Chicken Attacked By Unknown

[LewisFamily]

Left town for Christmas (chickens in care of family friends). Got back today, and one of the girls has a NASTY wound on the neck and upper "shoulder". It is torn down to the meat. However it looks like an older (2-4 days) and is not bleeding. It is all scabbed up, but she still has a gaping hole. There is no active bleeding or pus or liquid of any kind. She is moving around just fine. Cull or not?! :-(

 

[sourland]

Don't cull her. Chickens have a great ability to heal from significant skin wounds. It sounds as if the others are leaving her alone, but I would keep an eye on that. If she survives, the gaping hole will gradually fill in with granulation tissue.

 

[LewisFamily]

Ok. I was reading through alot of posts, and really didnt want to cull her. I just couldnt bring myself to do it, since she is moving and she has almost self-segregated herself. Thanks for the post!

 

[sourland]

Keep us posted as to her progress. One thing that you don't have to worry about this time of year is fly strike. On second thought, see that you are in Texas. If the temps increase make sure that the flies don't get at her.

 

[LewisFamily]

Ok. Thanks so much!

 

[LewisFamily]

She has healed great. Never in my wildest dreams did I think she would recover from that. But she is perfectly fine. Crazy!