Chicken bald back

[frogprincess]

Hello,

 

My two gingernut rangers each have a sore, bloody patch just above their beaks, between the nostrils, beneath the combs. It's just above where the beak starts. I have cleaned up the dried blood, but it looks pink and raw.

 

One of them also had some hard, yellow gunk around her nostrils, which I also cleaned, and she is making funny hissing sounds like she can't breathe properly.

 

They are both sneezing every now and then. They have both laid eggs today and are eating as normal.

 

What's going on, what should I do and what should I be looking for?

 

Please help!

[Egluntyne]

If she is making hissy noises, can't breath properly, and has crusty yellow bogies round her nostrils, I would suggest you take her to a vet asap as it sounds as if she has an infection.

[Plum]

Agree with Egluntyne. They may have scratched the area above the beak if their nostrils were blocked or the snot was irritating them. You can clean it up with water as you've done and something like teatree cream will sooth the area and disguise the redness so they don't get interested in eachothers red bits.

 

I expect the vet will give them some antibiotics. Hope they are ok

[frogprincess]

That makes a lot of sense. I called the local surgery and they have a vet who keeps chickens.

 

I'll take them in tomorrow. Should I make the appointment for after egg-laying time, or will it be ok to take them in the morning?

 

I really hope they are all right - I'm so worried

[Egluntyne]

I'd g for the earliest appointment you can get.

[chelsea]

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me....it would require some Baytril/antibiotics asap if you can.

 

Hope she perks up soon.