Need help: RIR keeps pecking at leghorn's vent causing it to bleed

[makavelitupac]

Whenever my leghorn tries to lay an egg, it seems that the RIR pecks at it, giving bloody eggs. How do I disinfect and clean the leghorn's wound and how do I stop the RIR from pecking her? Any suggestions would be great, thanks in advance!

 

[robin416]

Lock the RIR up away from the flock or get rid of her. This is liable to be a continuing problem with the bird.

Rinse the injured girl with some betadine, put some antibiotic ointment on it. Depending on where you live flies may not be a threat to your bird since Winter is moving in.

 

[makavelitupac]

Thanks for the help Robin! I've isolated the two birds and plan to wash and disinfect the wound with neosporin. It would be unfortunate if I had to get rid of the RIR or keep them isolated long term.

 

[robin416]

Once the one girl's injuries aren't too obvious you won't have to keep her up.

But the RIR might prove to be a continuing problem.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
I hate to say this but it is likely the RIR will have to be culled. I had to do that to a white rock that mangled one of my golden comets who spent two weeks in hospital only to be hit upon again by the white rock. Once they think they can make a regular snack of their sisters it is likely to only escalate.

If you try putting them back together make certain that the Leghorn isn't showing any red in that area, blue kote it,hot pick it, and keep a close eye on the situation.

I was more angry at that white rock than I was at the dog who ran our chickens around, two of the jersey giants and one of the white rocks lost most of their tail feathers, and a bit of skin. It took 6 hours to fix the damage to their pen and to round up the girls.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Sounds to me like the leghorn had a prolapse and the rir went after the red area, try seperating the leghorn until she heals making sure her prolapsed vent goes back in and completely heals before putting her back in with the flock.

 

[VTGIRL]

wow that seems like an odd place for a chicken to go after? Are their vents that noticable to the other birds? I would have never imagined that being a problem.. Of course I am a naive chicken momma

 

[makavelitupac]

I think the problem was when my leghorn first started laying, it bled because of the huge eggs. And so, the RIR was attracted to the wound and kept pecking at it. I've heard from someone that chickens go after each other's wounds so hopefully when my leghorn heals they will no longer have to be separated. I didn't know how bad the injury was until I cleaned it and put antibiotic cream on it, hopefully it will survive...