Pecking made worse?

[LibbyR]

My black Cochin who is one of my hens that are all the same age has a near completely bald head from pecking which I worried would get an open wound eventually so I mixed some blue food dye into triple antibiotic ointment and applied it. Once I put her back they started pecking the ointment off. So I took her out and wiped all of it off. Now I’m worried that they are going to continue to peck her as her head is still a little blue. I watched and they didn’t peck her then but idk about days too come. Were they just attracted to the shiny ointment or are they going to kill her now cause she looks different? I feel extremely terrible and am very worried that I should have left well enough alone.

 

[CapricornFarm]

My black Cochin who is one of my hens that are all the same age has a near completely bald head from pecking which I worried would get an open wound eventually so I mixed some blue food dye into triple antibiotic ointment and applied it. Once I put her back they started pecking the ointment off. So I took her out and wiped all of it off. Now I’m worried that they are going to continue to peck her as her head is still a little blue. I watched and they didn’t peck her then but idk about days too come. Were they just attracted to the shiny ointment or are they going to kill her now cause she looks different? I feel extremely terrible and am very worried that I should have left well enough alone.

I would separate her until she has a chance to heal up. I have used blue food coloring with no problem.

 

[LibbyR]

I would separate her until she has a chance to heal up. I have used blue food coloring with no problem.

The thing is there are no open wounds so I hate to separate. I was just trying to cover up the red skin to prevent it. I’ve separated before and they never were able to reintegrate and I had to give some of my favorite hens away. If I see pecking early morning I will separate and hope they will allow her back in after her head heals. I think they were attracted to the ointment so I’m hoping that since it is gone and her head is just blue they’ll be fine with it. So wish they weren’t cannibals. I also wish I knew why they pecked her head in the first place. A for one she is huge! Their protein is upped from 16% layer to 18% feather fixer so it shouldn’t be that. Anyone got a diy no pick coating? Does Vick’s work? I used paste blue food coloring. I’ll use anything that’ll make them think twice. I live in a town with very few options when it comes to chicken meds.