Bruising around head?

[Caudill9500]

Hi guys, first time posting. So I noticed yesterday that my 4mo old chicken has like a greenish color, like bruising around her head. Doesn't seem painful when I touch it, just doesn't want me to hold her head. Back story- we bought her at 2 weeks, was doing good and I had her and her sister inside, when we transitioned them outside, she developed URI, brought her in immediately and started electrolytes and eventually got antibiotics. Shes doing much better from that. The whole time she was sick she was eating and drinking fine. Still is eating and drinking fine. Stool looks good. She has been inside pretty much since she got sick about 2 months ago. Ive been introducing her outside during the days im off work and only during daylight hours and by herself and she does have shade while shes outside. Just wondering what this could be around her head? And its also almost like she also has some swelling under her beak, between her wattles and and wattles are also discolored. Color of body is pink and normal. Legs are a normal color but very warm. Thank you to anyone that can help. There's not any vets close to me that see birds.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

What breed is your cute little chick?

I'm just wondering if it's something to do with the breed of the chicken.

Do they get anything besides their chick crumbles?

Do you have mosquitoes where you are?

 

[Caudill9500]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

What breed is your cute little chick?

I'm just wondering if it's something to do with the breed of the chicken.

Do they get anything besides their chick crumbles?

Do you have mosquitoes where you are?

She is a Blue Laced Wyandotte. I still have her sister and 4 blue laced Wyandotte roosters that is younger. And they are all okay and look normal.

I give her millworms every once in a while. And we started giving regular chicken food (8% scratch) and stopped the chick feed about a month ago because she wasnt really interested in it and wasnt eating a whole lot. ( was giving medicated and tried un-medicated too but wasn't eating much)

We do but I haven't seen very many since its gotten cold. Im in Ky.

I have her in little brooder box, thats all I have for now, but a coworker is gonna let me borrow a bird cage since she's an inside chicken so she can have more room to move around. And still let her outside on the days im off and during daylight.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

And we started giving regular chicken food (8% scratch) and stopped the chick feed about a month ago because she wasnt really interested in it and wasnt eating a whole lot. ( was giving medicated and tried un-medicated too but wasn't eating much)

Welcome To BYC

Anytime I've seen any bruising like that on the face it was due to fighting/getting kicked in the head by another chicken.

See if the bruising starts to fade in a week or so.

I would feed her and the others a nutritionally balanced Chick Starter or All Flock feed (example Purina All Flock) that is 18-20% protein.
You can feed either of these all the life of the chicken if you wish, just provide oyster shell free choice at onset of lay.

8% Scratch is just that = scratch. It can be used as a treat a few times a week. It's not got enough protein to support a chicken and usually doesn't have any supplemental vitamins/minerals added either.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.

 

[Caudill9500]

Welcome To BYC

Anytime I've seen any bruising like that on the face it was due to fighting/getting kicked in the head by another chicken.

See if the bruising starts to fade in a week or so.

I would feed her and the others a nutritionally balanced Chick Starter or All Flock feed (example Purina All Flock) that is 18-20% protein.
You can feed either of these all the life of the chicken if you wish, just provide oyster shell free choice at onset of lay.

8% Scratch is just that = scratch. It can be used as a treat a few times a week. It's not got enough protein to support a chicken and usually doesn't have any supplemental vitamins/minerals added either.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.

Okay, we've noticed that she has been throwing herself around in the brooder box, im assuming because she wants out. Maybe she did it then. Because she hasn't been with any other chickens.

We'll switch her food and I'll keep an update as well on here.

Thank you guys!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay, we've noticed that she has been throwing herself around in the brooder box, im assuming because she wants out. Maybe she did it then. Because she hasn't been with any other chickens.

We'll switch her food and I'll keep an update as well on here.

Thank you guys!

Possible she's injuring herself then.

Can you cage/house her near the others so she can see them, that may help calm her down.
If she and her sister still get along, then you can try putting them together.
Sometimes when one has been separated out, it can be hard to integrate them into the flock (they get beat up or chased about).

 

[Debbie292d]

Okay, we've noticed that she has been throwing herself around in the brooder box, im assuming because she wants out. Maybe she did it then. Because she hasn't been with any other chickens.

We'll switch her food and I'll keep an update as well on here.

Thank you guys!

When you said you only had her sister, that's why I discounted it being bruising from another chicken and tried to find other reasons. I asked about mosquitoes, as I read fowl pox can sometimes start out like that, so just keep an eye on it. It would turn to scabs if it were.

She definitely has to be on chick feed or all-flock. You can make it more enticing by adding water to it so it looks like a mash. I do this all the time for ours, and they chow down on it as if it were going to be their last meal.

Hopefully, in a few days she'll look much better!

 

[Caudill9500]

Possible she's injuring herself then.

Can you cage/house her near the others so she can see them, that may help calm her down.
If she and her sister still get along, then you can try putting them together.
Sometimes when one has been separated out, it can be hard to integrate them into the flock (they get beat up or chased about).

I've put her sister with her, and watched them and she never bothered her. I never left them alone because I didnt want her to get hurt.

Since she's been in the house, she watches/listens for me. She's very attached to me. I've been putting a light weight towel over the box to keep her from seeing me because she doesn't stop throwing herself around when she notices me.