coop was zero degrees until we added the second heat lamp. Not really any other option, we watch it very carefully.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We were -18 last night. My birds do fine without a heat lamp. Once you add one it can be hard to remove it. Do what makes you comfortable, but just letting you know they would be okay without one.

 

[iml8agn]

We were -18 last night. My birds do fine without a heat lamp. Once you add one it can be hard to remove it. Do what makes you comfortable, but just letting you know they would be okay without one.

I could not imagine not having anything in there...It was negative 8 here this morning and the inside of the coop was reading at 18. That's as cold as I'd like them to be.