How beat up is too beat up?

[DanielleOrbach]

Space is the main problem here....space and diversions.
Check out this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

I'm betting one got a hold of a pin/blood feather and that started the feast.
They can bleed like the dickens and if they don't stop you must fully pluck the bleeding pin feather to stop it.
Had this problem once, blukote did nothing, except make the bleeding bird try to preen it off and reopen the wound...have also seen blukote attract pecking attention.
Something clear as an antiseptic when needed is the best bet.

Thank you for the link. Good ideas, I will definitely talk to my boyfriend about going larger and putting more things in the run with them.

 

[DanielleOrbach]

Mines not lack of space, it's silly 2 month old chicks!

Gotcha. I saw a blog about nest box curtains being very helpful with deterring that.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Gotcha. I saw a blog about nest box curtains being very helpful with deterring that.

Great idea!

 

[aart]

Gotcha. I saw a blog about nest box curtains being very helpful with deterring that.

Probably going to need something more solid than curtain to keep chicks from sleeping in nests....and make sure roosts are higher than nests.

 

[ValerieJ]

Yeah purple like my hands! LOL Gloves next time...

Oh sorry... I should have warned you about that.

 

[DanielleOrbach]

Oh sorry... I should have warned you about that.

Yeah, well live and learn right? It's all good.

 

[Kris5902]

My problem is a Fiesty Cockerel. They have all done great on their 20% feed. In fact, I credit the protein content for their quick healing...JJ

You might want to consider some hen saddles to protect their backs, sometimes the young boys don’t quite have the hang of mating and it’s not that they are rough so much as inexperienced and clumsy!

Thanks You...I am pretty sure we have a Cockerel that is trying to prove something. To this point of 9, I'm sure two are boys and possibly two more. 4 boys and 5 girls, just ain't gonna do. I will try to re-home two and keep a sweet Jersey Giant Cockerel and one of the Gold Laced Wyandotte cockerels. I get there will be squabbles but pecking a hole clean through to her Skull can't Fly!. ...JJ

You probably need to re-home or eat those boys soon, or get a lot more sexed pullets... speaking from recent firsthand and first time straight run cockerel experiences. I ended up with 70% males. And some were absolute terrors, a couple turned out to be wonderful Roosters, but for the most part they are going to be jerks!

 

[Kris5902]

Yeah, well live and learn right? It's all good.

Blu Kote is wonderful stuff, and just fine for poultry. If you ever need to treat somewhere that spraying is too awkward, you can apply it to a paper towel or gauze first and dab it on. But yes, gloves are a must!

You might want to consider putting together a chicken first aid kit, I use a small plastic storage bin with a locking lid, and keep vet wrap, Blu Kote, Vaseline, plain triple antibiotic ointment (no pain relief), guaze pads, dedicated manicure set with tweezers, nail clippers, cuticle scissors, jar of cornstarch (to stop bleeding) syringes 1ml and 12ml 18guage needles, small bottle of ivermectin cattle pour-on, guillotine nail clippers, and pre ground up calcium tablets. And yes, GLOVES!!! Several pairs of disposable exam gloves, I keep this with several dedicated old “chicken towels” folded and tied in a garbage bag. But I also end up working with a lot of rescues. A dog crate and a cat carrier with top and front doors are also handy for isolating sick birds. (I really like the top opening, very handy if you need to work by yourself

 

[DanielleOrbach]

Blu Kote is wonderful stuff, and just fine for poultry. If you ever need to treat somewhere that spraying is too awkward, you can apply it to a paper towel or gauze first and dab it on. But yes, gloves are a must!

You might want to consider putting together a chicken first aid kit, I use a small plastic storage bin with a locking lid, and keep vet wrap, Blu Kote, Vaseline, plain triple antibiotic ointment (no pain relief), guaze pads, dedicated manicure set with tweezers, nail clippers, cuticle scissors, jar of cornstarch (to stop bleeding) syringes 1ml and 12ml 18guage needles, small bottle of ivermectin cattle pour-on, guillotine nail clippers, and pre ground up calcium tablets. And yes, GLOVES!!! Several pairs of disposable exam gloves, I keep this with several dedicated old “chicken towels” folded and tied in a garbage bag. But I also end up working with a lot of rescues. A dog crate and a cat carrier with top and front doors are also handy for isolating sick birds. (I really like the top opening, very handy if you need to work by yourself

Thank you. All very helpful information. We are trying to figure out if we have a sick bird or not at the moment on top of the one that was getting beat up. That one just scared the dickens out of me because she was laying on her side and I thought she was dead, apparently she was just snoozing. I just read a thread about chickens sleeping on their sides. UGH! I just had a full fledged panic attack, but she's just fine. It is my RIR that I'm concerned about. I'm thinking about borrowing a coop from a neighbor for quarantine. We are getting vetrx and pedialyte to see if those help.

 

[Kris5902]

Thank you. All very helpful information. We are trying to figure out if we have a sick bird or not at the moment on top of the one that was getting beat up. That one just scared the dickens out of me because she was laying on her side and I thought she was dead, apparently she was just snoozing. I just read a thread about chickens sleeping on their sides. UGH! I just had a full fledged panic attack, but she's just fine. It is my RIR that I'm concerned about. I'm thinking about borrowing a coop from a neighbor for quarantine. We are getting vetrx and pedialyte to see if those help.

Do you have another thread on it? I know what you mean about the panic attacks with weird positions, every once in a while I freak out over sheep or cow doing that run out to check it and it just looks at me funny and stands up... but I’ve finally gotten used to the chicken contortions that come with Dust bathing, though everytime someone new sees them the do it, I swear they do it on purpose, “OMGosh!!! Is that chicken ok? What’s wrong with it?” As she’s got a wing over her head, legs sticking out all funny, and is writhing on the ground gleefully tossing dirt everywhere.