Integration mishap- pullet with bloody head

[My1stChickens]

Yesterday I moved the cage out of the coop. The 5 month old group fussed and fretted about where to be and "experimented" with getting up on the lawnchair, getting on the roost, getting on the divider panels, even leaping into the air to get on the extension cord that draped down into a "U" shape. I told them they were idiots and left, knowing I had to come back after dark to doctor Baldy's head-- she had rubbed everything off and light skin was showing abundantly. Came back and guess what? They were ROOSTING in a row like sensible chickens!
I captured Baldy and first applied Neosporin, then BluKote. She shook her head and I could TELL I had done them in the wrong order. The BluKote does not adhere to neosporin, DUH. I decided I'd best reverse the order. Then came here and saw that @Eggcessive advised BluKote only.... So that's the plan.
One of the 8 month olds paced the fence line wanting to peck at one of the 5 month olds who was pacing on the other side. This bears further observation. Before I attempt to integrate the two groups, I want the littles reliably roosting on their roost (different from the big girls roost), and I want the big girls to be 100% disinterested.

 

[My1stChickens]

She looks good. So happy to hear the integration is going smoothly. Good job with all of that.
I've read here previously, and it's been my experience, that it takes about 2 weeks for chickens to get used to a change (they don't like any changes at all) or a new habit. That said, if they don't start cooping on the side you want them to you may want to encourage that for two weeks. Just a thought. Experts can provide more insight.
I'm so happy everything is going so well for you. You're a very observant chicken momma and that goes a long way for identifying behavioral issues or medical problems. Happy clucks.

Thank you @Bawkbok! To my shock and delight, they did put themselves on the roost last night! The bald girl was the leader in this, so kinda proud of her. They are also now very efficiently moving from coop to run and back, instead of getting "lost" in the barriers that are set up. This young group has been challenging, but they may just work out. Their little combs are pretty pink, as to be expected since they should be getting close to laying. Hopefully I can integrate before they lay, since the nest boxes are on the big girl's side of the coop.

 

[My1stChickens]

Today pretty much marks 2 weeks since the little girl was scalped. and it was time for more BluKote, so we took pictures tonight. I need readers, but did not have them on, but I felt her head to and did not really feel anything to remark upon. I also had a bit of trouble applying the BluKote-- it just wasn't sticking. I sprayed my gloved fingers at least 8 times, trying to dab enough to cover her pale skin with marginal success. But I digress.
I took pictures of the top of her head and back of her head/neck before I doctored on her. And when I got them sent to email and saved as pictures to share-- I think I see feathers trying to start? What do y'all think? @Eggcessive? @Bawkbok?

She still has some pink skin areas that are just too close to her eyes/mouth/ears for me to get BluKote on everything. How long do I do the BluKote every other day? I feel like she needs a bath, she dust bathes enthusiastically and it seem the Neosporin then BluKote have "held" dust/dirt in the feathers below the bare areas. Do I need to address it or just let it wear off with time?

 

[Bawkbok]

It does look like she has new feathers coming in. I think you could stop with the ointment as it appears in the photos as though she has healing skin and feathers. I can't speak to the BlueKote as I've never used it. I would not bath her as this could stress her out. Her dust bathing is her way of cleaning herself and it is a natural way to keep the parasites off. The dirt will fall off as she shakes and moves about. She is looking good. You're doing a great job caring for her. Have you noticed her scratching at her right eye? I'm inclined to say just watch her at this point but I defer to @Eggcessive for insight and further care if any is necessary at this point.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is great that her feathers are already coming back in. It is important to keep up with the BluKote now, because new feather shafts can be real attractive to other chickens. You are doing a great job with her, and I hope that she continues to get back to normal.

 

[Bawkbok]

because new feather shafts can be real attractive to other chickens.

wow - that's interesting. I learn something new from you every day!!

 

[My1stChickens]

It is great that her feathers are already coming back in. It is important to keep up with the BluKote now, because new feather shafts can be real attractive to other chickens. You are doing a great job with her, and I hope that she continues to get back to normal.

Oh dear. Surely don't want those feathers looking tempting! And they will do nothing but get more visible. I will try spraying the BluKote into a tiny container, then using the applicator from the Peck no more (that applicator is an effective design). I just need to be careful, you can see there is bare skin so close to her eyes, mouth and ears. If that doesn't work I will switch to the Peck No More which is less liquid, more sludgy. I realize I might still have 2-3 weeks to go, right? I'd like to have her feathers in before I do "full integration" with the 8 month old group. This means I need to rework the division of the run, so that the 5 month group get one of the outdoor coops so they have shelter from rain. Usually I'm just doing a 2 week "see but no touch" but obviously this time it looks like I'm in for six weeks.

 

[My1stChickens]

Turns BluKote also comes in a bottle with a dauber. I ordered it from Chewy.

 

[My1stChickens]

Updated pictures. They are labeled as 15 days, but it's actually 16 days post injury. I can now feel a little stubble with my finger. There are 'bald' skin areas on both sides, and I tried to cover them a bit with the BluKote but may switch to something more soothing on those areas. I sprayed the BluKote into a small container, then dipped a gloved finger, which worked much better than spraying onto the gloved finger. More precise and better coverage. I feel like she has some pretty RED areas on both sides of her face. Maybe nothing to worry about, it could be the kind of thing you never notice til you take pictures and see everything larger than life. She is still high on the pecking order. She and her BFF (the other easter egger) do run at each other and look fierce every day but there's never any pecking, it's all just for show.

@Eggcessive do I have to wait til she's refeathered to integrate the two groups? I'm not ready/they're not ready yet. There is still some marching along on opposite sides of the fence, mostly between the other EE and Penelope (who seems to be the boss of the 8 month old group). I would like them to get bored with that before I attempt to put the two groups together.

They are reliably roosting now. It's always Baldy who is the first one to jump up. And typically the first one to jump to the second level. The blue hen goes straight up to a railing that is the same level is the third/highest roost. There is usually some posturing about who is going to be where-- not pecking just normal hens trying to crawl underneath the one they are next to. They are also VERY skilled at being let out of the coop, and back in the coop at dusk. Much less feral. I can easily catch Baldy once she's on the roost even if there is still light. And I can touch/catch the others as well. I believe their feral stage is about over and for that I am grateful.

So grateful that I have decided to actually give them names. I think Baldy and her BFF will become Thelma & Louise. The pretty blue hen will be either Pearl or Fancy. And the big Barnvelder is most likely going to be Bernice.
Pictures added, as I am continuing to record her progress. I am pretty surprised at how well she's progressing from such a scary looking injury