Bleeding feather in 3 week old baby chick what to do?

[ridgerosefarm]

Hi guys! I am new to chickens, and my baby chicks are just over 3 weeks old. I noticed my splash orpington is bleeding and the other chicks wouldnt stop pecking at her. Poor thing. I scooped her out and we tried to clean her up a little. Because the blood seemed to have dried at the feather, we were afraid to remove it for fear of it maybe bleeding again. The brooder is still in the house, but I am not sure how long she's bee dealing with this. The blood spot on her back also has missing fuzz where you can see her skin, so I am just not sure what to expect? Can you please help. Right now she is in the cardboard box we used as their original brooder. They outgrew it a week ago, and got an upgrade in size. I would like to just isolate her in their current brooder, but it isn't really big enough for that.

I'm wondering how this happened. Did one of them just peck her poor feather? I have noticed one of my lavendars seems to be off character this afternoon and is randomly going aroung pecking at the other chicks. I am thinking she might be bored?

Can you please help me, I feel so helpless!

-jess

 

[Punkybrewster]

This is what i would do.
I wouldnt separate quite yet. It can be a problem reintroducing. Get some Bluecote at the farm store and apply. Until then, you can use bacitracin or vaseline with a couple of drops of food coloring mixed in and apply it to the wounds. The other birds are attracted to the red blood and will keep pecking at the wound and make it worse. The blue dye hides the red.

If you feel you really need to remove, find out which chick is the pecking culprit, she needs to be the one removed.

Only suggestions.
This has worked for me in this situation.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Also, how big is your brooder. If they dont have enough room, they can begin pecking at eachother out of boredom and stress.

 

[ridgerosefarm]

Thank you so much for your advice I really appreciate it. We just got her cleaned up. So it is okay to leave this bloody feather in? I had read that it needs to be removed or it will keep bleeding. But this was never mentioned in reference to a baby chick. I dont think I have any dye. I'm going to try to find something. I do have blue acrylic paint. I would hate for the others to ingest it though?

 

[Punkybrewster]

Hmm. I would leave it unless it starts bleeding again then remove it. Hopefully someone who has had this similar issue with a bleeding feather will come along and give better advice.
I never thought of arcrylic paint. I wonder if that would work with vaseline until you get something proper. Not sure.
Would I personally try it? Yes. Hide that blood. I do know chickens dont like the taste of ointment.

 

[50-45-1]

What are you using to supply heat to your chicks?

 

[ridgerosefarm]

The brooder is

Hmm. I would leave it unless it starts bleeding again then remove it. Hopefully someone who has had this similar issue with a bleeding feather will come along and give better advice.
I never thought of arcrylic paint. I wonder if that would work with vaseline until you get something proper. Not sure.
Would I personally try it? Yes. Hide that blood. I do know chickens dont like the taste of ointment.

I really can't thank you enough for your quick replies. I remembered I had a natural nail polish in a gray color. It still stinks... but seems like it covered it fairly well. I think I found the chick to blame... ( my easter egger that I have been worried might be a rooster) and have now noticed a few other chicks with blood on the tips of their feathers. Nothing like this sweet chick though. I reintroduced her and so far so good. How long should I be keeping the problem chick separate?

 

[Punkybrewster]

A few hours at least. He will be noisy too i bet. This may not solve the problem though. But its worth a try. If he persists drawing blood from the other chicks then you may need to think of a more permanent solution.

 

[Eggcessive]

If the feather is bleeding, it can be plucked out with a pair of pliers and the bleeding should stop. Blood feathers may keep bleeding until they are removed. Let us know how it goes after you remove it.

 

[50-45-1]

I ask about the heat source because if it is a lamp, you can use a red bulb that will mask any red on your chicks.
Also i second the fact that if they are overcrouded or to hot a temperature it can worsen the pecking problem.
They should have pleanty of room and the brooder should be big enough that the food and water are at a cooler section of the enclosure. This will let the chicks self adjust to cooler temps and triger feather growth.