low hen being pecked to bleeding-when to intercede?

[Trishkabob]

I know this is common but our low of of 5 seems to be getting pecked more and the feathers just behind her comb look wet and thin and the skin there is red/ bleeding (hates to be picked up so I haven't been able to see it up close yet without the others crowding round). She isn't cowering and still active in getting treats and hanging with the others but if she does get bloody
a) should I treat it with something?
b) will it likely increase or get worse or is this normal?
thanks.

 

[Sarevan]

When others see blood, they peck even more. Get her out, you may have to wait until they roost if you can't get her. Check her over apply an antibiotic cream, let her heal up. If she is being bullied find the main one(s) and seperate them for up to a week out of sight of others to redo the pecking order. I would do the seperating of the peckers when you are trying to reintroduce her in the flock so she has a place before they come back in.

Severe pecking on the head can make for bad injuries, I have seen a young hen that had concussion injury from being pecked on the head. She lost balance, couldn't walk straight, damage to her comb, and eyelids. Even after she healed from physical injuries she was erratic. Friend put her down as she wasn't right and others just continued to bully her even more.

 

[CMV]

Treat the area with Blukote to hide the blood. Grab her off the roost at night when the birds are inactive.

Do they need more space? More roosting space? Aggressive pecking can lead to nothing good as Sarevan illustrated. The key is to find out why it is happening and prevent damage from being done. If crowding is not the issue then it is time to look at adding distractions and obstacles to their coop/run area. Adding places to hide and things to duck around, may give your girl a better fighting chance.

 

[Trishkabob]

thanks for both replies. Oddly, it seemed better the next time I checked her and since we have had such wild winter weather: freezing, melting, etc. I decided her head wasn't bloody but maybe wet.
Today, though, her comb looked awful (lower photo) and one of our barred rocks also had black marks on her comb (upper photo). Now I am thinking it is frostbite.
We have good ventilation in the henhouse and the other three look fine but can you tell from these photos if you agree?
I have a recipe for frostbite treatment (with coconut oil, beeswax, and lemon oil) but not sure how often to use it or how to better prevent it.

 

[Trishkabob]

new pic.s- pecking or frostbite?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would lean more toward frostbite. Peck wounds usually are very black and smaller. Frostbite will turn colors from white to tan to brown or black depending on the severity. Bag balm, neosporin or BluKote can be applied. It may clear up in a month if it is not severe, or the tips may fall of if worse.

 

[Trishkabob]

thanks, eggcessive. are you familiar with a homemade treatment with coconut oil, beeswax, vitamin E, calendula, lemon oil?
I wonder if it is our weather or, if the henhouse ( It is well vented and dry) not sure how to improve that.