3 wk old bloody??

[MemphisMel]

We now have six baby chicks, all about 3 weeks old. They were, and five still are, in a Christmas tree box/make do brooder. They have a heat lamp, window screens across the top to keep them in, oil free wood shavings, starter/grower crumbles, and water. I just checked on them and our leghorn has a bloody stump with tail feathers that are just broken off. They look like straws coming out of her behind and her rump is bloody. I have sprayed her tail feather area with a spray that our vet had us use on our cat when she got fixed. It's benzalkonium chloride and lidocaine hydrochloride. It's an antiseptic and anesthetic. I also took another box and made her her own separate brooder. What else do I need to do? I have some clean play sand here and I could cook some eggs. Should I do that? Does sand work for 3 week olds as grit? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Teach97]

sounds like you are doing okay....I wouldn't worry about the eggs...but iff ya do sand will work

 

[Love my Critters!]

If you are feeding starter they don't need grit. The other chicks are picking on her and pulling her feathers. Keep her seperated. I wouldn't put her in sand. Put her in shavings. If I remember correctly any ointment with "caine" in it is deadly to chickens. Hopefully someone else will chime in here soon.

 

[kassy68]

white birds? I had that exact same problem with my white rocks when they were babies (2 of them).. I put white diaper cream on them first to cover up the bloody area and then ran out to get a spray/bottle of BLU-KOTE at any farm store.. yellow can or pump bottle.. about 6 bucks.. its very purple and the other birds doing the pecking don't like the taste of it.. They had purple butts for along time.. but no more pecking.. I never seperated.. wanted to try the blu-kote before I had to make another brooder and pull them.. it worked its the best I got for ya..

PS... Ive recently used it on my roos foot.. noticed a very swollen foot and ankle.. thought bumble foot and it was a splinter , I pulled itout and whoila.. within a week swelling was gone an he was walking on it in a couple days.

Also used it on my RIR with bumble foot.. she's still here 9 mths later..

 

[MemphisMel]

Thanks for the info. I washed her behind off after reading that about the "caine" drugs. I gave her a new box with new shavings, just in case any of the spray had gotten in her box or shavings. She is sleeping now. I hope she gets better soon. She has a terrific personality. I'll get her some Blue-Kote tomorrow while I'm out and about. Thanks for the help.