Head balded and pecked to skull. How do I treat??

[Dee5385]

They are about 9 weeks old.

 

[Dee5385]

How old are these chicks?

At some point they start establishing pecking order, which is called that for a reason. Since the chicks are separate from the rest of the flock, they are forming their own flock. They may be duking it out here and there, but like I said, if blood is drawn then it's fair game for all. Really brutal!

They are nine weeks. So then there's not much I can do...so sad seeing them like that.

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

I have two 9week old silkies in with two older silkie hens(2yrs&1yrs)....they have a lot of space, but the younger hen chases the babies all the time, away from the food, away from this or that....if they didn't have so much room to get away, i'd not keep them together yet... the babies seem to fight/play more with each other....but so far so good. Silkies are a pretty mellow breed.... i wouldn't mix young ones in with other breeds unless they were closer in size....when they can defend themselves. Good luck and keep us posted~

 

[Dee5385]

I have two 9week old silkies in with two older silkie hens(2yrs&1yrs)....they have a lot of space, but the younger hen chases the babies all the time, away from the food, away from this or that....if they didn't have so much room to get away, i'd not keep them together yet... the babies seem to fight/play more with each other....but so far so good.   Silkies are a pretty mellow breed....  i wouldn't mix young ones in with other breeds unless they were closer in size....when they can defend themselves.    Good luck and keep us posted~

I have my 9 week old chicks kept seperate from the adult hens and the pecking is still happening. I just need to keep up with what I'm doing a hope for the best. They have plenty of space....I guess it'll remain a mystery.

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

I think it's what the other writer said ...pecking order ...it is sad to see them do it... i do a lot of snapping of fingers and saying 'hey..knot it off'.... i think that why i like my silkies the most...over all they are sweet.

 

[LittleAppleChicken]

Just introduced some 8 week pullets (four of them) to my three grown hens. Things seemed okay yesterday, but I came out today and found the older hens had picked on one of the pullets, the only white hen, and completely scalped her. The entire back side of her skull is bare. I've separated her, given her a brooder warmer, and food and water. I covered her entire skull area in a thick layer of triple antibiotic ointment. I can't imagine how her skin could recover from this, but I'm hoping for a miracle. She was my favorite of this latest group. Would it make sense to give her medicated feed, just to give her some antibiotics internally?

 

[Dogface208]

Just introduced some 8 week pullets (four of them) to my three grown hens. Things seemed okay yesterday, but I came out today and found the older hens had picked on one of the pullets, the only white hen, and completely scalped her. The entire back side of her skull is bare. I've separated her, given her a brooder warmer, and food and water. I covered her entire skull area in a thick layer of triple antibiotic ointment. I can't imagine how her skin could recover from this, but I'm hoping for a miracle. She was my favorite of this latest group. Would it make sense to give her medicated feed, just to give her some antibiotics internally?

@LittleAppleChicken what ever happened to your hen? One of my lavender Ameraucana juveniles had about a half dollar to silver dollar sized area pecked to scalp. How long did it take for the skin to grow back?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@LittleAppleChicken what ever happened to your hen? One of my lavender Ameraucana juveniles had about a half dollar to silver dollar sized area pecked to scalp. How long did it take for the skin to grow back?

Hi @Dogface208 you have found an old thread, I'm unsure if the OP or the person you tagged will even respond.

If you can post some photos of the wound, that would be helpful.
How much space do you have where the juveniles are being kept?

General care is to flush/cleanse the wound with saline or warm soapy water. Trim feathers away from the wound, then apply triple antibiotic ointment or Vetericyn.