Help, one of my chickens is missing a big patch of feathers!

[timp123]

It looks like there is about a fist size of feathers ripped off... the skin is blood red back by her leg/rump. The poor thing is laying on it's side.. doesn't appear like she can get around very well... not sure if it's a broken leg.. but I don't know.. I don't see any where where an animal might have got in... and tried to get her... it's a completely inclosed coop. Is it possible she has been pecked? (It might be a rooster too, not sure.. I have 13 chickens... and I don't know what I have yet.

I am getting ready to leave and will be gone Sunday thru Tuesday... so I am thinking about taking her out, away from the others.. and putting her in the house in a dog kennel that we have, to let her be alone and away from the others.. so if it is the other chickens causing the problem.. at least she can get some rest.. and time to heal up....

Is there anything I can put on the wound?

Thanks so much for helping with any info you might have.

 

[alaskachick]

Hi... I am having the same problem except I know its the roo who is pecking at her. My chickens bright red skin is showing. I am upset cuz I don't know what to do. Hope you find your solution and me too.

 

[timp123]

I now have her in the house.. with her own food and water.. she's laying on her side.. but she is eating and drinking... hope she gets better... poor little thing.

 

[alaskachick]

I know my roo is doing the injury. I have decided to rehome him. I put an ad on craigslist a little while ago. I care about the hen more than the roo so it is not a hard decision to make. I was not planning on hatching chicks so I dont need the roo anyway. Your hens back looks miserable. My chickens back is not that red, but i can see what will happen if I allow the roo to remain.

 

[Kanga77510]

Keep her away from everyone else for quite some time. Chickens are cannibals and they'll pick at the wound, and it won't be pretty.