My Poor Polish is injured.

[Leggsandeggs]

My polish Sodapop is injured. She is the only one in the group of 7 chickens. When her feathers get wet one or two of the other chickens peck the top of her head. When I came home tonight 3/4 of the feathers were gone and a huge bloody wound. I brought her inside and have her in a crate. I put antibiotics on her wound. A few questions. This seems to happen every time her head gets wet and I don't have an area for a separate coop. What is the best product to put in the bottom of the crate? She has food and water and a perch. Will she get lonely being by herself? (I play chickens on the iPad when this had happened before.). Any suggestions to help remedy this problem? I really like her and don't want to give her away. I'm in Minnesota so building a coop right now in the snow and ice is not so easy.

Thank You!!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My polish Sodapop is injured. She is the only one in the group of 7 chickens. When her feathers get wet one or two of the other chickens peck the top of her head. When I came home tonight 3/4 of the feathers were gone and a huge bloody wound. I brought her inside and have her in a crate. I put antibiotics on her wound. A few questions. This seems to happen every time her head gets wet and I don't have an area for a separate coop. What is the best product to put in the bottom of the crate? She has food and water and a perch. Will she get lonely being by herself? (I play chickens on the iPad when this had happened before.). Any suggestions to help remedy this problem? I really like her and don't want to give her away. I'm in Minnesota so building a coop right now in the snow and ice is not so easy.

Thank You!!!!

I'm sorry to hear about Sodapop.

For me, if I ever brought a chicken inside, I'd use puppy pads to line the crate. Easy cleanup and a lot less dust than shavings. Chickens already bring their own dust with them.

She may get a little lonely, but she may also enjoy a bit of solitude since she's been plucked. Music or video may be entertaining for her.

As for a remedy to keep the others from plucking her, I don't know. Maybe @Aunt Angus can offer some suggestions. I've seen quite a few folks mention their Polish or other poufy birds getting plucked by large fowl. A permanent solution would likely be separate housing with a couple of other Polish. Some birds that have beards/muffs seem to suffer the same type of trouble; they get their cheeks plucked.

 

[Eggcessive]

When my 2 polish hens were pecked, usually it was one or the other, I would put BluKote on their heads every other day to hide the red color. If she is bleeding, she will need plain Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment for a couple of days. Then when it scabs, BluKote is good. Usually when the pecking first started, if I saw it in time, the BluKote would stop it. Try it to see if it helps, but keep her separated until you get some. Pine tar or Nustock cream in the horse supplies might alao be considered, since those taste bad and will help to heal.