Somebody, please help - quick!

[Chickybaby]

I was just vacuuming out the brooder, like I do once a week or so. Got done, put fresh shavings in and went to get food and clean water. I got back and saw drops of blood on the fresh shavings and it took me a few minutes to figure out who it was and what it was. It's my sons chick, Fuzzworth! They are not quite 5 week old Lt Brahmas and have feathered feet, so it's kind of hard to see what happened exactly. At first it looked light he lost part of a toe, but like I said it's really hard to see with those fuzzy feet. Looking closer, it looks like he broke some feathers (?), but I can't be sure. I took her to the sink and washed it off, then put some ointment on it to see if it would stop bleeding. It's a MESS! I can't tell if it has stopped or not, and since the others were pecking her foot (that's how I found who it was), I took her out and put her in another clear container next to her flock-mates. She is screaming her head off and ther others are looking down at her (theres a perch in their brooder - it's actually a converted dog crate, but it works) and making noises. I hate to keep her seperate but don't want her being pecked either. Can a chicken break a feather causing it to bleed, or what could have possibly happened?! I'm freaking out! My son is 6 and due home from school in a few hours. If something has happened to his Fuzzworth, it won't be good... What do I need to look for, check for or do? Please, help me! Thanks!

 

[tiki244]

some feather breakage is very very bloody, and it does look painful from what I have noticed, and you do not want the other birds picking on Fuzzworth that is for sure so you are doing the right thing Maybe she will settle down, make sure she is not too hot in whatever you have her in

 

[hencackle]

Sounds like a broken blood feather. You will need to pluck the feather and a new one will re-grow in its place. This link will tell you more....
Blood Feathers

 

[tiki244]

edit: wow hencackle that is some good info

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

If it is a broken blood feather you need to pluck it out, otherwise it will just keep bleeding.

Also, regular all purpose flour works just as well as quick stop to stop the bleeding.

 

[jeaucamom]

She does need to be separated until she stops bleeding and then if you can clean off all the blood, you can put her back. If she is crying while alone, put a stuffed animal and a mirror in with her and she will calm down. Good luck! Suz

 

[Matt A NC]

I had something very similar happen and the flour worked perfect. A problem occured when I tried to put the chick back in the brooder. There were several feathers stained with blood and the other chicks were trying to peck it.

So, I used food dye to dye the blood stained feathers brown. I waited till it had dried to put it back. No more problems with that chick.

Matt

 

[Chickybaby]

Thanks to you all! Fuzzworth is settling down a bit, but the feather (or should I say stub) is REALLY red - afraid it's a blood feather (thanks for the link!). There doesn't seem to be any blood spots in the container I have her in, for now, but I put a good amount of ointment on it and that may have stopped/slowed it for the time being. I'll wait until a little later and check it again. I may take her down the road to a neighbor (they've got all kinds of chickens!) and see what they say. My husband is out of town for a few days (doesn't it figure) and the kids won't be of much help if I need to pull it. How long should I wait to see if it needs to come out, or if something else might work?

 

[GwenFarms]

Your going to need to smear a little bearing grease, or something else thick and goopy on the spot. It probably came from pecking. If it didn't come from other chicks pecking they will start. They are terrible about pecking one another during this stage when the blood feathers are coming in.

 

[Chickybaby]

I'm pretty sure it happened when I was cleaning out the brooder - they don't like it much and all pile into one corner or flap around like I'm trying to kill them. They haven't pecked at all until this happened, and it's how I first saw which one had the problem. A few others were pecking her foot and she was trying to get away. I'll be sure to keep her seperated until I'm sure there's no blood to attract anyone, even if it means having to pull the feather. I hate the thought of doing that, but I sure don't want her to slowly bleed to death either. The ointment is wearing off, or rubbing off, on the other feathers on her foot. It looks like it could still be seeping some, but at least isn't all over her foot and feathers like it was!