What to Do, and Why…
Something as simple as a drop of blood from even the tiniest injury to a chicken can cause real chaos among a flock. So this morning I had an extra chore to attend to… and fast. As creepy as it sounds chickens are indeed cannibals, it’s important to #1 clean up an injured bird that is bleeding, and #2 isolate the bird until there is no sign of injury.
Wilson, my young Silkie rooster was spooked by a bag of shavings set near the coop. He caught his foot in the interior wire mesh causing minor bleeding. This was reason to quickly remove the bird, clean the wound and any remaining blood on the feathers. Even docile friendly members of a flock will be attracted to blood and peck the area. This will only make the situation worse. Once chickens get a taste of blood they are relentlessly drawn to get more.
After a semi-bath, Wilson is in a separate coop where he will stay for a few days until there is no sign of injury. Stay on top of potential problems. It’s always easier to address problems as they arise, ignore them and they only escalate into into a bigger one.
Three days later…
Reunited with friends, Wilson is healed, happy, and has the cleanest feet in the flock!
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