Stinky Cochin

[LindsaySinai]

I have four chickens and the one thats obviously at the bottom of the pecking order has been getting picked on a lot more recently. I just looked out the window and one chicken had its leg on her head and wouldn't stop pecking her. When I picked her up yesterday she had a weird smell to her that turned my stomach. If she was dying, or diseased would the other chickens sense it and peck her more like they're doing? Or maybe under her fluffy cochin feathers she has a wound that's festering??

 

[chicmom]

Sometimes bad smells can indicate infection. I would really look her over, deep down into the feathers and see if there's a wound, and of course check her behind as well. She might need a bath. Also, if she has mites or lice there is a different smell sometime. (I discovered that when someone sold me an infested pair of Ameraucanas.)

I would baby her a little, separate her from the flock and see what happens. If she does have a wound, you could spray it with a product called Blue Cote. Bright blue (looks like ink), but it will help the wound heal. She may need some antibiotics if she has a wound that smells bad.

 

[LindsaySinai]

Sometimes bad smells can indicate infection. I would really look her over, deep down into the feathers and see if there's a wound, and of course check her behind as well. She might need a bath. Also, if she has mites or lice there is a different smell sometime. (I discovered that when someone sold me an infested pair of Ameraucanas.)

I would baby her a little, separate her from the flock and see what happens. If she does have a wound, you could spray it with a product called Blue Cote. Bright blue (looks like ink), but it will help the wound heal. She may need some antibiotics if she has a wound that smells bad.

Thank you for the advice. I have a very weak stomach and I'm the only one home right now so I just went out and observed her for a little while. Her rear looks pretty raw..not like the others. She's my only white one and she's looking pretty dingy but maybe thats just because she's white so it stands out more. Do you think I should give her an actual bath and then spray that stuff on her rear?