Pecked feet.

peepermama

In the Brooder
Aug 10, 2016
24
0
12
Sarasota Florida
Saturday we rescued a flock of 7 hens. 3 bantams, and 4 regular sized girls. Before we transported them the old owner roughly tossed them in the carriers, and I'm guessing injured the foot feathers of one of the bantams. One of the other bantams began pecking at her and opened up a wound. Got them home, seperated the injured girl, and by night she was no longer bleeding. Put them all in the coop together that night, and woke up to everyone pretty much happy, but the other bantam had started picking on her now. We dressed the wound and covered it and went and got some bluekote got home. Took off the dressing and applied the blue kote. Seemed ok. Checked a few hours later and more picking by the same offender as last time. I rewrapped her foot and all was well the next morning. I've been rewrapped every evening. This morning I noticed the offender pecking at her other foot a bit, but not majorly so I let it be figuring it was just pecking order business. Came home thus evening, and her other foot was now bloody. The other hens aren't bothering with her, just the one. I pulled her out so she can heal, but I'm at a loss. Was it because she was limping? If she heals and goes back in will the picker stop? Also, 2 of the bigger girls look awful. Droopy combs, VERY THIN breastbones, tails down, sleepy, just not looking great. I gave them wormer yesterday took away the corn they were being fed, and put electrolytes in there water. Anything else I can do? I'm attaching pictures of the feet and the flock. Any help.is appreciated. These poor girls were so neglected :(
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Give her feet a good soak in epsom salts, dry them an reapply some blu kote, plain neosporin or vetericyn.

As far as feed, if all they had was corn, I would give them an all flock/flock raiser feed - this is higher in protein (around 20%). Offer oyster shell free choice and poultry grit free choice. Limit your treats to no more than 10% of their daily intake - give things like a few mealworms, sunflower seeds, fresh fruit/veggies.

The picking may be due to stress or habit. If their nutrition was unbalanced then the offender may have a protein deficiency (feathers are protein) which will hopefully correct itself with a balanced poultry feed.

If the picking continues you will want to separate the offender for a few days - this may put her in a lower pecking order category and the picking may stop. Sometimes it never does.

Let us know how they are doing.
 
Thanks so much. I was planning on a good soak tomorrow. The poor bantams have never had access to a run in their lives, and I'm sure the move was stressful as well. They were on a layer feed mixed 50/50 with corn, and I stopped that immediately. Is there anything else I can do for the puny girls? They perked up a tiny bit, but they still seem really bad off. Any way to pack on some healthy weight for them in a hurry?
 

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