My first injury, need some advice please....

[nono]

Ok, will do. Thanks again. And I'm very sorry for the heartache you're suffering at the loss of your own flock. I read your link. You've educated me on something I've had no knowledge about. Although our flock will just be a personal one (we're not participating in breeding or showing) I will be vigilent about the risks you mention. Sending you thoughts of peace, as well as my sincere gratitude for your help in my own minor situation.

 

[86121]

Thank you WhiteWinterWolf. I just cleaned it with some warm water and put some Bacitracin on it (which is what I had in the house.) I'll make up a smaller brooder just for her now, and get her settled into it. I'm so glad we've been handling them as much as we have. She was so patient with me (no one else is home right now, so I was a solo medical attendent) and just sat on my hand quietly as I cleaned it, and gently rubbed on the meds. I'm going to hook up a heat lamp to her brooder, just to keep her a bit warmer for the next 24 hours. I had weaned them down off the lamp early this week because the temps had warmed up so much, and their feather have really come in nicely. Have you had experience with this reoccurring once they are reintroduced into the flock? In other words, will she always be the brunt of attacks because she was this time? Based on my reading (this forum and reference books) this is the age that they all start figuring out their pecking order...so I'm wondering if it was based on that...and it got out of hand because they drew blood and are in close confinement. Our coop is going to be large (8x8) along with the run (20x15), so hopefully once they have more room, the dominance will not be as blood thirsty? I hope. ugh.

No problem.
Bacitracin works wonders, and the heat lamp was a good idea.
I think that because they were in close quarters, the age old tale is that hens will cannibalize if there in a cramped and unhappy space. I think once they are out in there coop and able to get away from each other that everything will go into a normal routine. Keeping in mind that (As you have probably read) that someone will always be at the bottom of the pecking order.
From the sounds of things, someone hit a blood feather, or broke the skin, and they all went nuts due to the cramped crate.
I think you should be fine

 

[FestiveChicken]

Seconding the Blue Kote. Besides being an antiseptic, the other birds no longer see blood and stop picking. Yes, it's a feed store thing. Mine has it over by the horse medications.

Blue Kote will NOT always work! I have an established flock that suddenly has been in turmoil. My Cochin Vivian has gotten the back of her head/neck tore up. Blood etc. I brought her in. Put her in the dog crate. Got the BK from the barn. Sprayed her with that. Went and put her back out there this afternoon and they immediately went at her and pecked what was purple! So now she is caged in the run. And she is upset. She wants to be with her flock even though they might kill her. Tomorrow I am thinking of bringing her back in and keeping her in the house til she fully heals and has feathers back as well.

But seriously. Do not think that just getting the red to not be red will stop this behavior. I thought so. And now have to start all over again healing my poor Cochin.

 

[tlsmpsn]

I read that you should wait until the wound is scabbed to apply the Blue Kote... because with it's antiseptic properties, it can sting open wounds. Is that true? I did Neosporin for 3 days, then WonderDust until scabbed and then Blue Kote.

FestiveChicken - I've heard that Vicks VaporRub will keep others from picking, but I've not tried it!