I Think hardware cloth Wounded one of the girls

[dawj]

I got home today and found one of my Buff Orpingtons with a triangle cut in her head/neck kinda folded torn skin. I noticed it cuz her head was black on one side (dried blood.) It wasn't bleeding so I examined wound and was able to lift flap and it was clean no bleeding so I applied tripple antibiotic ointment on the wound. I also applied vicks to her good side and a few inches down her neck to hopefully stop other hens from pecking her.

I crawled everywhere on my knees (hens looking at me like a fool) looking for anything that could have done this. I found a couple spots on the pop door openeing where I used hardware cloth to join the coop to run and I actually cut my finger running my hand around opening (on the top side of door). Could this have done it.... or do you think one of the other hens could have pecked her or bit her like that? The one that got wounded is my girl, she is the one who comes to me the most and actually if I let them all out she will come down to the camper and join me sitting at the table playing cards(we sit in the camper on hot nights). I combed the coop and run and there is no signs of entery. My coop and run are on my byc page.

Thanks,
Dave

The hens don't seem to bother her nor are any of them skiddish. She was fine at 5:30 am when I went to work.

Make sure you check hardware cloth well what seemed like not a big deal cut my hand....... unfortunatly after one of the girls got hurt.

 

[florida lee]

When I attached the hardware cloth I tried the screw and washer method but soon switched to using laths to secure the cloth because of the sharp wire edges. No chicks were hurt but my fingers found all the bent out wire tips.
I don't doubt it was a wire snagged her.

 

[teach1rusl]

I think it could have cut her too. I was pretty OCD when building my coops, always looking for areas of wire that might stick out, nails or screws, etc. For some reason, I'm really paranoid about eyes getting poked/injured.

Glad it wasn't more serious.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I didn't allow any hardware cloth or welded wire mesh to stick out. I totally believe it can cut as I cut myself.