Picked on Houdan : (

[2DogsFarm]

My Houdan pullet has been having some problems with her topknot freezing from getting dipped in their heated waterbowl.

I cut it shorter to try to fix this, but it only helped a little bit and now the other 4 (non-Houdans) are picking at her since they can see her pink scalp through the frozen feathers.

She is eating & drinking and not acting differently than normal, but it cannot feel good to have that scalp exposed.

I've put Blu-Kote on her to stop them, but wondered if there's anything else I can do for her poor little bald head.

Temps here have been brutal - in the low teens & colder at night so I've been keeping them in their coop for the last 3 days.
When I left the door to the yard open they mostly stayed in anyhow - they are NOT happy about snow in place of grass.
(I've put some flakes of hay out in the yard for them to stand on & pick at)
It is supposed to "warm up" to the 20s this week, so I'll be opening the coop to the yard - they can always get inside & sheltered if they want. Water & food are inside.

As a last resort I thought of taking her indoors to get the topknot completely clean & dry and then putting something topical - like Bacitracin - on to help it heal.

Any suggestions?

 

[OhMyItsAndyy]

I wouldnt mess with it now.
It doesn't feel good to see her getting picked on and stuff, ofcourse, but chickens heal really well.
Just make sure it looks blue so the pink won't attract the other hens to pick at it.

Your already doing a good job

 

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks - I only have a 40W bulb in the coop so it's hard to see, but if she doesn't look better tonight I may take her in and see if I can get her head totally dry & blue before putting her back out.

Did I mention I hate Winter?
Something is wrong when I am looking forward to 20F