Hens back is bare and huge gashes on back !!

I just had the same thing happen last week here to a hen brooding a clutch of chicks, something ripped her back open but she saved her chicks. The best thing to do is just clean it up, disinfect it, put salve on it and keep the flies from getting to her and laying maggots. I've happen this happen a lot over the years. Prior to this hen was a turkey this happened to. It will look very nasty while healing but it will heal. It took about a month for the deep wounds to heal on the turkey, the hen seems to be healing a little quicker.

It was probably dogs that did it. When it happens here and it's only one bird, it's most always a fox. But for multiple kills or this sort I'm going to guess a dog or dogs. Which means it/they will likely come back. Be prepared.

I had this very thing happen with a Buff Orpington Mama.  Fortunately I came upon the crime in progress.  The hen was going crazy protecting her little chicks while a huge hawk had it's claws in her back and was attempting to fly off with that really big chicken!! I ran up yelling but that hawk was determined to fly off with my bird.  I practically had to pull the hawk off.  Finally it flew away leaving my Buff all ripped up on her back. I sprayed Schreiner's Horse Liniment on her wounds twice a day for a week or so and no infection and she healed up fast and that fall all her feathers grew back in.  I highly recommend Schreiner's. I put it on everything for me or my animals. It stings like the dickens but never fails to heal up any abrasion.  I'm sure you can find it on the internet and probably in your feed store. It's pricey but it takes such a little.

I've read  here that using the instant glue stuff (you know the stuff that you usually end up gluing a couple of your own fingers together with ) to seal up wounds (after cleaning them) can be used instead of stitches.



Hope this helps!

take care of you and yours,
deb