bloody chicken

[cricket92283]

i got a younger chicken and put it in a small pen inside the larger pen with my other chickens . the playpen method to introduce the new chicken as I have read to do . but when I returned in the afternoon to feed . the older chickens had poked their heads in the small cage and had pecked the new chicken to a bloody mess . as I am new to all of this I didn't know what to do but bring her in the house and put tea tree oil on her as antiseptic . since tea tree oil is known for it healing properties . I will keep her by herself and treat her until she is better . I hope I am doing this right . I feel so bad for her . I have never had chickens before . any advice on this subject would really help I don't want this to happen again .

 

[Odelia]

Lets start with the how old is the chicken you are introducing? How old are the birds in
your flock and how large of a flock is it?

 

[cricket92283]

the young chicken has just gotten fully feathered . so don't know how old that would be . the older chickens have just gotten to about 21 weeks and have started them on laying feed . I have six leghorn hens .

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Adding a single bird to a flock will be rough, all of them are going to pick on her. They need to be close to the same size before being together.

Good luck and I hope the chick is alright

 

[TwoCrows]

Make sure when you are introducing a new bird that the new birds is the same size as the original flock. So at least 3 months old or so. Keep the new bird in an area or cage (one that no bird can stick their heads into) separated from the flock but within the flock. Everybody sees, no body touches. Leave this new birds in this area within the flock for about 3 weeks. This will give everybody time to work out the pecking order thru wire. In a few weeks, you can let this one mix with the flock. The aggressions should be minimal since this bird is no longer new. But keep a close eye on all of them for about a week to make sure it is not going to turn bad. And always intervene if it turns bloody. It is always easier to introduce more than one bird, but it can be done.

For now, use some blu-kote on the wounds or some sort of antibacterial meds or ointments on the wounds to prevent infection. And when the bird is nearly 3 months old, you can begin the mixing process. But give this time. They will not except her over a few days or a week. It takes a few weeks of seeing her before they can allow her within the flock.

Good luck with your baby and welcome to BYC!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - as others have said don't try integrating the new bird until she is as large as the rest of the flock. At that time start introducing them (least dominant first) to her on her home ground.

 

[gander007]