Blood from pecking?

[rjkold]

Just wondering what I should do for my poor Paris. She has been loosing feathers on her neck, I'm assuming from pecking or molting. Saw blood this AM. I've moved her into her own pen but for how long? Should she be in the coop at night or keep her by herself? Do I clean the wound?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Do you have blukote?

 

[coach723]

Do you have a rooster/cockerel? Looks like possibly damage from a roo grabbing to hang on while mounting. The blood will draw pecking by others. Flush it out with sterile saline, chlorhexidine (hibiclens) or diluted betadine and then apply plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment. It should heal up fine as long as it doesn't keep happening. If it's not a roo doing it then this bird may be getting picked on/bullied and feather picked. Once the bleeding stops and it's not red, then you can put her back with the others, just make sure they leave it alone. If a roo did this, then I would separate him. If hens are doing this, then you may have a crowding problem, or a bully.

 

[rjkold]

No rooster. She gets picked on and she does her fair share of picking on others. So keep her by herself until bleeding is gone? Even in a separate coop?

 

[coach723]

I would keep her in a wire crate in the run with the others until she is safe enough from having it reopened. That way she can still see and be seen by the others, but be safe. It will make reintegrating her easier.
How many birds in how much space? This is often what happens when there is not enough space. The standard space recommendations are a minimum starting place and actual flock dynamics can make a big difference. What is enough space for one group may be much to small for another. One dominant or aggressive bird can make it too small. I would consider adding more space for them, that may help prevent this in the future.

 

[rjkold]

Do you have blukote?

I do not but will get some. Thanks.

 

[rjkold]

I would keep her in a wire crate in the run with the others until she is safe enough from having it reopened. That way she can still see and be seen by the others, but be safe. It will make reintegrating her easier.
How many birds in how much space? This is often what happens when there is not enough space. The standard space recommendations are a minimum starting place and actual flock dynamics can make a big difference. What is enough space for one group may be much to small for another. One dominant or aggressive bird can make it too small. I would consider adding more space for them, that may help prevent this in the future.

Thanks. I think the space is open enough. I cleanedher wound and put neosporinon it and noticed she was picking at the spot. I'm wonderingif she did this on her own? She is molting too.

 

[coach723]

I doubt she did it on her own, but is probably trying to clean it up and the feathers around it. They usually leave them alone, but if she is really picking at the wound you may need to try to use a cone to keep her off it til it dries up and heals some. I've seen them made out of the top of a small milk jug. I would not leave her unsupervised if you have to do that. Hopefully she will let it be.