Polish Roo(?)’s feathers pecked off

[OpheliaChick]

This is my first post so I apologize if I’m putting this in the wrong place.

I have a White Crested Black Polish chick, which is about 7 weeks old. I believe he is a roo because he is rather aggressive. When I came home from work yesterday I went to check on the chicks (6 White Silkies, 5 Black Australorps, 4 Buff Orpingtons all about 7 weeks old) because they were just moved out of the brooder into the coop. The first thing I noticed was that “Pom”, the White Crested Black Polish chick, was missing about a quarter size amount of feathers from the very top of his head. I immediately picked him up and put him back in the brooder (He began to chirp loudly once he found out that he was alone). Pom seemed so lonely, so I made a little cage out of some chicken wire for him in the coop that way he could be with the others. He seems fine but I just wanted to know if there is anything else I can do for him to help speed up the healing process. Is there some kind of medicine I can put on his head? I would also like to know when should I put him back in with the others. Are they going to continue to peck at him until all his feathers have grown back?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[Andora]

My white crested birds always get their heads pecked! I read on here to put pine tar on their bald spots. I got some, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[OpheliaChick]

Will Pom's feathers grow back in if there is pine tar there?

Sorry if I sound silly but this is my first flock!

 

[Tonya]

I ended up having to seperate my polish from the rest of my chickens I have 5 and we had to build a different coop. What I did untill we got the other coop built was put vicks vapor rub on the bald spot and no it dont burn It has on the label for raw chaffed skin and I have put it on myself on chaffed skin and It helped alot. Anyway it seems to deter them from picking so much but it has to be put on daily the smell I think is what deters them. Just my personal opinion.

 

[Andora]

I don't know if they will grow back through the pine tar. That's a good question! I think what's supposed to happen is a chicken pecks the nasty pine tar, gets a mouth full, and never wants to peck again. Then the pine tar wears off and the feathers grow back...?

 

[tackyrama]

We have some GL Polish that were getting pecked on. A couple had "bald" spots the size you mention. After we let them out to free range the pecking stopped and the feathers grew back after a time. Blu Kote works for stopping the pecking. Most any vet will have it in stock.

 

[OpheliaChick]

I think the reason the pecking started is because they were bored. Their run should be ready by this Sunday. ::fingers crossed:: I will try putting the Blu Kote on tonight (I called my local farm supply store and that is the only thing they carry... no pine tar) and see how he does with the the others.

 

[OpheliaChick]

So I got the Blu Kote and put it on his pecked head (the Blu Kote actually came out purple!) and I let it dry for a few mintues, then I placed him back with the others AND.... they still pecked at his head!! SOooo with my Uncle's help we quickly built the chicken run. I then let them all out into the run, Pom included, and they left him alone. He was scratching the ground with the rest of them and not one of them pecked at his head. When it started to get dark I put them back in the coop (I had to catch them one by one and place them in the coop. I'm hoping that with time they will know to go in there themselves when it gets dark) but placed Pom back in his cage. I just didn't want to take any chances. Tomorrow morning I will let them all back out together and with any luck by night fall Pom will be able to sleep with the rest of the flock.

 

[OpheliaChick]

Pom was fine all day today with the rest of the flock. When I went to check on them again at 4:30pm I noticed that Pom's head was bloody again. I'm afraid that they are going to end up killing him!! I put some more Blu Kote on his head and put him back in the cage. Do I just keep him caged up until all his feathers grow back?

 

[OpheliaChick]

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what I should do that I'm not already doing?