Large wound on backside of chicken

jenbchicken said:

I've been soaking and doctoring. I'm not seeing any maggots, and there are not any flies near her. She fell asleep in her soaking tub this morning. Do you all think that big of a wound will close up? I called the AR livestock and poultry lab this morning, and am waiting for them to call me back. Thank you all so very much.

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It can be just an infected wound or an abscess. It is great that it didn't have maggots since she may have been even sicker. Good to hear that she is doing well and getting play time with her friends.
About peroxide, I used it in hospitals for decades before studies showed that it can delay healing, and really is not effective in wound treatment. I have stubbornly stopped recommending it for use. I agree with others that other products may be better. Plain old normal saline, which can be bought or made in our kitchens, may be the best to use. One teaspoonful of salt to a quart of water is the recipe, boiled for 15 minutes makes it sterile. For use in a bath, salt can simply be added to warm bath water at about the same ratio. Chlorhexidene (Hibiclens) is the main product used in hospitals to disinfect. Betadine is good, but again can delay healing with repeated use, and can be toxic if overused or used without diluting.

HI, if peroxide is all you have or can afford
dilute the peroxide one half water one half peroxide.
Sometimes we have to use what we have on hand.
The main proponent is the diluted peroxide for use
on our animals.

There is a lot of controversy about peroxide use. As I said before, I have used it and sometimes still use it. I have read a ton of articles online, and most say that it may not hurt wounds to use the 3% hydrogen peroxide, or to dilute it half strength, but there is also controversy about it actually helping that much. Rinsing a wound gently with tap water and a kitchen sprayer used gently will wash off a lot of germs. Mayo Clinic advises this method for wound care. I have really liked peroxide use for animal abscesses to open up puncture wounds and "fizz out" the gunk inside. This allows the wound to be cleaned for a day or two, while applying a plain antibiotic ointment, and then after the second day, stop it and the wound will usually begin healing from the inside. Many of us use peroxide in our toothpastes, and in mouth washes, and this is considered safe by most dentists. As with many things nowadays, there are differing opinions on peroxide use. I use it once or twice if I think it is useful (in a dirty, or pus-covered wound to soften things up,) and then just use saline or plain water thereafter. Those saline nasal wash solutions with a sprayer work really well to flush a wound. Here are a couple of good articles to read if interested:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/456300_3
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1895071-overview
http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711

Thank you all so much for the helpful information. I spoke with a poultry vet, and he gave me a lot of great advice. I'm proud to report that she is healing. Slowly but surely. I'm even seeing some feathers trying to peek out on her bare rear end.

jenbchicken said:

Thank you all so much for the helpful information. I spoke with a poultry vet, and he gave me a lot of great advice. I'm proud to report that she is healing. Slowly but surely. I'm even seeing some feathers trying to peek out on her bare rear end.

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What did the vet say this was or the cause ? Thanks.

I only spoke with him on the phone, and he wasn't exactly sure. He just advised me on how to treat the wound. He speculated that 1) it was an abscess. 2) a minor injury that that the others pecked at and it got infected. 3) a predator got her and infection set in. Regardless, his treatment advise was the same. He just said to keep her isolated, keep the area clean, dry, and use cut heal and antibiotic ointment in a rotation.

The wound looks very clean, so you are doing a great job.

Glad to see she is improving.

jenbchicken said:

and use cut heal and antibiotic ointment in a rotation.

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Hi Jenbchicken, jut curious, what's cut heal?? I am interested in knowing since I'm healing a wound right now as well, but not nearly as big as your girl's. OMG, I'm so glad you caught it!!! Also, how is she doing now?