Chick ripped off her own skin

[Noobchick]

This is a new one on me. Has anyone ever had this happen?!

I had to separate a 9 week old chick from the flock of 50+. They had been recovering from coccidiosis. She is and always has been smaller than the others. Not sure why; maybe bottom of the pecking order?

She didn't seem to be recovering as well as the others, so I brought her inside and put her in a topless box with plastic chicken netting on a frame over it. She's still thin and doesn't seem to be eating much.

When I checked on her this morning, I found a bunch of feathers in a corner of the box. They were connected to a patch of skin, blood dried up!! I checked her over and it looks like she tore a patch of her own skin off. I assume by grooming?!

The wound had already dried over by the time I got to it. I cleaned it as best I could with warm water, and am going to keep her inside till she regrows the skin.

I'm just stunned. Anyone ever had this issue?! What kind of illness could cause this? Is it just because she's so thin?

 

[ten chicks]

This is a new one on me. Has anyone ever had this happen?!

I had to separate a 9 week old chick from the flock of 50+. They had been recovering from coccidiosis. She is and always has been smaller than the others. Not sure why; maybe bottom of the pecking order?

She didn't seem to be recovering as well as the others, so I brought her inside and put her in a topless box with plastic chicken netting on a frame over it. She's still thin and doesn't seem to be eating much.

When I checked on her this morning, I found a bunch of feathers in a corner of the box. They were connected to a patch of skin, blood dried up!! I checked her over and it looks like she tore a patch of her own skin off. I assume by grooming?!

The wound had already dried over by the time I got to it. I cleaned it as best I could with warm water, and am going to keep her inside till she regrows the skin.

I'm just stunned. Anyone ever had this issue?! What kind of illness could cause this? Is it just because she's so thin?

Yes,cannibalism in chickens can be a problem. Usually a result of boredom,no stimulation in her environment. What kind of bedding is she on? You could try sand,gives them something to peck at,also provides grit if eating anything else. What is she eating? Bring in another chick,she is lonely. Do you give her any treats?

 

[Noobchick]

They'll cannibilize themselves if they're bored?!

She's on pine shavings, I can give her grit, though she's not eating anything that requires it right now. I can try giving her something else.

I can't bring in another chick at this point-- it would peck at her wound, even if I coated it with Blu-Kote. Not to mention that if this bird is still sick, I don't want her infecting another of the flock.

Any other ideas?

 

[ten chicks]

They'll cannibilize themselves if they're bored?!

She's on pine shavings, I can give her grit, though she's not eating anything that requires it right now. I can try giving her something else.

I can't bring in another chick at this point-- it would peck at her wound, even if I coated it with Blu-Kote. Not to mention that if this bird is still sick, I don't want her infecting another of the flock.

Any other ideas?

Yes they will,not all chickens,but some do. You need to give her some stimulation in her environment. Does she have anything to roost on? Try adding warm water to her feed(so it resembles oatmeal,chicks love this) or cooked scrambled egg. She wouldn't infect other chicks if they have all been treated for cocci. What feed is she on?

 

[Noobchick]

She has a perch now, but won't use it. I've been giving her mush feed like you described. She didn't ever eat much of it, but isn't interested in it at all now. I've made her scrambled eggs for the last week and she's been eating it but today doesn't seem interested in it. I've given her small pieces of apple and small pieces of watermelon in the last week. (Apple or watermelon, one piece a day.). Today she'll eat the apple, but not much.

I don't think she has cocci; I just have no idea what she DOES have. She's always been smaller than the other chicks, and has always puffed up like she's in pain, tail down. (the other chicks are 3-4 times her size, even the ones that are her breed, Welsummer.) None of the other chicks have acted like her, ever, which is why I'm reluctant to put a healthy bird in with her for company. A rooster will be too aggressive at this point. (They're all 11 weeks old now) And I don't want to take the chance of losing another pullet. Would a feather duster help?

She's wasting away. Could it be Marek's??

 

[brairgirl]

I am sorry I can't help you but hope you figure it out!

 

[ten chicks]

She has a perch now, but won't use it. I've been giving her mush feed like you described. She didn't ever eat much of it, but isn't interested in it at all now. I've made her scrambled eggs for the last week and she's been eating it but today doesn't seem interested in it. I've given her small pieces of apple and small pieces of watermelon in the last week. (Apple or watermelon, one piece a day.). Today she'll eat the apple, but not much.

I don't think she has cocci; I just have no idea what she DOES have. She's always been smaller than the other chicks, and has always puffed up like she's in pain, tail down. (the other chicks are 3-4 times her size, even the ones that are her breed, Welsummer.) None of the other chicks have acted like her, ever, which is why I'm reluctant to put a healthy bird in with her for company. A rooster will be too aggressive at this point. (They're all 11 weeks old now) And I don't want to take the chance of losing another pullet. Would a feather duster help?

She's wasting away. Could it be Marek's??

What medication did you use to treat her for Coccidiosis? You didn't by chance use Sulmet? She has grit? Have you tried giving her something like Nurti drench?

 

[mg15]

She has a perch now, but won't use it. I've been giving her mush feed like you described. She didn't ever eat much of it, but isn't interested in it at all now. I've made her scrambled eggs for the last week and she's been eating it but today doesn't seem interested in it. I've given her small pieces of apple and small pieces of watermelon in the last week. (Apple or watermelon, one piece a day.). Today she'll eat the apple, but not much.

I don't think she has cocci; I just have no idea what she DOES have. She's always been smaller than the other chicks, and has always puffed up like she's in pain, tail down. (the other chicks are 3-4 times her size, even the ones that are her breed, Welsummer.) None of the other chicks have acted like her, ever, which is why I'm reluctant to put a healthy bird in with her for company. A rooster will be too aggressive at this point. (They're all 11 weeks old now) And I don't want to take the chance of losing another pullet. Would a feather duster help?

She's wasting away. Could it be Marek's??

If I had this situation, I would feed her by a syringe. Baby food, mixed with her feed. And I would just keep at her feeding. As much as I could get down at a sitting. She needs food and hydration. If you could tube feed her that would be the best. But I am supposing you would have to use a syringe and just go back to her every twenty minutes for the start to get her hydrated and nutrition.