baublegirl Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I've only had chickens for a month, and I really don't know what to do. Jessie has always been pecked a bit, I used Net Tex for a while and it seemed to stop. However I was just cleaning them out and heard a shriek, when I looked round her vent was bleeding. I've tried to bathe it a bit (rather tricky in the rain, with a baby bawling for me indoors!) I assume she needs to be seperated while she recovers but I only have an eglu with a normal run. At the moment she is in a cat box in the run with some food and I'm trying to find something I can put water in. The cat box looks too small for her - she can't really stnad up properly. Will this be OK? Also I couldn't dry her after washing her bum - will she catch cold? Should I bring her indoors? She's not wet all over, just underneath. Just my in-laws are coming for lunch and my H doesn't want chickens all over the place! What should I do? The blood is thick and I couldn't get it all off as it still seemed to be coming out.... help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Gosh, you poor thing (and her, obviously ). I've no first hand experience of this but until someone knowledgeable comes along, I'll try my best . You're right to separate her, she'll be fine in a cat box for a bit, don't worry. I'd bring her into the house for warmth and so you can keep an eye on her. If the box is dark, she'll probably stay quiet and calm. I think cornflour will stop bleeding but not sure about putting it on a vent. Should be OK . You can use a hairdryer on a low setting to dry her off, but if she's indoors I wouldn't worry too much about that just now. Is anything hanging out of her vent? Or is it just a wound? Purple spray is good for antiseptic properties and to disguise blood so the others won't peck at her when you put her back (after a while, not straight away). Hopefully someone else can help more than me . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 ANH has covered it pretty well Leave her in the cat box bt get her in the warm (spare bedroom out of the way??) she needs to be kept warm to dry and because she may be shocked Later when everyone has gone take a close look, bathe again with warm water and see if there are any wounds or if she may have prolapsed, if its just wounds and they dont look serious cover with purple spray and put her back out in the morning when she is all dry and calm, if its deep wounds consider a trip to the vet tomorrow or at least cover with purple spray and keep her in the cat box for a couple of days (not ideal but she will be ok) if she has prolapsed get her to the vet in the morning if you cant put it back (lots of threads on here try a search) she really does need to be in the warm though, its not so much about having chickens all over the place as needing to have this one in the warm for her own welfare Where are you in the country? I have a rabbit cage I can lend if you are close, I also have purple spray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baublegirl Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Thanks She's outside at the mo, I'll bring her in. Haven't got any purple spray. I'm in Surrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Too far away for me then Purple spray can be obtained from horey shops, it goes by other names such as Gentian Violet but everyone in the horsey world knows it as purple spray, if there are wounds they'll need to be covered with it or the other hens will peck at it again If you get any problems and are within striking distance of Ash let me know as I am going there tomorrow evening and can bring purple spray with me or even take a look at the hen if you are still unsure as to her injuries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baublegirl Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Thanks will go and get some purple spray tomorrow I'm not sure where Ash is - do you mean Ashtead? ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 no Ash, its near Aldershot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baublegirl Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Well - I kept her in over night. Then this morning I bathed her as best I could (between school run, nursery run and baby crawling around!) and dried her. Then I bought some purple spray and covered her rear end in it. There seemed to be a clotty dried bit of blood hanging from her vent that I didn't want to pull off but nothing that (to my uneducated eye) looked like a prolapse. So as she looked loads better I popped her outside with the others to free range. They had a look at her, but didn't seem to peck so I put her back with them. I've been busy all day, and I've just been out to check her again and there's fresh blood. Some from her vent and some from underneath. Lots of very thick sticky blood. I've got her in again but am unsure what to do next. She seems fine in herself and I feel mean having her in such a small box. Should I put the bully in the cat box instead and let her back into the eglu and run? Does she need to see a vet (don't think ours is very chicken friendly) Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I would take her to a vet at least any can recognise a wound and stitch it if necessary. She will probably need antibiotic cover to stop the wound or whatever becoming infected. It's good it's not a prolapse but when a chicken lays part of the oviduct comes out with the egg and goes straight back. One of the others could have pecked it. You are probably best trying to stop her laying at present so I found keeping my chicken in the gloom with box covered and feeding on wheat, mixed poultry corn, weetabix etc., plus some grit took my girl off lay. It gives it time to heal. There's probably already another on the way but you can't help that. I would keep her in. It's a shame keeping her in a small area but in the long run it's best for her. I hope she's ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 How is your lady today? Any news? Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baublegirl Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Well she stayed in overnight, and I had a look this morning and all looked well So, I let her free range for a while, and covered her in Net tex to put off the peckers..then I brought the bully in and she had a day in isolation as punishment After tea I let them FR together again, and all seemed well, so they're all in together tonight. Will check tomorrow, but I do think it was a sustained bout of feather pulling rather than anything more. Fingers crossed anyway Thanks for all the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Well that is a relief, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Good news long may peace reign Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
