Rooster Comb is Ripped off

[Sassafras13]

My rooster Gus, who just turned 1 year old (HBD bud). Got into a fight with a predator this morning and his comb is half ripped off. We don’t have any poultry vets around here. What is the best course of action to care for his wound?

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have another rooster or any sharp fencing where he might have ripped it? I would leave it alone so it stops bleeding, and let the blood act as glue for his comb. If he shakes it a lot and keeps it bleeding you can take a sharp pair of scissors and trim off the loose part, using an ice cube to make his comb cold to help control blood less. But I would try the conservative way first. The separated part may eventually shrivel up and die off, but that is fine. It is painful, and he should be separated while having red blood there and being subject to pecking. Let us know what happens.

 

[fancy-feathers]

If it keeps bleeding you could try Wonder dust, you can find it at Grange or Costal

 

[CombNWattles]

I would add that you should probably put some kind of antibacterial on it. Vetericyn spray or neosporin w/out painkillers will work.

 

[Sassafras13]

Do you have another rooster or any sharp fencing where he might have ripped it? I would leave it alone so it stops bleeding, and let the blood act as glue for his comb. If he shakes it a lot and keeps it bleeding you can take a sharp pair of scissors and trim off the loose part, using an ice cube to make his comb cold to help control blood less. But I would try the conservative way first. The separated part may eventually shrivel up and die off, but that is fine. It is painful, and he should be separated while having red blood there and being subject to pecking. Let us know what happens.

Thank you for the information! No, we do not have another rooster. I walked around our run to see if he might have slipped his head through the fencing to grab a snack from the other side but could not find any blood. Should I put antibiotic ointment on it?

 

[Eggcessive]

I know it sounds strange to leave it alone, but I would try that for now. Someone recently treated the same thing, and the dried blood held it in place, and it healed. But we just make suggestions, and you need to decide what you should do.

 

[tlcmurphy]

My hen did the same thing, had a fight with the chicken wire. It healed just fine (I sprayed with vetricin). Now she has a permanent Comb Over

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some posting by azygous who has treated this a few times, and roosterhavoc who use neosporin ointment to “glue the comb on” and prevent infection.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...s-a-lot-of-blood.1441874/page-2#post-23919528

 

[Sassafras13]

My hen did the same thing, had a fight with the chicken wire. It healed just fine (I sprayed with vetricin). Now she has a permanent Comb Over

I’m afraid that is the road he must take. Once a majestic, proud comb, to a… comb over

 

[Sassafras13]

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions! We gently washed it and put some antibiotic ointment in it. I’ll separate him from the hens again today so they won’t peck at his bloody spot.