Nestbox Fighting

[murphrandir]

We got chickens three years ago, and I have seen squabbles over just about everything. Today I went out to check eggs, and I saw one of my chickens covered in blood. Naturally, I assumed something had tried to kill her, but there was no blood or feathers in the area. THEN I saw one of the nest boxes. It looks like a murder scene. She has no other wounds, except for it seems that a couple of her points on her comb are missing. I know that combs bleed pretty crazily… I cleaned her up to the best of my ability and sprayed with Vetericyn, but I don’t know what else to do… mostly in regards to this happening again. I have no idea who the aggressor was, I don’t see blood on anybody else. And like I’ve said, I have NEVER seen squabbles over nest boxes to this degree. Help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd just clean her up really well, spray with the Vetericyn and let her go back with the flock.

Combs do bleed like crazy, she may have injured the comb in a different area and went to the nesting box for protection. Hard to know and it's just speculation on my part. Here's why, I speculate she may have not been in a nesting box battle...

Your photo. There's little to no blood spatter, the blood is rubbed and smeared on the wood, consistent of a hen rubbing the comb on the back of the nesting box, the coagulated blood lower is consistent of her rubbing the blood on the box there as well as she's adjusted herself in the box. Ime, when there's a battle, there is blood spatter.
No eggs are broken, usually a battle that fierce, you'd have at least a broken egg or two. You don't have another hen with any blood on them or injuries/pecks(?). And to lose a couple of points, they look like they have been sliced/cut on wire fencing or a staple instead of being picked off.

Observe to see if you note any fighting over the next few days.

Just my 2¢

 

[murphrandir]

I never even thought about that. Those are good points. Now I’m going to have to think about where she could have gotten herself hung up on. I’ve never noticed any kind of fighting that extreme- not today or any other day- so you’re probably onto something.

 

[murphrandir]

I'd just clean her up really well, spray with the Vetericyn and let her go back with the flock.

Combs do bleed like crazy, she may have injured the comb in a different area and went to the nesting box for protection. Hard to know and it's just speculation on my part. Here's why, I speculate she may have not been in a nesting box battle...

Your photo. There's little to no blood spatter, the blood is rubbed and smeared on the wood, consistent of a hen rubbing the comb on the back of the nesting box, the coagulated blood lower is consistent of her rubbing the blood on the box there as well as she's adjusted herself in the box. Ime, when there's a battle, there is blood spatter.
No eggs are broken, usually a battle that fierce, you'd have at least a broken egg or two. You don't have another hen with any blood on them or injuries/pecks(?). And to lose a couple of points, they look like they have been sliced/cut on wire fencing or a staple instead of being picked off.

Observe to see if you note any fighting over the next few days.

Just my 2¢



View attachment 4079942

Well we were extra careful to look for nails/staples etc today and felt pretty good that it was a fluke. Lo and behold, now we have a Brahma with a piece taken out of her earlobe and a conspicuous puddle of blood. What the !$&@??

 

[murphrandir]

Well we were extra careful to look for nails/staples etc today and felt pretty good that it was a fluke. Lo and behold, now we have a Brahma with a piece taken out of her earlobe and a conspicuous puddle of blood. What the !$&@?? View attachment 4080403

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well we were extra careful to look for nails/staples etc today and felt pretty good that it was a fluke. Lo and behold, now we have a Brahma with a piece taken out of her earlobe and a conspicuous puddle of blood. What the !$&@?? View attachment 4080403

And you didn't see a wound on her yesterday?
This is a different box from yesterday too right?

This is a puzzle! I'm not sure what's going on. Can you set up a camera to see if they are indeed fighting or if something is trying to grab at the hens through their fencing?

For that earlobe, I would definitely clean it well, then apply some triple antibiotic ointment. The tissue on the earlobe is a bit more tender and thinner than a comb, it for some reason is harder to heal.

 

[murphrandir]

And you didn't see a wound on her yesterday?
This is a different box from yesterday too right?

This is a puzzle! I'm not sure what's going on. Can you set up a camera to see if they are indeed fighting or if something is trying to grab at the hens through their fencing?

For that earlobe, I would definitely clean it well, then apply some triple antibiotic ointment. The tissue on the earlobe is a bit more tender and thinner than a comb, it for some reason is harder to heal.

Honestly, I thought her earlobe had a little bit of dried blood on it yesterday, but it wasn’t swollen or inflamed like this. It looked like maybe someone had tried to peck her previously. Currently, I have a camera set up in the coop, looking at the nest boxes.

 

[murphrandir]

Honestly, I thought her earlobe had a little bit of dried blood on it yesterday, but it wasn’t swollen or inflamed like this. It looked like maybe someone had tried to peck her previously. Currently, I have a camera set up in the coop, looking at the nest boxes.

And yes, different nest box!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Interesting.

Could be they had a battle and today the earlobe scab came off and bled a lot. Hard to know.

Hopefully you can see more since you can monitor the nesting boxes.

 

[murphrandir]

Interesting.

Could be they had a battle and today the earlobe scab came off and bled a lot. Hard to know.

Hopefully you can see more since you can monitor the nesting boxes.

I cleaned her off really well and slathered some ointment on her. She’s in my shower right now and while I know you don’t typically want to isolate the victim, I worry about returning her with an exposed ear. Any advice as far as treating her? She acts ok, if a bit subdued.