really quite worried advice needed please

[mell]

really quite worried,just been cleaning out the girls,and noticed that three of my four girls have gone totally bald underneeth!!
and two of them have been pecked on their legs and have blood on them!
should i rush them to the vets? they all seem fine eating and drinking ok and all in good health otherwise,
thankyou xx

[wendy]

Do you know which chicken has been doing the pecking.? or is it more than one ?
If one then separate her for a few days.
Also if you can spray something like gentian violet, or purple spray, on the legs. It should mask the blood. I assume you have looked to see that the haven't been pecked around the vent. If that is the case then I would Separate them and give the area a wash and see what is going on. If bad then they may need a vet. If not a spray with purple and give them time to recover before putting back.

[mell]

cheers wendy no vent pecking luckily,
and theres a couple that have been slightly pecked so going to get some violet spray tomorrow from our chicken shop when they are open,
the wounds are only slight and it looks like they are moulting?
could be the weather thats triggered it?

i feel awful that ive only just noticed!!

[perchy]

If they are moulting then maybe the pecker may be looking for more protein, they will eat feathers to get it, give mealworms, and other protein enriched foods, those of whom escape me at the moment

Treat the wounds, slap some zinc and castor oil on, that should help.

If the culprit gets viscious then as Wendy says try and seperate

[sandy]

Pecking legs, first time I have heard of that? How are your girls now?

[manda]

Have you checked them for mites?

[mell]

no mites :)
we checked them again and looks like its where the feathers have come out from the moult,so just a bit sore, nothing too bad,we have bathed the sore patches and applied the violet spray so they wont try to peck at each other,
started giving them poultry spice and mashed boiled egg,and some cooked brown rice with thier oats now to help with the protein drop,and feather regrowth,so hope this will help. xx

[manda]

Great news