Hen with infection on head....feathers not coming through skin

[mrbstephens]

My RIR who had become totally bald now has an infection on her head. The top of her head is full of fluid and is puffed out. It looks like in a couple of spots that the feathers have managed to come through, but in most areas not at all. I'm afraid that the feathers are not able to get through the skin and are stuck and possibly opening up underneath. Is that possible? I have her on an antibiotic and am spraying blue cote on her daily. She's eating and drinking fine and laying pretty well still, but not as often as before. She's avoiding the rooster like the plague because he's the one who made her bald in the first place. Anything I can do or will this get better over time with the antibiotic and blue cote? Thanks.

 

[lceh]

I'm interested in this as well -- anyone?

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
Really? You have the same problem in one of yours?

 

[ChIck3n]

Hmm, I have never heard of feathers growing under the skin before... Are you sure it is not just swollen from the rooster grabbing hold too much? If the skin on the head got damaged, the feathers would take a while to grow back. I had a few hens that were bald for months because the rooster damaged the head too much for feathers to even grow in. Just watch it for now and see if the swelling goes down. If you have any aloe vera plants around, try rubbing some of that on her head. Try separating her from the rooster just to make sure he is not still grabbing on to her.

If it continues to swell you could try lancing it to get the pus out, but that increases the possibility for an infection by quite a bit. Do this as a last resort.

 

[nikkifudge]

I just started a topic myself about something similar on my leghorn. I thought the same thing you did. Looked like her pin feathers got trapped under her skin. Now the lump has died and turned necrotic. She has an open wound the size of a quarter. I'm at a loss.