5 week chook self harm?

[MiloDaisyMissy]

** edit**

I have been watching her since I posted and ONLY now the Australorp decided to pick at it. So I have separated and she is happy in her makeshift brooder for now. Thank you to all the suggestions!


Hi all my Polish has blood on its head. Long story short.
-saw her shaking her head and scratching her eyes about an hour ago, thought she had dust in them.
- I’ve come back and the back of her head is missing feathers and is bloody as if someone has pecked it. But observing she keeps scratching the back of her head.

How do I stop her from doing this? I can’t really put on a chicken cone. She is eating, walking and drinking water as normal.
Can I wash her head with betadine?
Is this what they do with mites?
I’ll attach a photo in the comments so no one is grossed out by seeing it without a warning. Thanks.

 

[MiloDaisyMissy]

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Poor thing. I'd wash it out with saline just to keep it clean.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
What do you suppose started this?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You might also put some Neosporin Original on it to promote healing. But the question is, why is she doing this? Sounds like something is causing irritation. Have you checked for mites? Tiny little bugs that scurry away when you part the feathers?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all my Polish has blood on its head. Long story short.
-saw her shaking her head and scratching her eyes about an hour ago, thought she had dust in them.
- I’ve come back and the back of her head is missing feathers and is bloody as if someone has pecked it. But observing she keeps scratching the back of her head.

How do I stop her from doing this? I can’t really put on a chicken cone. She is eating, walking and drinking water as normal.
Can I wash her head with betadine?
Is this what they do with mites?
I’ll attach a photo in the comments so no one is grossed out by seeing it without a warning. Thanks.

You can apply a bit of the betadine to clean the wound, then a dab of triple antibiotic ointment to help soothe it.

How many chicks are in the brooder?

It may have started with another chick plucking at her topnot, then it became irritated and she's scratching.

Do check her for lice/mites, if you see any, give her, the others and the brooder a dusting with a Permethrin based poultry dust.

Do you have photos of her eyes - are they irritate too?

 

[MiloDaisyMissy]

You might also put some Neosporin Original on it to promote healing. But the question is, why is she doing this? Sounds like something is causing irritation. Have you checked for mites? Tiny little bugs that scurry away when you part the feathers?

Thank you, I have no clue, I have checked all other chicks for bloody beaks and watched for them all pecking at her but she's just scratching. I'm heading to go buy mite dust stuff now and I'll pop some betadine on her head (It's also an antiseptic ointment) I didn't even think of mites!

 

[MiloDaisyMissy]

You can apply a bit of the betadine to clean the wound, then a dab of triple antibiotic ointment to help soothe it.

How many chicks are in the brooder?

It may have started with another chick plucking at her topnot, then it became irritated and she's scratching.

Do check her for lice/mites, if you see any, give her, the others and the brooder a dusting with a Permethrin based poultry dust.

Do you have photos of her eyes - are they irritate too?

Thank you, I have betadine, but what is a triple antibiotic ointment called? Do you reccomend any?
Her eyes seem fine.
They are all a bit dopey and do peck each other's feathers out of curiosity so it could've started that. I have 9 in there. I've almost finished building my run outside and they will be going in there when it's done.

 

[MiloDaisyMissy]

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
What do you suppose started this?

Not sure I didn’t see my other chook peck at it until just the past fifteen and she/he was relentless! Little polish has been happily separated into a makeshift brooder now and is doing fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

Polish chickens typically will get their head feathers picked out. Once it starts and they see red, they all are attracted to it and then it gets bloody. When this happened to my polish pullets, I would spray with BluKote spray or apply gentian violet to turn/dye it dark blue. If it gets bloody, then apply plain Neosporin or bacitracin, separate for a day, then return her with the BluKote. Spray the BluKote every other day. They may leave her alone for awhile, but this would happen to my 2 about every few months. Start the BluKote before it gets bare. You can usually get it at TSC. Gentian violet may be in a pharmacy or online.
https://www.chewy.com/dr-naylor-blu...MIs_L2tb-JiwMV5Vr_AR1raDdGEAQYASABEgJ9yfD_BwE

https://www.amazon.com/Sanvall-Gent...ocphy=9006725&hvtargid=pla-2281435175938&th=1