How to heal an injured chicken due to bullying in a coop

[Varelafarm]

Hello I am new to raising chickens and we have had some coco Marans for a couple of weeks just recently two of the three of my coco Marans disappeared so I went and got some new hens that are bit older and I add them to the coop so my Coco Maran was not lonely these are Rhode Island Reds the two Rhode Island red hens that we got are severely bullying my Coco Maran it has only been one day in the field and one night in the pain and this morning I woke up to find my cuckoo maran with the back of her neck completely ripped out her whole back of her skull and back is exposed I am in tears and I do not know what else to do I put iodine and Gauze around the wound I have now separated her from the other hens in trying to heal her up the best way that I can reading on your blog I see a lot of people have commented about a blue Kote spray that I have already ordered now from Amazon is there anything else that I can do? And will these hens continue to bully any other chickens that we have we have six other baby chicks in another pen that are not near these ones but are put up on the other part of the field should I just build a whole nother Coop on the other side of my Pasteur? I don't want this to happen to any other chickens any information would be greatly appreciated like I said I'm new to raising chickens and this is just heartbreaking and mortifying to me I didn't realize that chickens had this kind of aggressive behavior...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You cannot just put strange birds together. They will fight, and sometimes to the death. Chickens are very territorial.

Introducing new birds takes time with lots of time of penning them next to each other. Having enough room will help the process.

I personally just wait and see if they heal. I use bluekote if the wound isn't too deep.

@Eggcessive or @Wyorp Rock can help with deep wound care.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your injured girl.

I would apply some triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds. Keep her in a place where flies can't get to her wounds. I would not wrap the wound, just keep it moist with your ointment.
Do what you can to get her hydrated and eating.

Chickens can be very brutal to one another. Slow introductions are usually best.

 

[Tim Stratton]

My Rhode Island’s have been a nightmare since I introduced 3 new birds. What is triple antibiotic ointment? Like Sudocreme or something? The big Rhode girl was brutally attacking the other Rhodey. Now I’ve separated her and the other red girl is pecking all the girls necks and bums!

 

[Alaskan]

My Rhode Island’s have been a nightmare since I introduced 3 new birds. What is triple antibiotic ointment? Like Sudocreme or something? The big Rhode girl was brutally attacking the other Rhodey. Now I’ve separated her and the other red girl is pecking all the girls necks and bums!

If she is pecking them and injuring them, especially if she is causing any broken skin......You need to remove the offender before she eats the others.

 

[AmyJane725]

What is triple antibiotic ointment? Like Sudocreme or something?

"Triple Antibiotic Ointment" is literally the name of the product. It's like off-brand Neosporin.

 

[AmyJane725]

That is just brutal. So sorry for your poor girl.

Yeah, to introduce new birds don't just toss them in together.
Set up a separate enclosure inside of the run. Put the new girl in there. Old girls should not be able to peck at her through the walls of the enclosure, whatever it may be. Hardware cloth will prevent them reaching in and hurting her. Once they're not flocking around the enclosure anymore (they kind of ignore it), you can start tossing some feed or treats near it/in it, so they can experience eating/foraging together. Make being together a normal thing. Keep going like this until the old girls don't seem to mind her anymore. Then you can start opening the door and letting them together. If you don't see any more attacks you can let her try sleeping with them for a night. If all is well the next day you're probably good. Keep a close eye though.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My Rhode Island’s have been a nightmare since I introduced 3 new birds. What is triple antibiotic ointment? Like Sudocreme or something? The big Rhode girl was brutally attacking the other Rhodey. Now I’ve separated her and the other red girl is pecking all the girls necks and bums!

Since you are asking about Sudocrem, I'm assuming you are in the UK or Europe.
If the wounds are superficial the Sudocrem is probably o.k. Some use Germolene.
Looks like you can order Vetericyn and similar - look in the "pet supplies" section of Amazon UK and search for "antibiotic ointment" that should bring up some items that you can use.

 

[AmyJane725]

Since you are asking about Sudocrem, I'm assuming you are in the UK or Europe.
If the wounds are superficial the Sudocrem is probably o.k. Some use Germolene.
Looks like you can order Vetericyn and similar - look in the "pet supplies" section of Amazon UK and search for "antibiotic ointment" that should bring up some items that you can use.

You are such an overachiever. You even know the meds available in other countries.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You are such an overachiever. You even know the meds available in other countries.

I would call her very smart.