Blu-kote backfired - help! (pics added)

[pollysmum]

This is a site that has the Blue Cote spray

http://www.horsesuppliesdirect.com.au/prod409.htm

True Blue II spray is a medicated lotion that gives instant relief to stubborn chafes, skin abrasions, saddle or harness galls. True Blue Spray is quick drying, penetrates with antiseptic and antifungal qualities.

Directions for Use:
Spray affected area by depressing spray pump firmly. No applicator necessary. Repeat daily, or twice daily until healing is complete.

There is absolutely nothing in it that will contaminate the birds flesh or eggs

***

Regarding your problem with the pecking of the bird

When you say she was wet... how much did you put on her, they may have been pecking her because she was wet

How long was she away from the flock

And the fact that they were already attacking her to remove her beard by pecking indicates they have some sort of vendetta against her

Is she a different color to the other birds
What is so different with her from the others, many birds will attack a bird they feel isn't like them, or they don't like the color of her feathers

If they were attacking her before and now attacking her even worse then you may have to isolate her into a separate enclosure to live you life out, and maybe get some other birds that are like her

 

[karmical]

All good info and questions Pollysmum! (I don't feel so worried about the eggs now, so thanks for that

)

The affected bird is a Salmon Faverolle and the rest are Rocks and Australorps...there's one other SF in the bunch and the two of them EACH get their beards pecked by the others. One of the SFs has a problem with her beard ALWAYS being wet (just from the way she drinks water), and this has been ongoing, not new with the blu-kote. BUT, the blu-kote applied to the bald patches and surrouding beard feathers, rather than hiding the difference as I'd hoped, seems to have brought it to greater attention.

She was only away from the flock for about 6 hours today in an attempt to clean her up and dry her off (to no avail). I put her back at roosting time with no incident and will check her in the AM before the sun comes up to observe how she's received (take-2) in the daylight with the blue beard!

I wonder if I trim her beard and she looks more like the others, maybe the picking will lessen? OR, let them pick her beard, and she'll just look like a naked neck

Amazing how we can care so much about these birds!! Thanks

 

[dlhunicorn]

once the majority of the flock have singled out a couple for bullying it may not allways be resolvable... you may have to separate them.

 

[sammi]

I agree...separate the 2 from the others.
if you're able to do it..get a few others.

 

[flakey chick]

Or you could try the approach from "The Sneetches". Give a good number of your flock a dabbing with the blue kote. It could become the in thing. Ok maybe not such a good idea if you might want to eat your birds.

 

[HappyVol]

Just thought I would throw in a hint here, my goatmilk soap removes
blu-kote from skin. I am not sure if it is the goatmilk or the lye.

 

[Cara]

Are you using Blu-Kote itself, or True Blue II that pollysmum referred to, or another blue product?

The packaging for Blu-Kote states:

CAUTION

FOR EXTERNAL VETERINARY USE ONLY. USE ONLY AS DIRECTED.

Avoid contact with eyes, mouth, nostrils and mucous membranes.

DO NOT USE ON CATS

Prevent dogs from licking treated area.

If redness, irritation, or swelling persists or increases, discontinue use and consult veterinarian. In case of serious burns, deep or puncture wounds, consult veterinarian.

Not for use on food-producing animals.

Avoid Inhalation.

FOR ANIMAL USE ONLY

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

 

[karmical]

Thanks again for the suggestions everyone

Separating them isn't an option at this point, unfortunately.

I ordered the "RoosterBooster" just now and hope that'll help. I only dabbed the blu-kote on with a Q-tip the one time, and then rinsed it, so I'm hoping there wasn't "active ingredient" enough there to worry about with her eggs. (It was blu-kote and not "True Blue II").

When I went down this AM at 6:00 to watch them start the day, they weren't going after her like they were yesterday. My other SF's beard is now more like a goatee though

I really think it's a boredom issue. I hung a green cage with some acorn squash in it down there to see if that helps and will try the melon idea today too along with some scrambled eggs, etc....still waiting for the AviaCharge200 to arrive from Strombergs.

Happy New Year

 

[pollysmum]

I think you'll find its the breed of the bird... they are very docile and other birds attack the more docile ones... and the other birds you have are quite aggressive birds..

If it gets worse you may have to give them to somebody else with the same birds and visit them... better than have them pecked half to death.

Once blood is drawn the others won't stop pecking and it won't matter where they draw the blood, head, neck, vent, back, the others will peck to the bone if left unchecked even for a short period of time

Remember chickens are raptors, as the name suggests, meat eaters.

 

[karmical]

Well...there hasn't been any blood so far, so my fingers are crossed that I can get the Rooster Booster on them before this escalates and the picking will stop. Right now it's just that the beard feathers are being plucked and eaten. The two Salmon Faverolles will even pick at each OTHER'S beards.

I'm hesitant to bring them into the house for any extended period of time (I do still have a crate set up and ready if things should get worse though). Don't want to have to "reintroduce" them...worried that might be even worse for them. The weird thing is, they don't even seem to mind getting plucked! I guess that's their docile nature.

In the research I did before choosing the breeds I chose, I didn't read any information that suggested Rocks and/or Australorps are aggressive breeds at all, so I'm surprised this is happening. They've always been very kind to one another. It just started happening now that they're finally laying.