Need advice. Baby was scalped.

[dedicateddourly]

This morning when I let the chickens out, I found one of my 5-week olds with a bare and bloody scalp. Don't know if it was one of the other babies or a hen, but I guess it doesn't matter right now.

S/he is acting ok, just a little less active than the rest. I have her in a crate where she is eating and drinking. I cleaned her wound with chlorhexadine solution per my vet husband. Should I also put blukote on it?

She is also stressing out being by herself. Should I leave her inside or put her crate in the run? I'm hesitant about the run because I want her to stay clean. The dirt gets kicked up pretty easily.

Thanks from a worried mama whose husband usually takes care of these things.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Quote:
Hi I had this happen I put mine in crate by itself. I cleaned it up with warm water and put some neosporine on it the kind without pain med in it. It healed up within a week or so. Its amazing how good they heal So sorry this happend Yes on the bluekote Good luck

 

[Alabama ee]

I had this happen to an older bird. Blue Kote is great. Just don't get it in her eyes. It kills the germs and also makes the sore look bluish purple instead of red. That will help when you put her back. The others will be less likely to peck the sore.

 

[dedicateddourly]

Thanks for the quick responses! Blukote it is.

 

[allieloveschickens]

this happened to one of my birds too, I kept her separated from the flock until she healed- I cleaned it daily with antibacterial saline spray and non pain relief neosporin. She grew back all her skin and feathers after a couple months. They are remarkable healers.

 

[dedicateddourly]

Will it really heal? I was applying blukote and the surrounding skin was just slipping and sliding around. Poor baby.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Yes it will heal, will take awhile but in a week you'll be amazed at how much better it will look. You need to find out who did this because it will probably happen again especially after her not being with the flock while she is healing. she must be low in pecking order, so watch now to see if next in line starts to get pecked. And try your best to see who it is thats doing it, then you need to remove the perpertrator to a place by herself for about a week, about the time you'll be putting the injured one back with the flock with lots of Blue-kote on it lil head. that way pecking order is messed up and needs to be reestablished, and hopefully no more pecking. you'll really have to watch this one when you put it back with the flock to make sure they don't peck her wound, but usually the blue-kote does the trick. All the best.

 

[Rachy]

I had a baby pigeon that was scalped by an adult pigeon, it was a little worse than that. He did recover after much love and looking after and kept his name Kojack.

Good luck and fingers crossed for a speedy recovery x

 

[dedicateddourly]

Quote:
Yes it will heal, will take awhile but in a week you'll be amazed at how much better it will look. You need to find out who did this because it will probably happen again especially after her not being with the flock while she is healing. she must be low in pecking order, so watch now to see if next in line starts to get pecked. And try your best to see who it is thats doing it, then you need to remove the perpertrator to a place by herself for about a week, about the time you'll be putting the injured one back with the flock with lots of Blue-kote on it lil head. that way pecking order is messed up and needs to be reestablished, and hopefully no more pecking. you'll really have to watch this one when you put it back with the flock to make sure they don't peck her wound, but usually the blue-kote does the trick. All the best.

Miss Lydia, thanks. I believe the culprit is my only other hen aside from the broody who hatched the babies. I've seen Yolanda peck at the babies, but nothing terribly serious. It's possible that she caused the initial wound and the 6 other babies began picking at the wound. I have Yolanda separated as well. I hope these babies grow up fast so they can defend themselves.

I think Yolanda is bored. We recently moved to a somewhat rural environment and I am not allowing the chickens to free-range because there are too many predators. So they have to stay in the run which technically is big enough, but I guess the dynamic is not ideal.

Everyone, thanks for the support. It helps knowing that you all think the baby will be fine as long as I'm vigilant.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Yes it will heal, will take awhile but in a week you'll be amazed at how much better it will look. You need to find out who did this because it will probably happen again especially after her not being with the flock while she is healing. she must be low in pecking order, so watch now to see if next in line starts to get pecked. And try your best to see who it is thats doing it, then you need to remove the perpertrator to a place by herself for about a week, about the time you'll be putting the injured one back with the flock with lots of Blue-kote on it lil head. that way pecking order is messed up and needs to be reestablished, and hopefully no more pecking. you'll really have to watch this one when you put it back with the flock to make sure they don't peck her wound, but usually the blue-kote does the trick. All the best.

Miss Lydia, thanks. I believe the culprit is my only other hen aside from the broody who hatched the babies. I've seen Yolanda peck at the babies, but nothing terribly serious. It's possible that she caused the initial wound and the 6 other babies began picking at the wound. I have Yolanda separated as well. I hope these babies grow up fast so they can defend themselves.

I think Yolanda is bored. We recently moved to a somewhat rural environment and I am not allowing the chickens to free-range because there are too many predators. So they have to stay in the run which technically is big enough, but I guess the dynamic is not ideal.

Everyone, thanks for the support. It helps knowing that you all think the baby will be fine as long as I'm vigilant.

Please keep us posted on how she is doing. Thanks