On the third morning since first seeing the wound on Cloud’s foot I was really disappointed to see that she had picked a new wound on her foot. This is very much like Autumn last year.
The frustrating thing is that I can’t spray scaly mite spray on a wound but she probably won’t stop pecking off scales until the spray starts working so it’s a vicious circle. I sprayed the wound with the healing spray. I then decided to put a big blob of vaseline over the wound and spray again with the scaly mite spray. I then sprayed again with the purple spray and put Cloud in the crate for the sprays to dry. While in the crate Cloud refuses to eat or drink.
As soon as I put Cloud back on the chickens’ patio Gold took a peck at her leg again. I put Cloud back in the crate and sprayed on a bit more purple spray. The purple spray isn’t quite covering the redness of the wound.
I decided to close off the corner section of the run. I would need to do this in a month’s time for the new girls so it would be one job less to do later. I could then put Mango and Cloud in that section. It would be better than being in the crate and Cloud wouldn’t have to compete for food as well keeping her safe from being pecked.
I will put the girls together again before bedtime so that they go in the chicken shed together but keep them here during the day. I also closed off the bottom section of the run so that if I feel they need more space they can have half the run. At the moment I don’t think they need any bigger space than this as they are not moving around much.
I also cleaned out the chicken shed. I emptied it then hoovered it thoroughly. Then I sprayed every surface and every nook with disinfectant poultry housing spray. I blocked the pop hole and left it for the day to dry before putting in new pine shavings.
I really need Cloud to stop picking wounds so that I can be sure the scaly mite reaches every part of her legs and feet. As with Autumn she is her own worse enemy. Like Autumn it is also putting her off eating and I have only seen her eat a few sunflower hearts and a bit of chopped tomato. At least while she is in this section she has had water though.
I can only keep going with all three sprays and hope that I can get her through this.
This morning was day four and I really hoped for no new wounds. I picked Cloud up for a close inspection and was really pleased to see no new wounds, hurrah! Her legs and feet still looked nicely purple so there was no need to spray her with anything and tomorrow is the next scaly mite spray day, but I decided that while Cloud has no wounds I would give her an extra scaly mite spray today. I am going belts and braces with this.
Gold was taking no interest in Cloud so I decided to open up the separated section and leave the flock together. At least now I can close off a section at any time I need to. I am now feeling hopeful that I can get her through this.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
You are doing as much as you can. They usually renew their leg scales during the moult, so that may help, too. I have had scaley leg mite periodically over the years, but never any hen pecking away at it. I found the spray excellent. What always struck me as strange was the fact that it affected some, but not others, despite them sharing perches. Fingers crossed that you get on top of it.
Indications seem positive. 🙂
Did you see my previous post – We have a problem? Cloud’s foot looked awful and I thought it was an injury at first. We too only seem to have it with one or two girls but I am spraying them all this time to be on the safe side and because that’s what is recommended. If I need to do Cloud in the future like with Autumn I will just do Cloud. As you say the moult may actually help. I sectioned off Mango and Cloud again for a while this afternoon just so that Cloud can eat and drink without competition. It’s handy having that option. She is looking better today. The pecking thing seems to be a habit of Gold’s which has been recent. She has been lightly pecking my legs which is really annoying and I try to keep her in front of me. I have no idea why she does this, possibly freckles?