Yikes! Large wound on hen.

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FlyingNunFarm

FlyingNunFarm

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8 Years
May 28, 2015
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Chesterland, OH
My Coop
My Coop
I was in the coop today and one of my girls was in a nest box. When the others came in she got fussy so I went to calm her and pet her. I felt what I thought must be dried mud on her. So I picked her up to inspect...
400

I lift her wing and it doesn't seem to bad.
400

Ok....that's not mud!
700

When I got her situated and moved her feathers I found this. It's a little bigger then a half dollar. The white looking section is skin. That pink part is her actual meat.
400

I cleaned it up a bit. I tried to remove the dried up crusted feathers and check the skin around the wound. It's like she's been skinned. I didn't want to get her wet it's getting cold. I put some neosporin on it.

How does this look to anyone else?

She is acting normal. Eating, pooping, I think she layed an egg. My only guess is this is from a hawk attack on 10/12. That seems like a long time but my roosters don't have spurs yet. I don't know what else could have caused this. I lost a girl in the hawk attack and looked everyone over. From the size of the wound I would have thought there would be blood everywhere. I never saw any! I know chickens are tuff but I feel so bad I didn't see this sooner.

TIA for any thoughts on what I should do for her.
 
I would bring that chicken inside and separate her from the flock if possible. Keep her in a warm, dim, quiet place. I'm sure she's acting okay, but that thing probably hurts quite a bit, which could be why you found her in a nest box.

Give her a little space to heal herself.

I'd douse the area with chlorhexidine (you can get it at Walgreens by the hydro perox)... it's a little more gentle on delicate tissue, as it doesn't eat it away like hydro perox does.

If you use chlorhexidine, you can skip the ointment. If you skip the ointment, the risk of fly strike is reduced, since flies love warm, gooey places.

Increase her protein intake to help her rebuild tissue.

I had a hen sliced open to the bone on her side, and the method described above fixed her right up with hardly a scar. :)

Keep us posted!

MrsB
 
She seemed rather upset to be away from the flock even the short time I had her for cleaning the wound. Unfortunately I don't think I really have a place to keep her either. My basement is warm and dry but runs a coal furnace. I would be worried about her lungs. Coal dust is everywhere. I was planning on checking the area every day to see how she progresses. My only other thought was a gauze bandage and vet wrap. Or even fashion a vest like they use for over amorous males. She was roosting in the rafters with her sister and the head rooster. I pretty sure she laid an egg today. (My marans are very private. They scream when other hens come into the coop while they are laying.)

Any of those ideas sound ok?
 
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Chlorhexidine rinse all day long. I put it in a syringe (with no needle) and squirt it wherever it's needed... with the plus of being able to avoid goopy ointment, especially if she will be outside.

As long as its hidden by her wing, hopefully the other birds will leave her alone until she heals. I'd be more worried about dirt and debris getting into the wound as she dust bathes. Bringing her inside would put a stop to that and make wound care easier. Could you maybe keep her in a spare bathroom?

Just throwing out ideas. :)

MrsB
 
I actually brought her in tonight. I rinsed it with a syringe and warm water. I'm going to pick up supplies tomorrow. I'm worried about the rooster accidently catching it and rippping it open. I made her a mash with extra protein goodies. Put a makeshift nest box and perch in a larch dog crate. Covered two sides with towels and turned off the lights. I'll check on her tonight when before bed.

Poor girl. She seems tough. The wound was looking good. I even smelled it....no stink so that good too. I hope she's ok soon.
 
FlyingNunFarm said:
I was in the coop today and one of my girls was in a nest box. When the others came in she got fussy so I went to calm her and pet her. I felt what I thought must be dried mud on her. So I picked her up to inspect...
400

I lift her wing and it doesn't seem to bad.
400

Ok....that's not mud!
700

When I got her situated and moved her feathers I found this. It's a little bigger then a half dollar. The white looking section is skin. That pink part is her actual meat.
400

I cleaned it up a bit. I tried to remove the dried up crusted feathers and check the skin around the wound. It's like she's been skinned. I didn't want to get her wet it's getting cold. I put some neosporin on it.

How does this look to anyone else?

She is acting normal. Eating, pooping, I think she layed an egg. My only guess is this is from a hawk attack on 10/12. That seems like a long time but my roosters don't have spurs yet. I don't know what else could have caused this. I lost a girl in the hawk attack and looked everyone over. From the size of the wound I would have thought there would be blood everywhere. I never saw any! I know chickens are tuff but I feel so bad I didn't see this sooner.

TIA for any thoughts on what I should do for her.
Click to expand...


I have a chicken who used to have a hole in her back and and we used blu kote and we found she was getting pecked on! She now stays outside from the chicken coop and sleeps on our trampoline net lol. But she is getting picked on by 2 chicken but they do no harm they just chase.
 

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