What do you use to bandage a neck?

[TripMomma]

One of my 3 1/2 week olds has scratched the back of her neck bald and raw. I have dusted her with "Garden and Poultry Dust" and been spraying the wound with "Blue-Kote". I have not seen any bugs, they are still in the house on paper towels. She is still scratching, I tried to put the cut off top of a sock around her neck to protect the wound from scratching but she freaked out so much after 30 min I took it off. Is there something better I should use as a bandage? Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Many farm stores will carry AluSpray or AluShield, an aluminum based spray bandage that can be used on animals of all breeds. Here is a link to read:
http://www.neogen.com/AnimalSafety/pdf/ProdInfo/Tech_Bulletins/08887.pdf

 

[TripMomma]

Great, thanks I will look for that...sounds perfect.

I just gave my three 3 1/2 weeks olds and my 4 almost 5 weeks olds a thorough once over and saw no bugs at all on anyone. Could there be any other reason for the scratching?

Just in case...how often should I be dusting them with the poultry dust?

 

[Guitar Girl]

Do you have a place that you can move her? I would recommend moving her inside and away from the flock to avoid getting pecked. Give her some electrolytes and check on her often. Do you think she would be okay with a gauze pad?

 

[TripMomma]

She is only in a brooder with 2 other babies her age, and she is top dog. All the damage is from her scratching, I haven't seen the other two dare peck her, she is a Welsummer, in with a Salmon Faverolle and a Barred Rock. If I see that change I can possibly get her by herself, but it would be a bit of a juggling act.

I'm not sure about the gauze, when I tried the sock top she got a nail caught in the fabric...might happen with gauze too. I just wish I knew why she is scratching the back of her neck like this. It is pretty new, over the last 3 or so days.

 

[Guitar Girl]

Maybe she has mites?

 

[TripMomma]

I broke down tonight and put band-aids on her toes. Hopefully that helps the scratching do no more damage. I used the fabric-y type, and only the sticky parts....cut off the pad.

I checked all 7 chicks over pretty thoroughly yesterday and today, I didn't see any bugs. I did dust them all yesterday with garden and poultry dust just in case.

 

[Guitar Girl]

That's very strange. She could have gotten a sore on her neck that made her start scratching it and now it is a lot more than a sore. It probably just hurts so she is scratching it right now. Just make sure to keep an eye on it, especially for infection. Don't forget to keep me updated.

 

[TripMomma]

So far the bandages on the toes seem to be doing the trick. I have sprayed the area 3 or 4 times with Blue Kote too, it seems to have helped it build up a scab. It is impossible to see if it is red and irritated because the Blue Kote turns everything purple but it does feel hot to the touch or seem painful to her.

 

[Guitar Girl]

Glad things are going good!