Injured Polish Head Pecked

[Missceegee]

I have 18 hens and 1 roo that are 9 months. I have 6 hens and 1 roo that are 3 months. They’re housed together with a divider. I’ve been opening for a few hours when I’m out. No major issues. The first time I tried opening divider one polish who was weak from the start was pecked to death. I closed the divider and only opened when out for another week. I had it open for one night no issues. Last night it was open and I didn’t come out til the evening today and one Polish has her head severely packed. I cleaned it with disinfectant and sprayed with a poultry wound spray. I isolated her in a crate with the littles and am putting the divider back. The other remaining polish was also pecked on her head but much much less severely. Any other suggestions?

 

[sourland]

Polish in a mixed flock frequently have their crests removed and may be scalped. It may be necessary to keep the Polish out of the main flock.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Polish are prone to being pecked by other breeds. I've witnessed this myself here. I'd keep her separated but still visible from the flock or you're going to run into her being bullied more once you place her back in the flock. My Polish did well whenever I coated her head with a product called "peck no more". It has an odd odor to it. Many folks don't like to use products like this but it worked for my Polish. Now, she's at the top of the pecking order and nobody messes with her. My girl wasn't quite this bad though so hopefully you'll hear better advice. I wish you the very best

Edited to add: Like mentioned by Sourland, removing her from the flock may be necessary for her safety.

 

[Eggcessive]

This can happen even when they are the same age and raised together, but this was probably bound to happen with older birds around. I used BluKote when pecking started before it got too bad when only a few feathers were gone. But when they are scalped like this, she will need to be kept separate in a wire dog crate until healed. Plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment is very good to use while healing. When feathers start growing back in they will attract pecking, so BluKote should be used until feathers are grown back in.

 

[Missceegee]

Can you eat the eggs with BlueKote (when the time comes)? I have read not to ever eat the meat.

 

[WIchickMama]

I have used BluKote as well. I have a Polish, who isn't bullied but for some reason likes to put her head in the nesting box when my Barres Rock is in there. My Polish is near the top (both are, I have 2) but my BR is top lady and wants no one in her space.

Poor girl, that looks bad. Separate and extra loves for sure.

 

[Missceegee]

I thought she may have been dead this morning, but she was breathing. After crawling into the dog crate to get her I got her to drink a few sips of water with hydra-hen and eat two bites of feed soaked on water. To her wounded head - I sprayed with poultry wound spray and coated with animal first aid goo and she is back in the crate but drinking on her own. Still very weak, but looks better than when I went out.

 

[TheCluckyClucker2]

I thought she may have been dead this morning, but she was breathing. After crawling into the dog crate to get her I got her to drink a few sips of water with hydra-hen and eat two bites of feed soaked on water. To her wounded head - I sprayed with poultry wound spray and coated with animal first aid goo and she is back in the crate but drinking on her own. Still very weak, but looks better than when I went out.

How is she? I use hydro-hen too. It is so much cheaper than save-a-chick and it has electrolytes and probiotics.

 

[Missceegee]

She’s great. Feathers are growing back. However anytime she’s with the older 19, they go after her. So the younger 6 are still separated by puppy fence within same area. I wanted them together by now but the two remaining Polish are so small I worry for them.

 

[Missceegee]

Update...Eggnog and her small flock are separate and doing great. She is my fave and starts sqwawking anytime she sees or hears me and stays right by my side wanted pets or to be picked up.