Help, Hen's Neck is Raw!!

[Nifty550]

Husband and I bought some chickens last weekend. 4 in total, 3 Rhode Island Reds and 1 Silky. All are around 8 months old and have lived together since birth. We noticed today that one of the Rhode Island Reds was picking at the neck at another Rhode Island Red. The result was a very raw neck on the hen that was getting pecked. This is the first incident in the week that we have had them. They eat egg layer crumbles (organic feed is on order) and have access to fresh water. Also we have been feeding them veggie scraps and seeds from squash. Here is a pic of the hen,

. Is this a skin condition, cannibalism, or what? We are very worried and novices in regards to chickens. We put some topical colloidal silver on the wound. Should we separate this hen from the one that we saw pecking at her? HELP!!!

 

[Impress]

I would separate her, then check the whole lot for lice and mites.

 

[Nifty550]

Impress, if it is lice/mites how do we treat it? We prefer non-chemical methods if possible. TIA!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

there are a couple of reasons why chickens pick feathers, did you notice if the hen doing the picking was eating the feathers? The two main reasons for this behavior is that the picker is needing more protein (usually those will eat the feathers) and the other big cause can be boredom. Do your chickens get out to free range and do they have plenty of space in a run etc. ? And as posted above, it might be mites & lice in which case the hen that is 'bald" should be scratching at herself.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

You can treat lice using Diatamacious Earth.

 

[Nifty550]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. None of the hens, including the one that was pecked at, have been scratching at themselves. The hens free range all day and we bring them in at night. We have converted a 12x12 horse stall into a chicken stall complete with heated waterer, unlimited access to crumbles, perch, and coop. If they are protein deficient what is the best source of protein?

 

[Thespoiledchicken]

My suggestion would be to go get some Blue Kote (sold at most Tractor Supplies/ farm stores) and spray the raw area.

Your hen may have gotten a tiny injury and chickens are naturally attracted to blood/injured areas...the others may be nonstop picking it which is a viscous cycle. The Blue Kote is an antibiotic AND colors the area purple. This will stop the attraction/picking and start the healing.

This should be your step one and then you can figure out if something else is going on.


Good Luck!

Trish

 

[Pullet Surprise]

IF it is that one is needing more protein there are several things you can try. Meal worms are high in it of course and good old table scrap meat ... there's a balance there as you don't want to overload them all with too much. Check your feed lable for protein %, is it animal or plant protein? The stress of a new home might play in there as well. Do check for mites etc. and wood ashes work pretty well also...make sure they have a place to dust bathe. If you are satisfied it's not mites or lice, then the next step would be boredom, but since they are free ranging all day, it's not so likely and they seem to have plenty of space...so my next guess would be the protein issue or just a sudden nasty turn in personality, there are those who are just plain pickers. TheSpoiledChicken is quite right if there was blood drawn for any reason, it may have insighted the continued picking.

 

[Nifty550]

Thanks everyone! Making a trip to Countymax or Tractor Supply tomorrow to get some blue kote! We have been feeding them meal worms, but as treats. We just checked on them and they are sleeping so I guess we okay for now.

 

[Thespoiledchicken]