****Urgent***** should we take chook to vet?

[strawberry]

We have 2 chickens. One of them has been pecking the other one and pulling her feathers out. I've just checked and her back is bleeding quite badly.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

I would suggest not unless she has any broken bones, not much the vet can really do and it can be quite a traumatic experience for the chicken. The best treatment may be to separate them and keep the injured one in a quiet warm place with plenty of food and water so she can recover. However if you have a sympathetic vet (ime some won't treat chickens) then give them a call and ask over the phone what they think.

Thanks for your msg cassell.

We have kept them separated and she looks a lot better today.

I think there's some antipeck spray you can buy too? I know our local chicken trust place sells it (its a lovely purple colour!) apparantly tastes grim and stops the pecking

Yes, gentian violet is what you need. Generally speaking it is best to take the bully out, so that the bullied chicken can gain some supremacy.

If the bully really doesn't improve, you can get anti-peck rings very cheaply on mail order that fit round the beaks and stop them pecking.

Gentian violet is an antiseptic type spray which sooths the wound and is also useful because it colours the chicken/area on chicken purple. Red is a magnet for chickens and when they see it, they peck even more.

There are several anti-peck sprays on the market but the only one guaranteed to work is called Ukadex but be warned, it STINKS! Do not get it on YOU! It's quite expensive as well - something like 15 quid a can.

here