Pekin bleeding around shoulder area

[CoriM]

Hi, I just went out to my duck coop and saw my girl had some blood around her shoulder area. I pulled back the feathers and down, which are so thick, and it looks like raw flesh, but there is such a thick blanket of feather and down it's impossible to tell what's going on! I dabbed it with some iodine and sprayed vetericyn on it. Is there something more I should do? I am so mystified what would have caused this!! I have 6 girls and they all get along fine. In fact, my husband's been out working in the coop this morning and they've been in the run, and he would have seen if something strange had happened between them all. I've looked around for any loose wire, or anything I can see that may have poked her and nothing that I can notice. Any advice? I hope that this is minor and doesn't lead to any problems!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just clean it real good. You might have to trim her feathers back so you can get a good look at what it is. Don’t leave anything to chance because you may not even have hit the wound. If you can get a pic that will be good.

 

[CoriM]

How

Just clean it real good. You might have to trim her feathers back so you can get a good look at what it is. Don’t leave anything to chance because you may not even have hit the wound. If you can get a pic that will be good.

would I trim the feathers back?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just use a pair of sharp scissors or you could pluck if plucking pluck the feather the way it’s growing in the skin I’ve never plucked but I’ve done a lot of trimming you just want to get a good look at what is bleeding so you’ll know how to treat.

 

[CoriM]

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Her

 

[CoriM]

She just took a bath in fresh water and I was able to get a better look at it outside. I sprayed it again with the vetericyn. It's at the top of her shoulder. The last few days I've noticed one of my pekins pushing her beak into the other ducks backs at that spot when they have fresh water in the pool. I saw her pull a feather out of my other duck when she was doing this and I stopped her right away. I feel like she wants the pool to herself and it's too crowded. However, I supervise them so closely, I can't imagine how she could have wounded my duck Penny so badly by this behavior. do you think it will heal if I keep putting the vetericyn on it? I already added ACV to their food. It's so upsetting!

 

[CoriM]

I hesitate to want to clip the area clean as I would worry that the other ducks would peck at it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You got it fine you can see what happened keep it clean an keep spraying the Veterycin. Do you have any drakes? Females can mount each other and pull feathers out too. And they can also have spats too. So watch them and see what’s going on and maybe think of adding another pool if it’s crowed in the one.

 

[CoriM]

Okay, thank you so much - I feel better. I will keep a close eye on it and keep spraying. No, I don't have any drakes. I did when I was a kid and I remember that behavior. I've seen my females mount each other and tug at the back of the neck also sometimes in the pool, and I try to nip that in the bud. Regarding the pool size, I would love a bigger one, and may work on building something next summer. They have a small pool in their coop that they rarely use, even though I refresh the water almost every day. They view it as a giant water-bowl, which is frustrating. I let them into my yard everyday where they love to use the pool kiddie pool. I have tried two blue kiddies once before, and they just didn't get it that they could divide and have more room - they were very focused on being together. Well thanks so much for your help and looking at this for me!!!

 

[CoriM]

When I first let them out of the coop I didn't see any blood on her. I just checked again when I went out with my husband to spray her wound and it's bloody on the other side. This wound looking raw flesh seems to be more extensive across her shoulders. I am mystified and trying to find a vet that can see her. I feel terrible for her and have no idea what could cause this!