Hi all,
I have 6 hybrid chickens and they are in a run throughout the day and then free range in early evening whe I get home.
We have had some fairly aggressive feather pecking and have had the main culprit in a seperate smaller run for a last few days (maybe a week). Before the seperation, two of the birds had blood beneath the vents, so we got a antiseptic solution from the vet and have washed them regulary in this. They now seem to be recovering.
Last night when I get home, one of the other birds had a very nasty wound on her back, and the other hens would not stop pecking it. I took her and washed her in this also, and now have her in the seperate run and the leader back in the main run with the 4 others.
I was just wondering how best to treat a wound on a chicken, and whether I am right in keeping her seperate from the others whilst the wound is still open.
Any advice would be greatfully received.
Thanks,
Ian.
I've been told that chickens love blood/wounds they just keep pecking so I think it would be best to keep her separate for it to heal. Not sure what you can use but have a look on practical poultry forum they will be able to help.
Yes chickens love the site of blood.
You can get Violet G spray that comaflages the red of the blood, old favourite was Stockhome Tar.
But my favourite is Vicks Vapour Rub,
a thick layer over the wound and a couple of pecks of that puts hens right off their not into menthol vapour.
You can get the cheeper equavents of it that works just as well.
This was told to me by a poultry breeder.
just another item to the hens first aid kit.
Thanks for the advice, I will try the vapour rub, sounds good. Hopefully they will then all start to get along!
They will get along eventualy, pecking order here is about a week here, can be stressfull, try not to seperate them as it makes pecking order longer a day is fine to let a wound heal but with the vapor rub its not needed.
What a fantastic top tip teresa. :) :)
Another tip is,
wash a wound with salt water dry and put vasoline on it that works as a quick fix.
Vasoline works on scaly legs it suffercates the mights and after a few treatments the scales go down as well.
I've got some 'vetinary wound powder' in my chicken first aid box. You can buy it from agricultrual merchants.
If pecking is a big problem, you can put a 'beak bit' on the main culprit, untill they calm down.
I found this on a USA site, for a poultry first aid kit makes interesting reading or just for saving incase you need it?
http://p098.ezboard.com/fbackyardchickensfrm30.showMessage?topicID=23.topic
its a interesting site check it out.