Help

[Nickac18]

help some of my chickens have picked on the two smaller ones and badly wounded them they have a lot of skin on the back of their neck missing and it is very bloody they are still alive and we washed out the wound with hydrogen peroxide and then put neosporin on it. They seem like they are in a lot of pain is their anything else we can do to help them be more comfortable? One is much worse then the other and we don't think the one with the worse wounds will survive if you have any info to help please do looking for any advice in this situation

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Do as your doing everyday.

sounds like it could be 3 things, space size of the chickens, you said they were small, or protein. How many chickens do you have? And what are the genders?

 

[henny1129]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing so far. If you haven't already, separate the chickens that have been picked on so their wound don't get worse. Keep us updated!

 

[Nickac18]

Do as your doing everyday.

sounds like it could be 3 things, space size of the chickens, you said they were small, or protein. How many chickens do you have? And what are the genders?

7 new birds and 4 that had already been in the coop they are all hens and the chickens are almost fully grown I have read that the chicks can be introduced to the flock after about 10 weeks. I have separated the newer ones so nobody else gets picked on and I have added protein to the diet of the ones that are injured to help regrow tissue around the area and feathers

 

[Blooie]

Hmmm If the newer ones are the ones being picked on I'd say you have an integration issue. The older birds see the younger ones as threats, not flock mates. They are very territorial and don't like interlopers.
How did you introduce the new ones to the older ones?
Did you set up an enclosure within the coop or run so that they could see but not touch?
Do you have a safe place for the younger ones to run and hide that the bigger ones can't follow them into?
Do you have multiple feeders so they aren't competing for the same food?

I introduce chicks to the flock before they are 4 weeks old, because the Bigs don't see the Littles as any kind of threat at that size, and I use a combination of raising the chicks from day one so that the adults can see them all the time but not get at them. At about 2-3 week I open the little portal doors into the main run but leave the doors open so they can run back to safety if they need to. I have a big hollow log, hollow side down, that they can scurry into if any of the Bigs get rough, and that's placed in the run on the opposite side to their brooder pen, in case they can't get back to their little doors into the brooder. Conventional wisdom says not to put them together until the new chicks are about the same size as the adults, but I've found that the Bigs don't take to them nearly as well because they are "invaders" if they are almost their own size.

If you have some Blu-Kote you can put that on the bloody spots so that the older birds don't see the injuries, but aside from separating them WITHIN sight of each other and starting over there's not much else you can do that you aren't doing.

Welcome to BYC...I'm sorry it had to be under such stressful circumstances.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Nickac18, and

! Pleased you joined our community! Looks like you've already received some good advice so I'll just say best wishes and thanks for joining BYC!!

 

[drumstick diva]

Hydrogen Peroxide burns wounded flesh as well as healthy tissue. Better to clean wounds with saline solution or mild soap & water. Pat dry and then apply Neosporin( no caine)

If the wounds get swollen, red and hot to the touch, they probably will need antibiotics for infection. Chickens generally have good recuperative powers unless they get infected, or go into shock (more a problem with predator attacks). Chicks/ chickens can quickly turn from pecking and inflicting wounds, to mob attack and even cannibalism.

 

[henny1129]

Hydrogen Peroxide burns  wounded flesh as well as healthy tissue.  Better to clean wounds with  saline solution or mild soap & water.  Pat dry and then apply  Neosporin( no  caine)

If the wounds get swollen, red and hot to the touch,  they probably will need antibiotics for infection.  Chickens generally have good recuperative powers  unless they get infected, or go into  shock (more a problem with predator attacks).  Chicks/ chickens  can quickly turn from pecking and inflicting wounds, to  mob attack and even cannibalism.

I never knew HP did that! You learn something new everyday!

 

[N F C]

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Nickac18

Welcome!

I am sorry that you and the little ones are experiencing this but it sounds like you are now heading in the right direction. Best wishes to them and you.

I hope you enjoy BYC. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. Unlike non chicken loving friends, family and colleagues, BYC’ers never tire of stories or pictures that feature our feathered and non feathered friends