Vick's Vaporub did NOT work

[sparkles2307]

We have one, ONE chick out of the 100+ in the brooder who was getting pecked bald. When we first noticed it it was just a small patch, so I put Vaporub on it generously. The next morning it was his WHOLE BACK and both wings pecked bare... He seemed very lively and perky, eating, drinking, running around with the others... but I put him in isolation last night with his own water dish, food, bed, stuffed animals, heat lamp, etc. As soon as I got him in there he just plunked down with his wings limp hanging down his sides and never moved, not even to go get into his hull bed for the night, he just laid on the plastic next to the food dish all night.... I am worried, he was still there this morning...I dont want to bother him too much, just let him have some quiet R&R ya know? -But what else can I do? Like I sadi, he was FINE behavioraly while with the others, but by himself he is just mopey and deathly still...I dont understand how pecking (never broke the skin, not one blood spot or scab on him) could make him sick like he is acting!?!

 

[NJbirdlover]

Was he droopy before the vapor rub? Do you think the fumes could have hurt him, or is it in a spot that it could have been ingested?

 

[Mahlzeit]

Chickens are pretty social animals. Maybe him being all alone has made him/her a bit lonely? What if you put one or maybe 2 chicks with him/her.

 

[sparkles2307]

It was his back, I suppose he could have reached it, but I heard on here that the Vaporub will keep them from pecking... he wasnt droopy before...but again, if I put him back in with everyone else he perks right back up... do they get all mopey if they are lonely?

 

[coffeelady3]

I'm not too much help, but I do know that Vicks is not good for chickens. If there's still some on the chick GET IT OFF!!! If it's all ready gone, it could just be that the little thing is just plain tuckered out from being harassed by it's brood mates.

Good luck.

 

[sparkles2307]

Well if I cant find pine tar at any of the local stores what other means do I have of making him taste bad so they dont pick on him anymore!?

 

[m2wandc]

I would keep him/her in isolation except with one other chick...do you have a pretty docile chick you can put in with it??? I'd give it a chance to recoop it's energy and hopefully it's feathers and give it one other friend to hang out with and bond to...and hope for the best.

As for Vicks, it didn't work on my hubby either!

 

[Judy]

You can try tea tree oil or BluKote. I finally put a saddle on mine but that won't help the wings.

Can you find one other chick who is a bit on the quiet or small side and try it in with him?

 

[sparkles2307]

I have a sebright pullet wh ois 1/3 his size and very quiet...but I dont want to take her away from the sebright cockerel, and he is NOT a docile bird... I will take a look tonight and see if there is a quiet one...maybe the mallard duckling, he is really mellow. So, have I damaged him beyond repair by putting that Vicks on him?

 

[speckledhen]

Be careful with tea tree oil! That can be fatal if ingested. And the Vicks could have made him sick, in spite of what you may have heard. Aromatics are not good for avian species, especially when they are very young.