Blu-Kote reintroduction of chicks

[bakerjw]

I have 4 4 week old chicks that had some issues with pecking from other chicks. It led to the point where I put them in the hospital and started treatment with some antibiotic cream and Blu-Kote. I tiik the best healed one and put it back in the outdoor run that the chicks are using to see how it would be treated with the blue on the treated areas. It became very clear that the other chicks were obsessed with the different color on the feathers of the one I was reintroducing.

Any tips for reintroduction?

 

[Captain Cluck]

Can you wait until they are completely healed and then use some vodka and try washing the chicks in vodka. Maybe the stain from the gentian violet will come off the feathers.

Or dye the entire chick purple (a little blu-kote in water and bathe the chicks in it, then hair dryer on warm?) to make them all one color and maybe less likely to be pecked at?

If those things don't work, or you don't want to do them (I totally understand - who wants drunken purple chickens?) then I would separate them where they could see each other but not peck each other until they get their new feathers, or until the other chicks lose interest in the purple feathers.

Edited to add: The reason I suggest washing with vodka is the alcohol removes the dye... You wouldn't want to use rubbing alcohol on a chick. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after washing with Vodka - don't want them too tipsy!