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

[kitbag]

Hi guys, I have had my chickens for nearly three years now, and I have never had any problems with them. I went outside to let them out today, and I found Gloria with a bloody back, and her feathers all pulled out around a certain area. I took her out and gave her a thourough check over and she seems OK otherwise. She is now shut in the eglu run, and the other two are in the bigger run surrounding the eglu. I also gave them all some bread, but i'm not sure if that was the right thing to do!?

 

What should I do? It was so scary and they normally get on! Is this a case of bullying or just a one off do you think!?

 

Thanks guys

xx

[Jools]

If they've been happy living together til now, then it's probably a one-off. I suspect that either she'd managed to get a cut on her back that bled a little, or maybe she's been moulting and one of the others has pecked at her new feathers. Either way, blood has been drawn and that draws chickens! They will peck and peck at a bloody wound, regardless of where it is and I imagine that's what has happen to Gloria.

 

You can't now put Gloria back with her mates until she has completely healed up as they will just keep on pecking at her. You could disguise the wound with some purple wound spray, but personally I wouldn't risk putting her within pecking distance just yet.

 

It would be good if you could keep them all within sight and sound of each other though so that you don't have any reintroduction problems! Chickens eh .... they don't make life easy!

[chelsea]

or maybe she's been moulting and one of the others has pecked at her new feathers. Either way, blood has been drawn and that draws chickens! They will peck and peck at a bloody wound, regardless of where it is and I imagine that's what has happen to Gloria.

 

You can't now put Gloria back with her mates until she has completely healed up as they will just keep on pecking at her. You could disguise the wound with some purple wound spray, but personally I wouldn't risk putting her within pecking distance just yet.

 

 

I completely agree.

 

Lets hope it's just a one off and not actual bullying.

[kitbag]

Just a quick update - I took Gloria to the vets, and they took a quick look at her bald patch, which had stopped bleeding but was very crusty. They gave us iodine (sp?)and said to sponge some on twice a day. When we got back, we let her freerange with the others, with us keeping a close eye on them, and they all seem ok! Gloria will be sleeping in a cardboard box in the garage! I'm really glad and thankyou for your replies! What would I do without my lovely fellow omleteers!

[cluckingmad]

poor little soul - my Nutmeg had a similar experience, althoug hin her case it WAS an attack by 6 other hens as she jumped into their side of the run

 

We bought her a poultry saddle to cover her bare back/preening gland while her feathers regrow - she was away from the others for a week but healed so well that she went back out with them for a day or two then went back permenantly on sunday - the

 

Good luck to you and little Gloria,

 

Carolyn x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's good news . Hope she heals quickly .

[kitbag]

Quick question! My mum thinks it would be a good idea to cut up an old tshirt and somehow put it on Gloria to protect her back. Do you think it would be better to just get a poultry saddle? Or would it work just as well with a tshirt?

[cluckingmad]

oooh, now theres a thought - we bought a saddle because the injury to Nutmeg was very nasty and quite a large wound, she's only 19 weeks old so still quite a baby, the saddle is waterproof canvas with a fleece lining to keep her warm - I see no reason why an old t-shirt wouldn't do the trick tho'