Help my Polish's bleeding bald spot please

[ERnoleGuy]

My Polish chicken (about 8 wks old) has a bald, slightly bloody spot on her head. I don't know the exact cause but I have a few suspicions. It just appeared this today. I have seen her scratching her head with her foot quite a few times. I have also recently witnessed my little 7 wk old RIR pullet (who is smaller than her) pecking at her top knot. It's like the polish just sits there while the little RIR munches away at her top knot.

When they were a few weeks old the polish also had a bald spot (no sign of any trauma though) and I used some "Black Salve" (TM) brand poultry-aid/anti-pecking stuff for a week or so and her feathers started to grow back in. There hasn't been a problem until today. I just put some more Black Salve on her head and on the surrounding feathers of her top knot. Am I doing this right? There aren't really clear instructions on the container except "apply 3-4 times daily as needed". I figured that by putting it on the surrounding feathers too that it would taste bad and deter any pecking. It just seems like the little RIR enjoys the taste. That can't be right!

I though about putting in a little hair tie to kinda conceal the bald spot. Or maybe getting some kind of Barbie doll helmet for the darn idiot. I now know for sure why they call them polish. (50% polish mother so I can say that and get away with it)

What should I do to protect her head? Short of separating her of course.

 

[joedie]

I have the same problem. One Polish died from having her head pecked. THis can be a problem and is pretty common. I guess the others are jealous of the pretty hairdo. I have one Polish left and the girls tried to get her too but I read in a Poultry magazine to spray Iodine on the top hat and it worked. They tasted her crest and wiped their mouths back and forth on the ground. One taste is all it took. I now spray her crest with Blue Kote. It works just as well. She is white and this gives her a purple crest! Rather punk looking but it keeps them from pecking at her. I do have to repeat it at least once a week though. Good Luck!

 

[Nostalchic]

I, too, have had this problem with my Polish (free exotic) rooster who came with my now 3 month old pullets - they started picking at his head until he was bloodied. I looked this up and apparently it is quite a common problem, to the point that people are forced to keep their Polish apart. However, I did try a couple of things- one almost killed him, the other worked well.
DO NOT put Vick's VapoRub on his head (this was something that had been recommended by some on this site to apply to "picked" areas, and who knows if it works on butts, etc, but my poor Puff nearly died from it).
I shampooed Puff's head (2 times, second time to get all the Vick's out, he was nearly comatose!) applied some bacitracin, and then pulled his head feathers into a topknot and secured it with 2 tiny rubber bands, which are made for securing braids in horses' manes. This looks SUPER COOL, actually, AND he can see, and the chickens just don't mess with it for whatever reason (no skin visible, ?) I bought some 'Rooster Booster' to apply, which is an anti-pick product, but haven't needed it, and the hair-do's been in for 3 weeks. I was thinking I would have to find him another home, though I really like him, but now it seems this might work. Good luck, Chris

 

[ERnoleGuy]

I am going to see about ordering some Blue Kote. Where is the cheapest place to get it online? I don't think my feed store sells it. I think I'll try putting her crest up with hair ties bam bam style for now. I am just afraid of either making it too tight, or that they'll eat whatever I use to tie it up. I can imagine a rubber band looking like a worm or something.

My other Polish hasn't had a single problem. Maybe she is a he or something. I don't really know. The buff laced does have a small "horn" shaped comb. The golden laced black one has no hint of a comb though. Just another tidbit I though I'd add.

 

[Renee]

Many people cut off the crest. It helps.

 

[ERnoleGuy]

Is it even possible for her to be scratching her own head until it bleeds? Or is it definitely another chicken?

I am going to try putting it up before cutting it. I just love her crest. If I cut it, that means it won't grow back until her first molt right?

 

[joedie]

I feel 100% sure she's being pecked. I tried cutting mine but it didn't work because I'm sure it wasn't short enough but you have to be careful not to cut the quills. I got my Blue Kote at the local feed store. It was generic and they called it blue lotion but it came in a bottle or a spray. I just use the spray, very easy but be careful not to get it on your clothes because it stains. Her name is now PECKHERHEAD.

 

[Renee]

 

[peachlover]

My great grandmother raised thousands of chickens and always used plain old roofing tar. I now use pine tar with great success. Good luck.

 

[Judy]

Yes, pine tar, sold in the horse section, works just as well as Blue Kote. Blue Kote is gentian voilet; you used to be able to get it from a pharmacist; you could ask.