Rooster ripped hen's skin right off (Graphic imagery)

[coach723]

I used the antibiotic ointment until the scab was starting to flake off of the healed wound. It came off slowly from the edges in. The ointment helped keep the thick scab from splitting as she moved her head around. I did not use anything else (honestly I don't like blukote, it's messy and stains and it can make it hard to tell if tissue is looking healthy and healing, or not). I just kept her in a crate in the run with the others until it was healed up enough so that it wasn't a risk for getting pecked and opened up (it was not a time of year when flies were numerous so fly strike was less likely- if you have a lot of flies I would keep her where flies couldn't get to the wound until it was scabbing over). Once I put her out with the others I did it while I was able to watch and make sure no one was going to be interested in it. Mine was a fairly senior bird in the pecking order, so she did fine. Keeping her in the run the whole time where everyone could still see her made reintegration pretty easy.

 

[My1stChickens]

I used the antibiotic ointment until the scab was starting to flake off of the healed wound. It came off slowly from the edges in. The ointment helped keep the thick scab from splitting as she moved her head around. I did not use anything else (honestly I don't like blukote, it's messy and stains and it can make it hard to tell if tissue is looking healthy and healing, or not). I just kept her in a crate in the run with the others until it was healed up enough so that it wasn't a risk for getting pecked and opened up (it was not a time of year when flies were numerous so fly strike was less likely- if you have a lot of flies I would keep her where flies couldn't get to the wound until it was scabbing over). Once I put her out with the others I did it while I was able to watch and make sure no one was going to be interested in it. Mine was a fairly senior bird in the pecking order, so she did fine. Keeping her in the run the whole time where everyone could still see her made reintegration pretty easy.

Thanks Coach! Mine is a youngster who does fine with her 3 young peers, but they've not yet been integrated with the older hens. (The littles are 5 months, the older are just 8 months so not a huge age difference. (And one almost 10 year old). Since one or more of the 8month olds did the scalping, do you think this aggression will be remembered/repeated? Or will this be a normal integration when the time comes. (I'm planning to reintegrate all the 5 month olds first and wait at least another week for full integration, longer if I see any bad behavior)

 

[coach723]

It depends on why it happened. Do you know if there was a cause?
If there was a small injury, pecking, getting a comb caught on something, etc. then others would be attracted to the blood and continue to peck at it, making it worse. If you have a boy, he could have done it mounting. (If I'm understanding correctly, one of the 8 month olds did it to one of the 5 month olds?). Usually at those ages, if they've been in a look but don't touch scenario for a while, it's usually fairly smooth to put them together. If you do have a bully or very aggressive bird, then that bears watching and caution. Boys at that age are often rude, obnoxious, and have no manners, so if that was the case it could have been accidental. But if it's a boy being too rough, then I'd consider separating him if possible until he matures a little bit. If you can make a parallel run, where they can see him, and he can see them (assuming you want to keep a boy) that makes it easier later on.
My hen got scalped because she was wearing a hen saddle, she was an escape artist and kept getting it off. I went out one day and she'd gotten her legs tangled in it somehow and wasn't able to walk, but was flapping around, and due to her abnormal behavior she was attacked by flock mates. I never put a saddle on that particular bird again.

 

[My1stChickens]

It depends on why it happened. Do you know if there was a cause?
If there was a small injury, pecking, getting a comb caught on something, etc. then others would be attracted to the blood and continue to peck at it, making it worse. If you have a boy, he could have done it mounting. (If I'm understanding correctly, one of the 8 month olds did it to one of the 5 month olds?). Usually at those ages, if they've been in a look but don't touch scenario for a while, it's usually fairly smooth to put them together. If you do have a bully or very aggressive bird, then that bears watching and caution. Boys at that age are often rude, obnoxious, and have no manners, so if that was the case it could have been accidental. But if it's a boy being too rough, then I'd consider separating him if possible until he matures a little bit. If you can make a parallel run, where they can see him, and he can see them (assuming you want to keep a boy) that makes it easier later on.
My hen got scalped because she was wearing a hen saddle, she was an escape artist and kept getting it off. I went out one day and she'd gotten her legs tangled in it somehow and wasn't able to walk, but was flapping around, and due to her abnormal behavior she was attacked by flock mates. I never put a saddle on that particular bird again.

These two sets of birds were sharing a divided (11x13) coop. Metal fence panels, then aviary netting from the roof down to the top of the panels, zip tied securely. Four 4-mo olds on one side, three 8-mo olds plus the 10 year old on the other side. This 4 month old somehow got on the wrong side during the night or early morning. They've only been across the fence from each other since Monday, so on the 4th day she got on the wrong side. She was hunkered down in a corner. I'm sure the two busy-body Ameraucanas confronted her. The pecked her bloody and there was blood on the wall. When I got to the coop everyone was up and milling about pleasantly, and I thought the little one was dead. I guess the good news was that the attack stopped before it went further. Really only one of the 8 month olds has shown any bossiness, but it's mild pecking order stuff. She's the boss hen, but has never hurt the others. The injured 5 month old was arguably the boss baby of her group, so she may have challenged before she cowered, no way to know.
I guess I'll heal her up, with her peers in sight. Then reintegrate with the other peers. And then continue with the full integration. THe coop and run are already divided and I have plenty of room. (Run is 35x60 so plenty big for the 8 of them)
No roosters. And if Priscilla wants to act ugly I can confine her to a cage for a bit, or let her have one section while the other 7 share the other side. Having this much space is an advantage I guess.

 

[coach723]

I've had younger chicks 'escape' into the large run also. It's pretty common that they get beat up, sometimes killed. They are trespassers as far as the other flock is concerned. So once she's healed up, and then integrated properly, there is a good chance all will be fine. It is good that you have enough space to make allowances. Space is definitely an asset when you have chickens.

 

[My1stChickens]

I've had younger chicks 'escape' into the large run also. It's pretty common that they get beat up, sometimes killed. They are trespassers as far as the other flock is concerned. So once she's healed up, and then integrated properly, there is a good chance all will be fine. It is good that you have enough space to make allowances. Space is definitely an asset when you have chickens.

Thank you. I feel terrible that my arrangement was not sufficient to keep everyone on their own side. This isn't my first time, and honestly this time the arrangements were the most thorough because my sister helped and we thought we'd covered EVERY base. This 5 month group I call "the feral chickens" because they're just wild. Quarantine was extended an extra 2 months, spending time with them every day. Never could catch or hold them. The biggest accomplishment was that they'd eat fresh picked grass from my hand as long as I held absolutely still. I'm hoping once they start laying, they'll get nicer/easier. And once they start roosting (nope, they only roost during the day-- at night they sleep on the floor in a pile) I can at least catch them after dark.
In a sad way, I feel a little better that I'm not the first one to have the younger chicks escape and trespass-- and suffer consequences.

 

[coach723]

Honestly, trying to think like a chicken, is REALLY hard! No matter how hard you try, seems like they always find an innovative way to work around whatever you do. I actually had a bird hang herself in a less than one inch gap in my 7' gate where the hinge is. Never in a million years thought that could happen. They can truly get themselves into some crazy predicaments sometimes. I had a very small chick keep escaping into the big run. None of the other chicks ever did. I kept fixing what I thought might be the problem, and it kept escaping. Til finally it disappeared without a trace. It was quite small, so I figure it was killed and eaten by the others in the big run. I had hardware cloth, bird netting, concrete blocks, etc, and what seemed a pretty darn secure run. Never found a trace. None of the others ever got out, and I never really figured out how it was getting out. Stuff happens.
I have egyptian fayoumi's, which are the biggest spazzes I've ever had in chickens. The ONLY way I can catch them is to lock them in the coop after dark. Outside, no way in H E double toothpicks I'm getting my hands on one unless it's really sick. Worming them is a real experience! So I get it.

 

[My1stChickens]

@coach -- You DO get it! It's nice to realize I'm not the only one with struggles LOL. Here's updated pics of my little feral trespasser from today. The swelling has gone down, which I'm sure is good. I see some greenish spots which I hope is just bruising. Still some red, but not a shiny bloody mess. She's eating pretty well, drinking pretty well, and pretty unhappy about her kennel.
Today it was 80, it will be 60 overnight. Tomorrow night down to 29 so I'm freaking out about whether to treat her like a hospital patient or a chicken... ie heat source or indoors vs just give her some hay to cuddle up in. Any thoughts?

 

[Mountain Roost]

Depending on the wound, protection from freezing is recommended. Any Frostbite would re-injure the skin and cause a healing set-back. I would err on the side of caution, especially with those temperature swings.

 

[coach723]

I agree. If it's only freezing over night then you could put her back out during the warm parts of the day and only bring in when the temps drop. That way she doesn't get completely de acclimated to the outdoors making it harder to move her back out when ready. It really depends on what is doable for you and what your daytime temps get up to. But better safe than sorry.