California White with Purple face... Can I use alcohol on feathers?

[PDXModChick]

So I thought everything was going along fine... Everyone has been happy and healthy and then I come home from the grocery store to fine one of my girls getting pecked in the face.

It was really hot today and I suspect she was scratching at her face to try and cool off, yes I have dust bath and fans running, or that she had an ichy face and accidentally scratched too hard. There were blood drops in the coop and only mild pecking from my RIR's and Black sex link. The other California is her best buddy and they don't seem to bother eachother...

Anyway, in my panic I grabbed the blu-kote spayed some on a q-tip and put it on her face. Now I have added to the problem because her face is now totally obvious and she cannot hide it.

So she is in the laundry room right now in the old broody box.

How do I fix this so I can return her to the flock as quickly as possible? Should I spray blu-kote on other areas of her to distract the birds from her face?

I will be moving her into the tractor tomorrow so she can listen to and talk to the others.

I HAVE ADDED THIS QUESTION... I WAS READING HOW TO REMOVE GENITIAN VIOLET AND SAW THAT ON BABIES YOU CAN USE ALCOHOL TO REMOVE FROM THIER FACE. WILL THAT WORK ON FEATHERS? OR WILL IT BURN MY BIRD?

 

[threehorses]

I don' tknow if that stuff ever wears off, either. I had a friend who used it for picking and, when she put it on, found it was more purple than blue and that it didn't really help tons.

I'd just see if keeping her separate for a day would help. Next time, try to just stop the bleeding with Cornstarch and pressure (if it's just a scratch) and then release her back with her buddies. A little neosporin works, too.

But of course I know as well as you do about how they get fascinated with something - anything different - and want to see if it's edible. /sigh

I hope she's ok in the morning, poor dear. I'm afraid painting her in other places might just make them pull her feathers.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

I have used generic triple antibiotic ointment on my chickens and it worked well. Good luck!

 

[PDXModChick]

Thank you for your reply! You are always so helpful.

You know that thought you have just as your about to hit your hand with a hammer, or just after? Thats me right now... I cannot believe I put that blu-kote on her face! She's doing fine and resting well. She's trying to sleep but I know she misses the flock. She has however liked the extra attention

I feel like such a Doh! You know like when Homer Simpson does something stupid... yeah that's me...

I'm going to try and wash a bit of the dye off tomorrow or the next day, I am also going to put some neosporin on as well since she scratches her wound once in a while.

I hope that will work...

Note to all and self.............. Do not use Blu-kote on faces!!!!! Neosporin and separate!!!!!

 

[threehorses]

You know what's sad and silly - I was sitting here thinking "How can we paint that purple chicken white" and the first thought I thought was...

White out.

PLEASE no one do this! LOL But it just came up in my poor need-to-go-to-bed-brain.

You know, don't worry about it - what is the thing people tell you to do to prevent picking? "Well coat that with blue-coat!".

Guess we both know better now! /wink

Night!

 

[PDXModChick]

Quote:
Funny thing is I was thinking the same thing... and yes it is late...

I will add this to the list of things I've learned and will most likely be a chapter in my book.....

Thanks again! And good night to you as well!!!

 

[PDXModChick]

Well, we tried to wash some of the blu-kote off... No luck!

Please help me think of something!!! If you can... Purple faced chicken...

 

[PDXModChick]

She is in the house right now since my mom thought it would be fun for her. She's enjoyed exploring such a big new place! She'll be going out to the tractor in a few minutes...

 

[PDXModChick]

Okay... So we found out what started the whole thing, or at least I think I know....

She has a broken middle toe nail... it looks like it was the original source of blood. When she was scratching her face, she got blood all over it so the other birds were pecking her face... Then her face had all of those little peck marks and blood from that...

Its amazing what can happen in a matter of two hours...

Now I've got a tele addict... She's managed to find the highest point in the living room...

 

[Attack Chicken]

Looks like you will have a house chicken for awhile