4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Ziggy]

We got our ex-batts last Saturday, and they are generally well, exploring the eglu and run, and laying, between the three of them, 2 or 3 eggs a day in the nesting box...

They are relaxing about us too, showing curiosity rather than panic when we approach, and I can now stroke them too, and we put their legrings on today (two of them look very similar, my daughter and I had a full five minutes argument identifying them tonight while putting the rings)...

Anyway, all this to say they are fine behaviour wise, but I have one worry about Pecky, who is incidentally also the most jittery of the three by far, so I'm wondering if she is hurting. When she first came home, her bottom (not quite her bottom, but an area close to it) looked raw and swollen and very red... I hoped it would go and was due to pecking or something while at the farm, but it's still there. I think it's gone down, both in size and redness, but I thought I'd ask for some advice, as if it needs treating, obviously I would like to treat her as soon as possible. It's not always easy to see the area to keep an eye on it, as it faces the ground unless she is pecking at the ground, and she is the most fidgety of the lot. Here is a picture (sorry Pecky for the indignity) :

 

What does that look like and should I do something about it?

 

Thanks a lot in advance for any advice.

[Egluntyne]

Ooooh....poor girl...that does look sore.

 

I'm a big fan of tea tree for its soothing properties.

 

How about bathing it now and then woth some warm water with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil in it.

[Cazjohn]

All our girls looked that that when we first got them!

 

I wouldn't worry unless the skin is broken or they are pecking each other. If this happens use some purple spray.

 

Mine had a good few fights in the first 10 days - I was surprised at the ferocity but they didn't draw blood thankfully - all calmed down once the pecking order was established.

[Ziggy]

Thanks egluntine and cazjohn... I was kind of hoping (not in a sadistic way) that other people's girls might have had similar problems and got over it... There doesn't seem to be any pecking or fighting with our girls, they appear quite relaxed with each other, so the problem is not due to their current situation, as far as I can tell...

I like the idea of tea tree oil, I have some I think, will go and check... is there other oils they can have? I believe I have lavender oil which is supposed to be good for soothing wounds (that's what my midwife recommended to put in my bath after I had my girls - human girls that is), but it seems one has to be careful with essential oils... I could use just tea tree if that's safe.

[Cazjohn]

You'll find that the Barrier range of products all have tea tree in them I use the louse powder and the antiseptic spray - my once tidy shed now looks like a pharmacy!