5 week old pecked badly

Hi, an update and more questions.

My little legbar is drinking and eating a little bit on her own. She still is in shock, though, just standing still or sitting. I'm hoping she will improve soon. I'm still using just saline and triple antibiotic.

I checked on the other 4 chicks to see if there were any new injuries and I think I have identified the culprit. 3 of the others had feather damage on their necks, broken feathers, but no broken skin. The 4th is the biggest chick, a Welsummer. No damage to her neck. Proactively, I sprayed blu-kote on the other three, to try to discourage more pecking. Should I remove the bully from the brooder? I know Welsummers are autosex, but I am worried it's a roo. No idea how to tell the difference at this age.

Suggestions? Thanks, this forum has been a life saver (literally!)
She's crested so may be suffering from some brain trauma as well.
I would add 400 IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex to daily routine for a week.
If I give vitamins and a bird is not eating/drinking well, then I dissolve the vitamins in a very small amount of water and syringe it into the bird. That way I know they get them and don't rely on them eating.

Looking back at your first post - you have 5 five week old in a 36sq ft space that includes 2 roosts and swing. I assume water/feed also are housed in this space as well.
Giving them more room may solve your picking/aggression problem. I know there's a "4sqft Rule" but that really is a suggestion. More is better. I'm sure you know this with your having adults - they can get cranky and on each other's nerves - 5 week olds, get on each other's nerves too. I've never found separation to settle a bully as a solution unless it's permanent separation. A top bird/confident/strong bird is always going to be top regardless of how long they are separated. At least that's my experience and I have tried it more than once. Space has been a solution for me - that or culling. Sometimes having birds that are not compatible personality wise can also be an issue. I like having a mixed flock like everyone else, but usually don't put mild mannered breeds with stronger willed breeds (in confinement) - it can create a lot of drama.

Photos of how they are housed and the set-up may be helpful.

Pullets can be as aggressive as cockerels at that age - aggression doesn't always mean it's a male.
 
Hi, an update and more questions.

My little legbar is drinking and eating a little bit on her own. She still is in shock, though, just standing still or sitting. I'm hoping she will improve soon. I'm still using just saline and triple antibiotic.

I checked on the other 4 chicks to see if there were any new injuries and I think I have identified the culprit. 3 of the others had feather damage on their necks, broken feathers, but no broken skin. The 4th is the biggest chick, a Welsummer. No damage to her neck. Proactively, I sprayed blu-kote on the other three, to try to discourage more pecking. Should I remove the bully from the brooder? I know Welsummers are autosex, but I am worried it's a roo. No idea how to tell the difference at this age.

Suggestions? Thanks, this forum has been a life saver (literally!)
I'm glad you found the bully! I agree with the previous post about separating the bully only seems to work as long as it's separate. Yes more room is better too. But I would start by putting the bully with birds of the same breed (if you have any?)

Also, I learned this from the 101yr old chicken lady of this farm where I live... She didn't use Blu-Kote for the blood spots ... she used plain white flour... she just put about a teaspoon on the blood spots. She said the flour is like an eraser for the blood so the chick or pullet now looks to be all the same color.

I always used Blu-Kote sometimes it solves the pecking & sometimes not ... but at least it promotes healing

So this past spring I raised about 100 chicks ... and had a littke bit of a pecking problem in the bins... so instead of trying to find the bully(s) ... I pulled victims and put them in their own 2 bins.

I tried using the Blu-Kote only on 1 bin of victims & on another bin I used Blu-Kote and white flour...
The pecking stopped completely on the bin I used Blu-Kote & flour!

Below is a pic of the boys barn.... but heres the bins I'm talking about.... there's 3 in this part of the barn
20210801_080547.jpg
 
I'm glad you found the bully! I agree with the previous post about separating the bully only seems to work as long as it's separate. Yes more room is better too. But I would start by putting the bully with birds of the same breed (if you have any?)

Also, I learned this from the 101yr old chicken lady of this farm where I live... She didn't use Blu-Kote for the blood spots ... she used plain white flour... she just put about a teaspoon on the blood spots. She said the flour is like an eraser for the blood so the chick or pullet now looks to be all the same color.

I always used Blu-Kote sometimes it solves the pecking & sometimes not ... but at least it promotes healing

So this past spring I raised about 100 chicks ... and had a littke bit of a pecking problem in the bins... so instead of trying to find the bully(s) ... I pulled victims and put them in their own 2 bins.

I tried using the Blu-Kote only on 1 bin of victims & on another bin I used Blu-Kote and white flour...
The pecking stopped completely on the bin I used Blu-Kote & flour!

Below is a pic of the boys barn.... but heres the bins I'm talking about.... there's 3 in this part of the barn
View attachment 2808731
I'm glad you found the bully! I agree with the previous post about separating the bully only seems to work as long as it's separate. Yes more room is better too. But I would start by putting the bully with birds of the same breed (if you have any?)

Also, I learned this from the 101yr old chicken lady of this farm where I live... She didn't use Blu-Kote for the blood spots ... she used plain white flour... she just put about a teaspoon on the blood spots. She said the flour is like an eraser for the blood so the chick or pullet now looks to be all the same color.

I always used Blu-Kote sometimes it solves the pecking & sometimes not ... but at least it promotes healing

So this past spring I raised about 100 chicks ... and had a littke bit of a pecking problem in the bins... so instead of trying to find the bully(s) ... I pulled victims and put them in their own 2 bins.

I tried using the Blu-Kote only on 1 bin of victims & on another bin I used Blu-Kote and white flour...
The pecking stopped completely on the bin I used Blu-Kote & flour!

Below is a pic of the boys barn.... but heres the bins I'm talking about.... there's 3 in this part of the barn
View attachment 2808731
Thanks everyone - immensely helpful. Another update - after holding her for half an hour wrapped in a heating pad, she just came alive. She has eaten an entire scrambled egg. She is drinking. I am giving her only rooster booster, which includes all the recommended vitamins as well as electrolytes. I am considering putting the cat crate inside the coop tonight or tomorrow so she can feel close to her sisters. What do you think? The wound is still looking clean and moist. I am only using neosporin at the moment and cleaning with saline. If I put her out there I will put Blu-kote on her.

im hoping for the best. Attaching some photos of the coop (they are in the smaller one on the right and I let them down beneath the coop during the day.
Also photos of the bully. It’s a Welsummer. Supposed to be a hen, please correct me if it isn’t
 

Attachments

  • C5B470F7-8006-4C41-B0D1-69E89183002C.jpeg
    C5B470F7-8006-4C41-B0D1-69E89183002C.jpeg
    849.1 KB · Views: 11
  • 3A15A2BA-6A6B-45CF-9437-DF4F8F1B9C68.jpeg
    3A15A2BA-6A6B-45CF-9437-DF4F8F1B9C68.jpeg
    516.4 KB · Views: 14
  • 5173A165-28D7-4BA8-9CE2-1900F7038DAD.jpeg
    5173A165-28D7-4BA8-9CE2-1900F7038DAD.jpeg
    478.3 KB · Views: 14
Thanks everyone - immensely helpful. Another update - after holding her for half an hour wrapped in a heating pad, she just came alive. She has eaten an entire scrambled egg. She is drinking. I am giving her only rooster booster, which includes all the recommended vitamins as well as electrolytes. I am considering putting the cat crate inside the coop tonight or tomorrow so she can feel close to her sisters. What do you think? The wound is still looking clean and moist. I am only using neosporin at the moment and cleaning with saline. If I put her out there I will put Blu-kote on her.

im hoping for the best. Attaching some photos of the coop (they are in the smaller one on the right and I let them down beneath the coop during the day.
Also photos of the bully. It’s a Welsummer. Supposed to be a hen, please correct me if it isn’t
 
Thanks everyone - immensely helpful. Another update - after holding her for half an hour wrapped in a heating pad, she just came alive. She has eaten an entire scrambled egg. She is drinking. I am giving her only rooster booster, which includes all the recommended vitamins as well as electrolytes. I am considering putting the cat crate inside the coop tonight or tomorrow so she can feel close to her sisters. What do you think? The wound is still looking clean and moist. I am only using neosporin at the moment and cleaning with saline. If I put her out there I will put Blu-kote on her.

im hoping for the best. Attaching some photos of the coop (they are in the smaller one on the right and I let them down beneath the coop during the day.
Also photos of the bully. It’s a Welsummer. Supposed to be a hen, please correct me if it isn’t
One more
 

Attachments

  • 90910190-E268-40EF-8982-DF833AA4F6F8.jpeg
    90910190-E268-40EF-8982-DF833AA4F6F8.jpeg
    443.4 KB · Views: 12
Such a cutie, and I LOVE that group shot! :) It sounds like she might have come out of shock then, which is great news!

The cat crate is ok to put in the coop so she can still be with the flock. Will she be able to see them? If she's isolated, I'd stick with the neosporin and not deal with the mess of Blu-Kote. Though it's got antiseptic properties, the blue color and the mix with anti-biotic ointment will likely create more mess than you want to deal with. @Wyorp Rock will likely have a better suggestion though.

Me? I'd save the Blu-Kote for after she re-integrates with the rest fully to prevent them from being able to see her featherless head - yeah, it will likely be without feathers for a while... :-(
 
Thanks everyone - immensely helpful. Another update - after holding her for half an hour wrapped in a heating pad, she just came alive. She has eaten an entire scrambled egg. She is drinking. I am giving her only rooster booster, which includes all the recommended vitamins as well as electrolytes. I am considering putting the cat crate inside the coop tonight or tomorrow so she can feel close to her sisters. What do you think? The wound is still looking clean and moist. I am only using neosporin at the moment and cleaning with saline. If I put her out there I will put Blu-kote on her.

im hoping for the best. Attaching some photos of the coop (they are in the smaller one on the right and I let them down beneath the coop during the day.
Also photos of the bully. It’s a Welsummer. Supposed to be a hen, please correct me if it isn’t
Such cute little ladies in the middle pic! 😍
 
Such a cutie, and I LOVE that group shot! :) It sounds like she might have come out of shock then, which is great news!

The cat crate is ok to put in the coop so she can still be with the flock. Will she be able to see them? If she's isolated, I'd stick with the neosporin and not deal with the mess of Blu-Kote. Though it's got antiseptic properties, the blue color and the mix with anti-biotic ointment will likely create more mess than you want to deal with. @Wyorp Rock will likely have a better suggestion though.

Me? I'd save the Blu-Kote for after she re-integrates with the rest fully to prevent them from being able to see her featherless head - yeah, it will likely be without feathers for a while... :-(
Good call on the Blu Kote. The group shot is a couple of weeks old. It was the first day they flew up to the roost pole - the cutest. Any thoughts on my perpetrator? Is she a female Welsummer? Please say yes!
 
Good call on the Blu Kote. The group shot is a couple of weeks old. It was the first day they flew up to the roost pole - the cutest. Any thoughts on my perpetrator? Is she a female Welsummer? Please say yes!
I figured that had to be an older photo.
Negative on the sex; I'm not even that good with breeds I'm familiar with... :-(
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom