Hurt/attacked/cannabalised chicken help!

[Auntiearielschickens]

Help! I came home and found my chicken bloody with feathers missing. I susupect my other hens but this seems like a lot for them. In the past I’ve had hens peck at feathered footed hens feet feathers. But nothing like this! I’ve washed it and sprayed it with blu kote and I’m currently giving her auger/salt water cuz I read about it. Anything else to do? Also I’m in Minnesota so we are facing negative degree weather. How long do I keep her inside/away from the flock and how can I reintroduce her to the weather

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

I would definitely keep her inside for at least a night and separate until it heals. Being cold and alone in a pen plus the shock of whatever happened isn;t a good combo. If the others did that to her you already have a serious flock issue that I doubt separation could make worse. Also with vaulted skull breeds I worry about brain damage from pecking.

I recommend getting a chicken cam so you can see for sure what is going on. If there is just one bully you can try separating the bully for a few days, but if it is most of the flock you may need to keep your polish in a separate area with a couple friendlier girls if there are any.

 

[Auntiearielschickens]

do you have blue spray? Chickens are attracted to peck at red, so if a bird has an injury that bleeds, their flock-mates (and they themselves) are inclined to peck it and make it worse, to the point of cannibalism So a spray that hides the colour is necessary on fresh wounds; the blue spray also contains antibiotic to help fight infection.

Yes, I do . I cleaned the wound and then sprayed it on. But I think they would still peck at it with it being this severe at the moment.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Help! I came home and found my chicken bloody with feathers missing. I susupect my other hens but this seems like a lot for them. In the past I’ve had hens peck at feathered footed hens feet feathers. But nothing like this! I’ve washed it and sprayed it with blu kote and I’m currently giving her auger/salt water cuz I read about it. Anything else to do? Also I’m in Minnesota so we are facing negative degree weather. How long do I keep her inside/away from the flock and how can I reintroduce her to the weather

Is she your only Polish? Do you have other non-crested breeds in with her usually? How big is your coop and how many chickens?

 

[Tonyroo]

You have to keep her separated for a week from the flock. That's how long it usually takes for injuries like that to heal properly. And she has to stay indoors while she's healing. If you keep her with the flock in her condition she'll get an infection. Don't have any other chickens with her. You need a sanitary environment while she heals.

Also trim the feathers around her eyes so she can see properly. She's probably getting ambushed by the flock cause she can't see.

 

[Auntiearielschickens]

You have to keep her separated for a week from the flock. That's how long it usually takes for injuries like that to heal properly. And she has to stay indoors while she's healing. If you keep her with the flock in her condition she'll get an infection. Don't have any other chickens with her. You need a sanitary environment while she heals.

Also trim the feathers around her eyes so she can see properly. She's probably getting ambushed by the flock cause she can't see.

Okay, that sounds like a good plan and it will warm up in a week so transitioning outside will be easier. I’ll keep it clean and keep her company. Poor girl. I feel so bad!

 

[Auntiearielschickens]

Okay. I think I’ll take her to work today to keep an eye on her. Update: upon further inspection. She has a hurt leg. She is hobbling around. So I’m assuming she became somewhat of a sitting duck and that is how/why this happened.

 

[Auntiearielschickens]

I have two polish. 14 hens of different breeds Cochins delawares leghorn egger. My coop and run are built for 20 hens with 3ft per bird in the run and 10 in the run so size is not the issue. I give them scratch in the morning to keep them warm and I put it all along the ground so the have to scratch around for it to keep them busy. I have obstacles in the run.. mirrors and wood and boxes. They will all be a year old in march this is my first flock and they all grew up together.

 

[Auntiearielschickens]

I have two polish. 14 hens of different breeds Cochins delawares leghorn egger. My coop and run are built for 20 hens with 3ft per bird in the run and 10 in the run so size is not the issue. I give them scratch in the morning to keep them warm and I put it all along the ground so the have to scratch around for it to keep them busy. I have obstacles in the run.. mirrors and wood and boxes. They will all be a year old in march this is my first flock and they all grew up together.

3ft in the coop and 10ft in the run per bird with enough space for 20 hens with those measurements and I only have 14

 

[Auntiearielschickens]

Is she your only Polish? Do you have other non-crested breeds in with her usually? How big is your coop and how many chickens?

Should I set up a pen for her put in the coop and keep her outside when it’s going to be -4 tonight? I wouldn’t worry about her but if she is bleeding that doesn’t seem wise. But then I know separation from the flock can be bad too.