Injured Hen

[Fishslayer]

One of my 4 month old BSL hens sustained an injury on Monday. She had a dime sized flap of skin hanging off the back of her neck at the base of her head. I'm still not sure exactly what happened, I've gone over the coop and found a suspect corner of hardware mesh that was sharp (about my only suspect), unless it was a predator or one of the other hens. but regardless, the cut didn't appear very deep but the skin flap was only being held on by a tiny piece of skin. the next day it was clear infection had set in and the wound became swollen and filled with white puss. I cleaned it out with a sterile cloth and put neosporn on it. the next day (Wednesday) it looked 100% better. I gave it a second coat of neosporn and she seemed fine. Yesterday the skin flap either fell off or was pulled off by another hen, and the infection seemed to have returned. I repeated the process, cleaned and neosporn... this morning it looks real bad, I think either my roo or the other hens are pecking at the wound, there was fresh blood and it is clearly still infected and possibly spreading to the surrounding area. the wound also appears larger now, about the size of a nickel. she has been avoiding the other chickens in the run and spending time in the coop. however, she is eating and drinking just fine and was out free ranging this morning pecking at bugs and acting normal. I had to put them back in the run for the day, and didn't want the injured hen in there with them. I just did a very thorough cleaning of the wound with kids antiseptic (forget the exact name but its a foaming wound cleaner for kids made by neosporn, does not have any pain reducers in it) and put more neosporn on it. I moved her indoors to a nice clean, sterile environment because i think the other hens and roo are making it worse.

Am I doing the right thing?
shes not happy being alone inside, and I'm afraid stressing her might make things worse. but we are supposed to get rain for the next few days and that will certainly make things worse. I also think its just not having a chance to heal with the other chickens messing with it.
I'm going to see if I can get some antibiotics to add to her water today, good idea?
any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[carolbeau]

I'm new to this too, so not much help, but there are a couple different products that include a very dark blue color in them. One is a liquid spray and one is a powder. I have used these on open wounds. In my experience, the dark blue color covers up any blood and prevents the other hens from noticing the problem and pecking at the area. They also include antibacterial and other helpful stuff to aid healing.

http://www.amazon.com/Blu-Kote-4-ou...=UTF8&qid=1406900895&sr=8-2&keywords=blu+kote

Can't remember the name of the powder version, but I think that one was perhaps to stop bleeding???

You can probably find something similar at your feed store.

 

[Fishslayer]

I will go to the local feed store today and see if I can find the stuff. I'm not overly worried about the wound. its the infection that has me worried. but do you guys think isolation inside is a good idea? or will it stress her out too much?

 

[carolbeau]

Sorry, Idk about the infection. What I was thinking was that if you put the dyed stuff on her, the other hens might not bother her as much, so you might not need to isolate? Sorry I can't be of more help. Maybe others can chime in. Good luck!!

 

[Fishslayer]

please help... infection is getting worse. its all white now, the edges of the skin are loose. i couldn't get oral antibiotics today, i will have to try a different store tomorrow. i had hoped a good cleaning and isolation would fix her up, but it has gotten worse over the course of the day... is there anything i can do over night besides neosporin it? she is still acting fine, eating and drinking... but the wound is going in the wrong direction.

 

[arikli]

Hi my chick at 1 month got out and almost pecked to death she was so torn up and like less I was lost called doc and he said use chlorhexidine solution it helps heal and kill germs it worked over night. It's like soap you use one table spoon and dilute it because it strong with two table spoons of water. And basically clean him with it. Do it everyday or when you think he is in the clear. Mine healed over night. Honestly seeing all that skin pulled back I don't know how he lived but chickens are resilient. Good luck.

 

[Fishslayer]

Yeah, when i first cleaned her up and put neosporin on her, she seemed 100% better the next day. i just can't get this infection under control.

I am going to get PenG to inject now. Its my understanding that water soluble antibiotics are not very effective on wound infection. i have tried several different topical cleaners and antibiotic creams. i have it fairly cleaned out now and gave it a good coat of blue stuff and neosporin to hopefully slow it down till i can get the injection in her. I read the whole article on injecting PenG and although its my first time, i feel comfortable with it.
I will keep you guys posted on her status. she is eating and drinking less today, but still acting normal and her energy levels are up. i think its because she has been getting scrambled eggs.

I would love any advice or recommendations

 

[Fishslayer]

I know my response is extremely delayed, but i wanted to post my results.
my hen is almost completely healed, a tiny scab is all that remains of the half dollar sized piece of missing flesh/skin. there are already feathers starting to grow back to areas where there was no skin a week ago. it took 3 injections of Pen G, but i noticed the results within 24 hours of the first one. she is very happy and seems untraumatized by the whole event. she is still willing to be picked up and is easy to handle. i did notice she stayed away from the rest of the flock for a few days while she was healing, but has rejoined them. on a side note i got my first egg yesterday (it wasn't her, as she is still one of the smaller hens) but an egg is an egg no egg today though.. how long after the first egg will they start laying daily? i noticed they are very interested in the laying boxes and "nests" built in each corner... good sign?

 

[kari_dawn]

Fishslayer, I am so glad your girl is doing better! ususally, once they start laying, they even out pretty quick (within a few days or so). For future reference, pictures are ALWAYS helpful. But from what you described, I have a good idea of what was happening. I am a wildlife rehabilitator, and we do a LOT of wound care. Neosporin is often too strong for animal skin, especially of the avian variety. Chlorhexidine or blue kote are definitely the way to go. Your description of loose, white skin indicates that the Neosporin was actually "burning" the edges of the wound (causing it to enlarge). Neosporin also often keeps open wounds too moist, and applying more can make it worse. Letting it dry out would have made the healing process easier in this case. Chlorhexidine is pretty inexpensive (buy it by the gallon on amazon.com), and is really great stuff. Glad to hear she is doing better