New and in need of advice!

Date sort Score sort
shelley410s

shelley410s

Hatching
8 Years
Jul 7, 2011
2
0
7
Hi from Orange County, CA! As a new and, until today, happy mother of (6 ) two-month old chicks, I am horrified by the girls' behavior and need help on two fronts. One- today the chicks, led by the turken, attacked and pecked all the feathers from base of the tail of the ameracauna. It's now a bloody mass. How do I protect her and why are they picking on only her? I've now separated her into a pen where they can still see each other and hoping that won't further alienate her from the flock. Two- How do I treat her wound? Thanks so much for any and all advice!
 
Welcome to BYC. You did well to separate her, since once the others see blood they will keep pecking. If you go to the index and then to the section on emergencies and injuries, you will find advice on how to treat her. There is a search feature if you need it or you can just look through the thread titles. I would think cleaning the wound with water would help; I keep Betadine on hand to wash injuries. Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment is OK to use, just avoid anything with one of the "...caine" drugs in it, such as lidocaine, benzocaine, etc. Keep her separated for a few days so you can keep the woulnd clean and dry to help it heal faster. Don't be horrified; chickens just do this. It's how they establish their pecking order.
 
A BIG
welcome-byc.gif
FROM ALABAMA. MY MOM HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER. ONE CHICKEN HAD PECKED ALL THE FEATHERS OFF OF THE OTHER CHICKENS HEAD WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER, SO THEY PUT HER IN A SEPERATE PEN SO SHE COULD HEAL UP. WHEN SHE GOT OLDER SHE PUT HER BACK IN THE BIG PEN, BUT THEN SHE STARTED PICKING ON THE ONE WHO HAD PICKED ON HER SO THEY JUST KEEP HER IN A SEPERATE PEN. THEY DIDNT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO THE WOUND IT HEALED UP ON ITS OWN BUT SHE IS STILL BALD.
 
frow.gif
&
welcome-byc.gif
from Louisiana! You can also try using Blue Kote to cover the wound and helps the healing process. Sometimes they are just bored, overcrowded, etc. and sometimes they are just trying to establish their pecking order. Hope you can get your little one all healed!!
thumbsup.gif
 
Thanks for the advice! This week I've been putting them in their new run during the day while we finish building the coop. At night, I put them back in the big dog crate I was using as a brooder. The turken has always been the 'queen' chick but today she pecked at ALL of the others (1 each welsummer, ameracauna, RIR, buff orpington, and dominique) until they all turned on the ameracauna.
Do you think she's re-establishing herself in the new space? She's one of my most affectionate and favorite chicks...
 
welcome-byc.gif
Im glad you came here, my knowledge of chickens and chicken owning grows everyday on this website. i 2nd the advice already given. Is she the smallest? once a chick bleeds the other chicks peck peck peck it! wait till she heals. If its one chick starting it, separate it as it might have cannibilism issues, and or be just plain mean. Separating it may teach it a lesson.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom