cut on head of 9 week old pullet

[HayleyBeth!]

One of our 9 week old babies got pecked by a bigger hen, and we are unsure what to do.

Note the 9 week olds (there are 3) are usually separate from the older hens. Today we allowed one to meet the newer hens and we think she got the little one.

We know to keep the hens separate but don't know how to treat the injury. Do we need to separate her until it heals from the others her age? Should we bandage it or leave it alone?

Thank you for your help

 

[Welshies]

You can give it some antibiotic if you'd like. If it is below 20 degrees F where you are then you can apply some medical tape.
To prevent this in the future keep the chicks in sight of the hens and slowly integrate them.
My 9 chicks were hen brooded and at 4 weeks integrated smoothly into the flock but unfortunately accidents do happen, one of mine has a broken leg right now.

 

[The Phantom]

Keep it clean and put Red Kote on it. Keep her separate.

 

[microchick]

Agreed. I use blukote same thing and I would dab it on with a cotton swab. She will heal remarkably well. I had a 9 week old pullet suffer a denuding wound tot he back of her neck when she escaped her grow out pen and got nailed by one of the older hens. She lost a strip of skin about an inch long and 1/2 inch wide and suffered a flap wound. I kept her covered with blukote and put her back with her brood mates. No more accidents and with the exception of a small flap skin tag she healed beautifully.

I also agree about introducing them using the look, don't touch method and when you do attempt to integrate the flock I would do it under strict supervision.

 

[HayleyBeth!]

Thank you for the advice. We had a vet friend do a small suture and put bluekote on her tonight. The other hens in her group have her snuggled between them. I think she'll be ok and appreciate the reassurance. They have been outside in site of each other for a week and half, but we'll wait awhile longer before we let them mingle again.