HHELP HELP HELP!!! Please help!!!

[Eggcessive]

BluKote is to help heal and dry out surface wounds. It contains alcohol and gentian violet, an antifungal blue dye that helps hide wounds. I initially use antibiotic ointment until a wound starts to heal, then switch to BluKote to dry outthe skin. In scalp wounds in chickens, the skin will eventually scab up and fall off, when new feathers start to grow in. Another good cream to use is Nustock, a bad smelling sulfur based antifungl cream that may help heal and will also discourage pecking. Silvadene cream is excellent for burns, but I think it would need to be obtained from a vet since it is a prescription drug.

 

[Michael Apple]

Another good cream to use is Nustock, a bad smelling sulfur based antifungl cream that may help heal and will also discourage pecking. Silvadene cream is excellent for burns, but I think it would need to be obtained from a vet since it is a prescription drug.

Years ago, I had a vet lecture me about Blukote. He said it actually inhibits the growth of new skin and his explanation in addition to the results proved it to be true. Nustock is uncomfortable if you've ever put on an open wound. Silvadene can be had without prescription and prevents infection way better than neo-poly-bac. I found that out experimenting with neosporin, silver sulfadiazine cream, and NFZ salve.

 

[mamahen222]

Okay so funny and cute story. And question...

I went outside to check on the chick inside of my coop today and it was GONE no where to be found, I was devistated! The only thing that would make sense is the chickens in my flock picked on it until it flew over the fence and into the woods where it would most likely have gotten eaten... I don't have a net over my run right now because the snow caved it in and we had to take it down... Anyways, I looked in the woods and all around my yard for an hour and couldn't find the chick, I finally excepted that she was gone
Then! My 4 year old daughter came running into the kitchen to tell me she found it in the woods, I ran outside to where it was and called the chick and it was so happy to see me that it came running up to me and jumped in my lap! I put the chick back In the coop with the others and the chick was frantic trying to get away from the coop, she started getting picked on again, and flew out of the coop and over the fence and sat on my feet... So I figured maybe my ducks would be more welcoming to her, so I put her in my duck coop, the Ducks were very nice but she was afraid of them because of their intimidating size. She followed me everywhere I went inside of the duck run and when I got out and left her in the run she flew over the duck pond, over the fence and landed on my shoulder... She wouldn't let me put her down, she slept in my arms for about an hour... Anyway, I ended up putting her back in the basement in a big plastic bin next to my scalped chick,( who is doing awesome by the way!!) and they were soo happy to hear each other that they kept jumping into each others bins, so I had to put a baby gate ontop of their tubs because they have to stay separated until the little scalped chick heals... So my question is, when on earth is the chick going to be ready to put into the chicken coop? When will my chickens except her? She is 8 weeks and the size of my smallest full grown chicken. Right now I'm thinking that I should keep both chicks inside until the scalped one is 100% healed, probably 5 weeks? and by that time I'm hoping they will be of equal size to my biggest chicken and hoping they will be excepted? My chickens are being soo soo soo mean to them and really hurting them!

 

[Michael Apple]

You should not house immature new birds in with mature existing birds. Even with adults it can be problematic if the most submissive one can't find a comfortable spot in the pecking order.
You made more work for yourself because the new birds must be large enough to defend themselves. You may be waiting another 3 months, so you should consider building another run where they can sun themselves, pick and scratch, and have a secure shelter at night.

The above situation is one of a few reasons why I don't recommend mixing ages of flocks, or bringing new birds in with existing birds. I once did, and that is why I don't anymore. Things run much smoother, and the flock won't be stressed.

 

[mamahen222]

Yes this was defiantly a learning experience! I told my husband I will never again get chicks again! Im hoping that it will some how work In a few weeks because the chicks I have will be full size chickens when grown and my flock consists of small bantams. Not sure if it will help any but I'm hopeful!
Yes another run is a great Idea!

 

[Michael Apple]

Yes this was defiantly a learning experience! I told my husband I will never again get chicks again! Im hoping that it will some how work In a few weeks because the chicks I have will be full size chickens when grown and my flock consists of small bantams. Not sure if it will help any but I'm hopeful!
Yes another run is a great Idea!

It is a necessity at this point if you want those birds to grow in a stress free environment. I wasn't trying to be harsh in the last post either. I've run into people that have received bad information from feed stores, authors of books, and other places over the years. I like helping folks but get a bit grumpy seeing lots of the same mistakes being made. Every one of us is learning all the time.

I had a single healthy Bantam Wyandotte hen who lost her mate. I raised my standard breed CA Gray chicks with her in the flock once they were about 7-8 weeks old because I knew she wouldn't harm them, but boss them so they'd have a healthy respect for her as they grew. They've been together a little over 2 years now with no problems. My rooster won't even mess with her, and he has no problem going after the cat, dog, or me at times.

There are exceptions to a rule sometimes, but following the general rule prevents problems from arising.