I'm currently integrating four 5-month pullets with 4 older hens. The coop and run have been sectioned off, with metal panel fencing topped with aviary netting. Today is day 4 and everything has been going well. This morning I opened the coop door and only saw 3 youngsters on their side when there's supposed to be 4. Every hen was up, happy to see me, wanting to go outside. Took a minute, but the 4th youngster was hunkered down under the poop board below the roost-- on the WRONG side of the coop. Nothing about the set up seemed to have failed, but somehow she got over there. First I thought she was dead, but she got up and tried to leave the coop-- grabbed her up, her head is bald and bloody. I put her down with her peer group while I arranged fence panels to let the older group out. One of her peers peeked at her head but just once. Got everyone out and held the injured pullet to examine. Comb is okay, eyes are okay, but a spot maybe an inch to 1.5 inches in diameter is feather free, shiny and bloody. Perhaps a little swollen. No big holes or torn skin, as best I can tell. At this point she's bled on me, my clothes. I drizzled some betadine solution over the red area. Had to go find and clean a cage while carrying her, but got that done, added clean shavings, put her in the cage while I figured out what to do next. Gave her some food and water-- she went right to eating.
I think she needs to be caged until she heals. The weather is mild- I'm considering putting one cage in the coop with her peers, and one in the peers' part of the run. That way maybe her peers don't turn on her later? I'd have to carry her from the night cage to the day cage each morning and back each night, which is not convenient but I can absolutely make it happen. I need to check again after I post this, to see if the bleeding continues or stops. I'll google what to put on it to stop the bleeding before I go out.
She's hurt but she does not appear to be trying to die. It looks like she has very traumatized but superficial damage to her head. I'm assuming it has to heal before she goes back with others. But I think it might be a very long time before she grows back her feathers. I'll take my phone out to get pictures. I know they make something like No Pic? I used to have some, never used it so eventually threw the dusty bottle away. But I can probably get it at Tractor Supply tomorrow-- or something else if that's what I need. I guess this might mean a very elongated integration-- figure it's best to reintegrate with her peers successfully before I try to mix the groups. Sigh. I hoped to have this all settled before the good weather ended.
@Eggcessive if you see this I would greatly value your advice on this.
I think she needs to be caged until she heals. The weather is mild- I'm considering putting one cage in the coop with her peers, and one in the peers' part of the run. That way maybe her peers don't turn on her later? I'd have to carry her from the night cage to the day cage each morning and back each night, which is not convenient but I can absolutely make it happen. I need to check again after I post this, to see if the bleeding continues or stops. I'll google what to put on it to stop the bleeding before I go out.
She's hurt but she does not appear to be trying to die. It looks like she has very traumatized but superficial damage to her head. I'm assuming it has to heal before she goes back with others. But I think it might be a very long time before she grows back her feathers. I'll take my phone out to get pictures. I know they make something like No Pic? I used to have some, never used it so eventually threw the dusty bottle away. But I can probably get it at Tractor Supply tomorrow-- or something else if that's what I need. I guess this might mean a very elongated integration-- figure it's best to reintegrate with her peers successfully before I try to mix the groups. Sigh. I hoped to have this all settled before the good weather ended.
@Eggcessive if you see this I would greatly value your advice on this.
