Chick caught in fence...

[WIchickens]

So today was interesting.

I have 30 freedom ranger in a brooder...3 weeks old. I know, that totally need to be outside. They are moving out there this weekend. Anyways, when I go to feed them, they get all flighty. I have a metal fence like grate on top of the brooder to keep them in. One jumped straight up and got stuck in one of the holes! After a little work, I was able to pry her loose, but she did bang up her wing pretty good.

So I took her out and out her in her own pen to recover. I could see an obvious injury through her feathers but she did bleed a bit. I have never had a chicken injury before! Do I just wash her up and watch her? How long before I put her back with the herd?

I just don't want the others to go after her with the fresh wound.

 

[Eggcessive]

Cleaning the wound with betadine or hibiclens would be good. Apply some plain antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. Separate her until the wound is healing. Iodine or BluKote can hide the wounds, although some report that the Blukote increases pecking sometimes. I've had good luck with it, and a red brooder lamp helps to prevent pecking.