Please help! I don't know what to do!

[Keziah]

Hello, so I was outside feeding my chickens today and I saw that my 2-year-old white leghorn's head and neck feathers were covered in blood! I am very scared and do not know what to do. (also it's the middle of winter where I live) What do I do? I attached a picture so yall can see it too. What caused this, and how can it be prevented?!?!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I’m sorry about your hen. Do you see any wounds? Or could the blood be from her comb? Does she act normal? I’d just try to clean up any wounds, make sure she’s eating and drinking, and keep an eye on her. Make sure the others don’t pick on her.

 

[Keziah]

i dont see any woulds, but a few of her head feathers are missing near her comb she is eating and drinking which is good. what should i clean it with? my parents dont let me bring them inside, and i fear that if i clean her up outside, it will freeze and get worse

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

Hmm I would dab a bit of hydrogen peroxide on it and wipe it up A bit. Thankfully I don't think it's a lethal injury. All you should do is clean it up a bit and keep an eye on her. Give me some updates of how she heals up!♥

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Would it be possible to set her up under a heat lamp or something? If not, I’d just clean it with some damp paper towels. Veterycin spray works well if you have it. Are you sure there’s no wounds? It probably was some pecking related comb injury, but I think she’ll be fine.

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

Also if you get Blu-kote and spray it on her wound without getting it in her eyes that would be awesome!

 

[Keziah]

okay! i will ask if we can get some! we just set up our heat lamp in the coop last night. it might have been the other girls pecking at her because she got the most heat? idk. she is usually at the top of the pecking order so this is strange to see. Thank you all for your help!

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

Your welcome hopefully she gets better!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

If you have the heat lamp in the coop, I think it’s fine if you were to clean her up with some damp towels. Also, the blue-kote does help prevent pecking when there’s wounds. If you do see wounds, I’d use the blue-kote. Good luck!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

What color light bulb is in your heat lamp? If it is not red, they may have been pecking each other dopue to light at night. A red heat lamp bulb is better for allowing sleep. Heat lamps are very dangerous, though, and many people lose chickens and coops due to fires each year. So if there is a need for one, make sure that the lamp is securely fastened or double fastened with wire, and kept at least 20 inches from the chicken’s heads or any bedding.

Do you know how cold it was last night to need a heat lamp. It was 12 F here last night, and my chickens did fine without a heat lamp. As long as they are inside without a draft directly on them, they should keep warm enough. Just be careful if you use one. A pecked comb may be all that is wrong. It should heal on it’s own, but watch out for others pecking her head.