What even is that?? White Polish weirdness!! Help!

[SemiSweet2391]

What under the light is wrong with my White Polish’s head??? Please help!!

 

[Rose the Legbar]

She is being picked on by her flockmates. You can try to put rooster pick no more or similar on it (2 times a day for a week roughly is what I found worked) to stop the others from picking.

 

[Eggcessive]

The poor bird was feather picked and scalped by the other chickens. This happens often with Polish or other crested birds. Once a few feathers are picked, they see red, and the pecking becomes more severe. This happened to my 2 Polish hens, usually one or the other at various times. When I noticed it, if I used BluKote spray, the deep purple color would hide the red, and they would stop. But once it goes as far as this, I would separate for a day, and use some Neosporin on the scalp. Then when you get the BluKote, use it daily or every other day until she grows in her head feathers. Don’t slack off until all feathers have grown back in. New feathers are very attractive to peck back out.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

The poor bird was feather picked and scalped by the other chickens. This happens often with Polish or other crested birds. Once a few feathers are picked, they see red, and the pecking becomes more severe. This happened to my 2 Polish hens, usually one or the other at various times. When I noticed it, if I used BluKote spray, the deep purple color would hide the red, and they would stop. But once it goes as far as this, I would separate for a day, and use some Neosporin on the scalp. Then when you get the BluKote, use it daily or every other day until she grows in her head feathers. Don’t slack off until all feathers have grown back in. New feathers are very attractive to peck back out.

Oh how sad!! ok I will separate her and put that stuff on it. Can she sleep in the coop? I only have one.

 

[Eggcessive]

I always kept mine inside the coop in a wire crate with food and water. By tomorrow, or the next day, she might be okay to spray with BluKote. Just watch her so they don’t hurt her more. Watch out the BluKote can stain your hands and clothes. It wears off the feathers in a few weeks, but fades so the need for reapplying is there. I also found aluminum spray online, and that may work well too, without the purple spray need.

 

[Eggcessive]

The aluminum spray bandage is available on Amazon under the names AluShield, AluSpray, and others for around 20-30 dollars. Here is one:
https://www.amazon.com/Aspen-Veteri...id=5827606564854857130-B09X2M593F-&hvexpln=73

 

[SemiSweet2391]

I always kept mine inside the coop in a wire crate with food and water. By tomorrow, or the next day, she might be okay to spray with BluKote. Just watch her so they don’t hurt her more. Watch out the BluKote can stain your hands and clothes. It wears off the feathers in a few weeks, but fades so the need for reapplying is there. I also found aluminum spray online, and that may work well too, without the purple spray need.

So do you use both the blukote and the aluminum spray?

 

[SemiSweet2391]

The poor bird was feather picked and scalped by the other chickens. This happens often with Polish or other crested birds. Once a few feathers are picked, they see red, and the pecking becomes more severe. This happened to my 2 Polish hens, usually one or the other at various times. When I noticed it, if I used BluKote spray, the deep purple color would hide the red, and they would stop. But once it goes as far as this, I would separate for a day, and use some Neosporin on the scalp. Then when you get the BluKote, use it daily or every other day until she grows in her head feathers. Don’t slack off until all feathers have grown back in. New feathers are very attractive to peck back out.

Yesterday she spent a relaxing day by herself. I applied the Neosporin twice during her day of separation.

I could only find rooster pick no more as suggested by @Rose the Legbar , but I suspect it’s similar to BluKote as it’s a purple cream. I applied it this morning and again just now.

I was surprised to find the cream was mostly gone. After the second application I observed the birds for several minutes. I noticed several pecking attempts on my poor Polish’s head. The aggressors shook their heads and wiped their beaks. I hope this means they didn’t like the pecking experience and will stop? Hopefully??

I feel so bad. I’m new to chickens and thought that since she’s only 3.5 months old she was just growing in new feathers I didn’t know she was being bullied, otherwise I would have done something a lot sooner!!

 

[Eggcessive]

I had meant to use either the aluminum spray or the BluKote. Bad tasting ointments or creams may sometimes work to prevent pecking. Those include Nustock Cream for horses, Pine Tar ointment, or a menthol ointment such as Vicks. I had good luck with the BluKote. All of those products may be found in feed stores or online.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

I have faithfully put the rooster pick no more on my poor chicken’s head 2-3 times a day, every day. I feel like she is still getting pecked… I saw them peck at her a couple times the first couple days after I started applying the cream but figured they just had to learn not to peck her.

Here is her head right before her second application for today. I’m just not sure it’s getting better. I hope I’m just inexperienced but I worry that she is still getting pecked.

Any insights very welcome.