Scalped baby chick!

[shanadienne]

Well, the Skullkid and Pidgy in the pen plan didn't work out. Pidgy wanted to be with the other twelve chicks, Skullkid wanted his "real" mom, and his loud crying may have attracted the bobcat that got two of my roosters on Friday morning.

Then Skullkid escaped from the pen and got attacked by his evil brother again (who has started attacking the others as well; I'm considering culling a chick for the first time ever) so Skullkid is officially a house chicken now. He's about as happy as a 4 week old chick who's been separated from his family can be expected to be.

This was him on Friday:

Also, turns out he's inherited his (biological) mother's habit of crowing when he can't find the rest of the flock. She also started at 4 weeks old.

Question: should I still use Blu-kote even though he's indoors? Or is Neosporin enough?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Well, the Skullkid and Pidgy in the pen plan didn't work out. Pidgy wanted to be with the other twelve chicks, Skullkid wanted his "real" mom, and his loud crying may have attracted the bobcat that got two of my roosters on Friday morning.

Then Skullkid escaped from the pen and got attacked by his evil brother again (who has started attacking the others as well; I'm considering culling a chick for the first time ever) so Skullkid is officially a house chicken now. He's about as happy as a 4 week old chick who's been separated from his family can be expected to be.

This was him on Friday:
View attachment 1110232

Also, turns out he's inherited his (biological) mother's habit of crowing when he can't find the rest of the flock. She also started at 4 weeks old.

Question: should I still use Blu-kote even though he's indoors? Or is Neosporin enough?

I'd blu Kote anyways. It gets into all the crevices and it won't hurt. Besides, who doesn't want purple hair/feathers?

 

[shanadienne]

I pronounce Skullkid healed! And extremely hard to get a decent photo of!

Maybe he's going to end up looking like he has a reverse-tonsure?

His ear is going to be purple for a long time (drives me crazy because I keep thinking it's something on him) but at least I'll learn if/when chickens molt their ear feathers.

His sister, who got a similar injury, is also doing well:

She has a tiny crest coming in so she might have a pretty stylish sidecut or something when she grows up.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I pronounce Skullkid healed! And extremely hard to get a decent photo of!
View attachment 1120995
Maybe he's going to end up looking like he has a reverse-tonsure?

His ear is going to be purple for a long time (drives me crazy because I keep thinking it's something on him) but at least I'll learn if/when chickens molt their ear feathers.

His sister, who got a similar injury, is also doing well:
View attachment 1120996
She has a tiny crest coming in so she might have a pretty stylish sidecut or something when she grows up.

I'm so happy for a good outcome! They are resilient critters! My white Silkie will have a purple mark from the blukote for a while too. It's just like hair Color!