Last Friday I tried to integrate my two new chickens into my "flock". I had a 6month old Easter Egger and a 6 month old Silkie and added a 4 month old Easter Egger and silkie (they're buddies and came from the same farm). They have all four been free ranging together for a month (but sleeping in different coops) and we decided that since they have "played" so well together in the yard that we could give them an hour or two together in the coop. When we went to check on them, my poor little silkie had a nickle size wound on her head where the older easter egger had pecked the skin and feathers off completely. Being our first chicken injury, we freaked out, felt horrible and guilty, were convinced she was going to die, etc. I cleaned it with diluted betadine and covered it in neosporin. Thankfully she was eating and drinking like normal just very tired. We took her to the vet the next day just to be sure we did the right thing and after the vet cleaned it she gave us an oral antibiotic, silver cream, a pain killer, and an antiseptic.
She's living inside in a dog crate of sorts. We let her wonder around the house most of the day (I work at home) and I brought her favorite plant inside so she can nibble on it. The wound is healing but yesterday and today she has started scratching the spot. I'm sure it's because it's healing and it itches just like it does for humans. Everytime she does this it scratches the scab off and it starts bleeding again. The spot is right on the top of her head but she can reach it with her toe. I can't help but feel like were taking one step forward and two steps back. It's never going to heal if she continues to scratch at it. Please tell me what I can do to make her stop!!
She's living inside in a dog crate of sorts. We let her wonder around the house most of the day (I work at home) and I brought her favorite plant inside so she can nibble on it. The wound is healing but yesterday and today she has started scratching the spot. I'm sure it's because it's healing and it itches just like it does for humans. Everytime she does this it scratches the scab off and it starts bleeding again. The spot is right on the top of her head but she can reach it with her toe. I can't help but feel like were taking one step forward and two steps back. It's never going to heal if she continues to scratch at it. Please tell me what I can do to make her stop!!
