yesterday I posted a message about a wounded chick (5 weeks old). He (not sure if it's a roo) has survived the night in a separate cage and the neosporin has prevented further trouble. There is now dark caked blood over his head but no red fresh blood. He is behaving normal, active and eats. I know that chickens will peck at fresh blood to the point of killing. Can I turn him out with his siblings, separate from the layer hens? I really need advice soon before they don't recognize each other and I have to re-introduce him.
I had one that I had to seperate too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=47523 She is still alone until her wound is covered better. Right now you can only see skin on her and the feathers are starting to grow back, I havent dared to put her back in yet. I wanted some growth back first. Hope this helps
I know that you cannot reintroduce the chick while he has bloody or blood-caked wounds. The cannibalism will only continue. From what I've read, he must be completely healed. I did have my girls pecking at an unhealed umbilicus on another chick, but we didn't get to the point of bleeding. I painted the umbilicus with a solution of alcohol and several drops of blue food coloring, until the solution was dark blue. Paint several times a day for several days. The blue washes out the the attractive red tones of the wound, and the alcohol dries the wound and promotes healing. The other girls didn't seem interested in the umbilicus after that. If you decide to give it a try, use a q-tip and watch out for any drips into the eyes and nose! That being said, I still think you'll have to wait for a great deal of healing first. Good luck!