HELP! What's wrong with our chick? Open wound under her wing...

[switters]

Has anyone heard of Better Bitters ? It's the only anti-picking solution my local bird store has. There's a feed store about 30 minutes away I'm willing to try if Better Bitters won't work, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience with it.

 

[silkiechicken]

Never tried it, but if it is for birds, it should work. You can put her with the rest with the wound heals up, or if the bitter butter works, earlier would be fine. Or you could just put one of the calmer friends with her so it is not as lonley.

Some say that vicks vapor rub and Vaseline works too if you are in a pinch. Do keep cleaning the wound and putting antibiotic ointment on it though, as the picking stuff just keeps them from messing with it.

 

[switters]

I really appreciate your help with this. I just put the Better Bitters on and it did absolutely nothing. She is still pecking away incessantly at herself, and the area of bare, raw skin in getting larger by the hour. I continue to put Neosporin on it and at least it doesn't look infected, but it looks like I'll have to find one of the other anti-pick remedies you mentioned. I did put one of the other chicks who doesn't peck at her in on her side, and she seemed to settle down a bit with that. Thanks for the suggestion.

Another problem is that even though I put food and water on her side, it doesn't look like the food and water receptacles she was used to so she isn't eating or drinking. As soon as I put her back with the other chicks, she starts drinking and eating like crazy (I think because she recognizes the water/food dishes). So I'm going to try to find identical ones at the feed store - hoping they have them.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

try pine tar soap they hate the taste of it

 

[Brindlebtch]

Would carefully wrapping her in Vet Wrap work?

Mites ook like tiny animated dots or specKs.

 

[threehorses]

Purplechicken recommended VetRx for anti-picking once. They dislike the taste of it, much more so than BetterBitters. It's also good to have in your cabinet.

I'd clip the little feathers away from the wound so they don't get wet and hold moisture, which could chill her. I'd personally treat that wound with just enough neosporin (and possibly plaintain if you're going to continue that?) to cover the wound but nothing else. Then I'd use VetRx on the area around it - straight. If that doesn't work, pick up some VetWrap while you're at the feedstore. You will wrap her body but not her wing. You might have to cut it in half to get it to fit her better. Wrap it loose - not tight, do not stretch it at all as it tightens a bit apparently. I never at all stretch it - only take the slack out - so I've never had issues with that but it's very much worth pointing out.

Poor kiddo.

 

[switters]

Okay, folks, I'm really getting exasperated here. I drove 30 min. to the feed store and they did have Blue Kote, but not VetRx. So I came home with the Blue Kote and put it on. I put it all over the bare skin and areas that seem inflamed. Initially, it seemed to slow her down but after about a half hour she's right back to pecking and picking.

She is now also pecking on the other side. Honestly, I can't figure out what's going on. I looked closely under her wing and I can't even see an actual wound. If you look back to the first picture I posted, most of the fur is still there and there's just a little hole. Now almost all of her fur is gone on the right side and it's just exposed skin. Is it really possible/likely that she has picked out all of her own fur? I can't see any mites after several visual inspections.

If there are parasites, will they be visible - or microscopic? Wouldn't it be likely that the parasites or mites spread to the other chicks? So far none of the others are having any problems - including the chick that I put over on the wounded chick's side for company.

I guess the only thing I haven't tried yet is wrapping her body. I don't know if I'll be able to find VetWrap around here. I do have some 1" sterile gauze wrap (for finger cuts, etc.). Will that work? Is there something special about VetWrap?

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Most parasites you can see with the naked eye. Mites tend to be on the bird in the nighttime not daytime, but sometimes... but you'd see them. You might be able to find self-adhesive wrap (same thing but for humans, tan) at the drug store. CVS or even the drug store section of a grocery store. VetWrap doesn't unravel so there's no chance of her eating threads - that's why I'd recommend it. Plus it won't stick to anything but itself.

Instead of gauze, any chance you could sacrifice a pillowcase and make a little saddle for her? Tie it on top? Two holes for legs? Split so that it goes in front of and in back of the wings? You could try the gauze - but I'd put a little piece of duct tape over where she's going to pick.

 

[switters]

Actually, the self-adhesive wrap (for humans, tan color) is exactly what I have. It's not gauze. I'll try that and report back. Thanks again to you all for you help. I really, really appreciate it. Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Crossing fingers - and toes!

Yeah that wrap is great stuff - airy, doesn't pull feathers. I often use a tiny bit of duct tape on where the end ends up to help it stick to itself, but just a little bitty piece - like you'd use cello tape for a present.