Majorly Picked Chicken!

SunshineChick14

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jan 16, 2015
27
0
22
British Columbia, Canada
One of my Columbia Rocks keeps getting picked on by the other chickens (Columbia Rocks and Red Rock Cross). I usually try to catch it in time and treat the wounds, but this time it seems like they attacked her. Her whole lower back near her vent has been gouged. It's like they're eating her! I've been putting Blood Stop Powder on the fresh wounds, and that has helped her form a scab over it. Since she is white-feathered, and her scab is dark, it attracts the other chickens to come peck at it again. I have also been putting corn starch powder on the scab, to make it less noticeable, but it doesn't stay for very long.

I have tried Stop Pick, the red paste stuff, but it doesn't seem to be working, at all! If anything, it marinates the poor chicken and attracts all the other chickens to come pick at her even more. The Stop Pick smells like barbecue sauce, to me anyway. :p

This same chicken has had this problem before, and she was healing slowly, but she still hasn't healed totally from the previous wound. She's a strong bird, so I have no doubt that she will eventually heal up again, but until then, is there something I can do or use to stop any more picking? Also, I wonder if there is some way to help her heal faster, or put something on the wound to hide it until she is healed?
 
Sorry for your poor chicken! Try blu-kote, it will camouflage her injury for a long time.(unfortunately it will turn her feathers purple) If you want to use a no pick, try Rooster Booster no pick cover up lotion. (it is also purple,not red) If you can, try to find the aggressor. If you don't want to cull the bad bird you could try pinless peepers or clip just the very tip of her upper beak. It will make her beak a little tender but it will grow back and you'll have to do it repeatedly. Try removing the aggressor long enough for her to drop to the bottom of the pecking order. It's most likely that you will have to get rid of the aggressive bird.
While you are figuring all that out, if they are confined due to weather, they may be bored and on each others' nerves. Make sure they have enough space and something to do during the day. Hope this helps you figure stuff out.
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ETA: use triple antibiotic on her wounds, wash away all blood or the others will keep going after her-they love blood. And
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Blu-Kote sounds like a good idea. I will check out the feed store next time I am in town.

I think I have seen an instigator, but I have nowhere to keep her. My only cage is used by another sick chicken. I have been waiting until she gets better, and then I will cage the instigator... hopefully that'll be sometime soon.

They have been bored lately, so I've shovelled the snow in their outdoor run and let them out. They seem to be a bit better now, but they have started picking on another white chicken in the same place as this one. I think I will need to get some Blu-Kote. And some iodine!

Thanks! :)
 
Blu-Kote sounds like a good idea. I will check out the feed store next time I am in town.

I think I have seen an instigator, but I have nowhere to keep her. My only cage is used by another sick chicken. I have been waiting until she gets better, and then I will cage the instigator... hopefully that'll be sometime soon.

They have been bored lately, so I've shovelled the snow in their outdoor run and let them out. They seem to be a bit better now, but they have started picking on another white chicken in the same place as this one. I think I will need to get some Blu-Kote. And some iodine!

Thanks! :)

After you put on the blu kote, the offending chicken will have a purple beak and face. Unfortunately so will the injured bird because of preening.
 
Ahh, that is brilliant. Terrible for the injured chicken, of course, but that sounds like a good way to find the bully. Or bullies. Does Blu-Kote taste bad to them at all? Or is it more of a camouflage than a deterrent?
 
Ahh, that is brilliant. Terrible for the injured chicken, of course, but that sounds like a good way to find the bully. Or bullies. Does Blu-Kote taste bad to them at all? Or is it more of a camouflage than a deterrent?

That's a good question. I've always heard it's a deterrent... Iodine works the same way and disinfects any nasties in the wound. ^_^

MrsB
 
Ahh, that is brilliant. Terrible for the injured chicken, of course, but that sounds like a good way to find the bully. Or bullies. Does Blu-Kote taste bad to them at all? Or is it more of a camouflage than a deterrent?

It's definitely camouflage, deterrent, probably. The chickens can't see the bare skin or scabs through it. As to whether it tastes bad, chickens don't have much of a sense of taste. They do have a great sense of smell. the bird wearing the blu kote will still groom so it can't be that bad. Idk, but you will find the bullies anyway.
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@ enola, I don't think pinless peepers would work very well for my flock. Thanks for the suggestion though!

I will definitely need to get some Blu-Kote next time I go into town! Sounds like exactly what I need :D
 

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