Red bloody skin after pine tar

[reesint]

Hello, all! I'm new here... My husband and I just recently (about ten months ago) started raising backyard chickens, and now we have six. One that we've had for a few months now came to us with bare spots on her back and neck. The skin looked healthy, but patches were bare. We assumed it would grow back, but as time went on the bare patches didn't fill in.

We didn't notice any of the others pecking on her, or any feather plucking etc, but we read somewhere that pine tar might help protect the skin from any plucking that might be going on in order to allow new feathers to grow.

So we put pine tar on her yesterday, and today her skin is not only bare, it is also red and bloody in spots. Like either the pine tar is bothering her skin or it is actually CAUSING the others to peck at her! Again, we aren't seeing any pecking. Just red and bloody skin where it used to be just white, bare, fairly healthy-looking skin.

Should we keep applying the pine tar? We're not sure what to do. It sounds like it can help wounds heal, but I wonder if for some chickens it can irritate them? An allergy or something?

Since we're pretty new at this, we'd appreciate any guidance we can get!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would stop the pine tar. She was better before it so with the new issues i would stop the use.

Can you take pictures of her skin so we can have a look at what is going on?

There are a lot of very experienced folks that may spot something in the pics.

 

[reesint]

So now after talking to my husband more, I'm not sure there were actually any open wounds. I thought so, but he said no, it was just red. Now I'm wondering if the pine tar just causes discoloration? I'll attach a few photos here of how it looks this morning. Maybe we'll be able to get some better pictures later when my husband is here to hold her still...

 

[coach723]

The damage on her back looks like rooster damage from being mounted. Can't see her head/neck but those spots may have the same cause. The feathers will likely grow back in when she molts. I wouldn't use anything on her unless she's getting picked on by the other birds. Alternately you can protect her back with a hen saddle until feather regrowth starts.
www.hensaver.com
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/free-chicken-apron-saddle-pattern.424354/#post-5201261

 

[reesint]

Thanks! We thought it was probably from the rooster at the last place she lived. We don't have roosters, so we thought it would grow back by now. Knowing that it may take until her next molt is helpful.

The damage on her back looks like rooster damage from being mounted. Can't see her head/neck but those spots may have the same cause. The feathers will likely grow back in when she molts. I wouldn't use anything on her unless she's getting picked on by the other birds. Alternately you can protect her back with a hen saddle until feather regrowth starts.
www.hensaver.com
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/free-chicken-apron-saddle-pattern.424354/#post-5201261

 

[CatWhisperer]

Just curious, where did you get the idea to put pine tar on her? What was it supposed to do?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Just curious, where did you get the idea to put pine tar on her? What was it supposed to do?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_tar#Medical

Toward the bottom of the page.

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pine_tar.html

https://www.chickenwhisperermagazin...nt/keep-your-rooster-from-harassing-your-hens

In the section "protect your hens".

I had a bullied hen many many many moons ago and was told by my then farm vet to use it to cover the wound.

 

[333113]

I prefer to use Blu Kote to reduce picking from other birds. Doesn't hurt the birds or you, but it does stain. It will not prevent rooster damage, but will prevent follow-on picking from the other hens. Murray McMurray carries it, but you can also find it at most feed stores and pet big-box stores.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I prefer to use Blu Kote to reduce picking from other birds. Doesn't hurt the birds or you, but it does stain. It will not prevent rooster damage, but will prevent follow-on picking from the other hens. Murray McMurray carries it, but you can also find it at most feed stores and pet big-box stores.

I agree it is SOOOOO much easier to use.

The pine tar was HORRIBLE to use and so sticky.

 

[chickens really]

Possibly its mites or lice? The feathers won't grow back till she molts.