Young Chicken took the skin off the back of her neck

[cashela]

I got three young chickens a few weeks ago at a swap, they were a little over 2 months old, Bantams. For the past week they have been living in a sectioned off area in my coop with my 2 older chickens and tom turkey. They were doing great. Then yesterday morning I went out to find my littlest one with stuck. Her head was stuck in the chicken wire and she managed to cut most the the feathers and skin off of her little neck. Ugh It was pretty clean and once I freed her she seemed ok. I didn't want to mess with it too much so I left it alone (I was so worried about her being traumatized) and didn't put anything on it, the bugs aren't bad yet either. Of course one of her companions wouldn't leave her alone so I had to take her out and put her in a cage in my garage.

She made it through the night fine. She is pretty upset that she is by herself, heck she is looking to me for company and loving which she wasn't doing before. Made me feel bad to leave her there by herself last night

Anyway, should I do anything? Ugh the wound is not something pleasant to look at that's for sure. Will the feathers grow back or is she going to have a bald spot? When can I integrate her back in with her two little friends?

 

[Judy]

Chickens recover well, but you need to prevent flies from laying eggs in the ound, which will result in maggots in the wound. I would put a little Neosporin on the wound. If you use a different antibiotic ointment or cream, be sure there is no "caine" ingredient in it (cetacaine, benzocaine, etc.) There are meds available, perhaps in your feed store, that are supposed to keep flies out of wounds.

 

[cashela]

I put some neosporin on it. Looks ok. She is doing fine, acting like nothing has happened other then missing her friends. I am amazed at how animals continue on! I have noticed though that she makes a clicking noise with her beak, but I think she was doing that before she was hurt. I'm wondering, is that a chick thing or is that her way of showing stress or contentment?

 

[Chickwhit]

When I had to segregate one of my chickens she too was very lonely. I put a mirror against her cage and that did the trick. She would talk and eat with that chicken in the mirror. It seemed to help with her recovery.