chmac
Hatching
We're in the process of adding birds to the flock. We have an old rooster and hen, plus two we added almost a year ago, and then we just added 6 more, who are just starting to lay.
I've noticed the rooster is bleeding, I think from his comb. When he shakes his head, there's blood drops flying around, and we have blood stains on the feeder and other places. I took him out tonight and got a better look and took a photo. He has all kinds of black marks on his comb. It looks like it is probably dried blood. Weirdly, it's just on one side of his comb. The other side looks normal.
We're in northern Germany, just south of Berlin, so it is just turning from winter to spring. It has been below freezing overnight in the last week or two, but the coop has always been above 5º. I guess that's too warm for frostbite. It's been a few weeks since the temperature was below freezing during the daytime (when the chickens are outside) and that was only a few days this winter.
Anybody have a sense of what's going on? What could be causing this on just one side of his comb?
Also, should we do anything about it? Try to clean it, or disinfect it? Thanks in advance for any advice.
I've noticed the rooster is bleeding, I think from his comb. When he shakes his head, there's blood drops flying around, and we have blood stains on the feeder and other places. I took him out tonight and got a better look and took a photo. He has all kinds of black marks on his comb. It looks like it is probably dried blood. Weirdly, it's just on one side of his comb. The other side looks normal.
We're in northern Germany, just south of Berlin, so it is just turning from winter to spring. It has been below freezing overnight in the last week or two, but the coop has always been above 5º. I guess that's too warm for frostbite. It's been a few weeks since the temperature was below freezing during the daytime (when the chickens are outside) and that was only a few days this winter.
Anybody have a sense of what's going on? What could be causing this on just one side of his comb?
Also, should we do anything about it? Try to clean it, or disinfect it? Thanks in advance for any advice.