Is It Too Soon To Reintroduce Back Into Flock After Serious Injury???

[analyticalblonde]

Nine days ago, I found my Lavender Orphinton had been mauled by what started as overzealous breeding of my Cockerel who has started mounting my girls. It appeared he had bitten into the back of her neck, drawing blood which brought on the flock tearing at her wound and causing significant injury to her. She had a full head and neck of feathers which were all torn away and multiple open and bleeding punctures. Every day, twice a day, we have flushed her injuries with a saline wash, generously applied Vetericyn, and then applied original Neosporin into the wounds. Most of the massive bruising and punctures have healed except for the most significant injury. The yellow ich in the last two photos is the used Neosporin from the previous treatment that we hadn't brushed off yet when the pictures were taken today...we use a "soft" toothbrush to flake off the old ointment before we proceed with cleaning and treating.

I have posted photos of the original injuries and some pictures taken today to show the healing that has occurred. She has been downstairs in our basement in our ER station for the girls whenever there has been a need.

I would like to find out if it is too soon to put her back into the flock or do we need to wait for more healing to occur? She has been removed from the flock for 9 days now. If we can put her back into the flock, can I apply Blu-Kote to her head and neck to protect her from the risk of being pecked and re-injuring the injury? If not Blu-Kote, what can be used?

 

[Eggcessive]

A wire dog crate with food and water placed with the other chickens inside the coop is a good way to reintegrate her. I have used BluKote with good results on more minor head and neck wounds with good results. But the most serious wound may not be healed enough yet. Is it still deep? You can try some supervised free ranging, but I would watch for any pecking.

 

[analyticalblonde]

A wire dog crate with food and water placed with the other chickens inside the coop is a good way to reintegrate her. I have used BluKote with good results on more minor head and neck wounds with good results. But the most serious wound may not be healed enough yet. Is it still deep? You can try some supervised free ranging, but I would watch for any pecking.

Hi @Eggcessive ... I will be putting her outside in the crate for a couple of days when I get ready to put her with the flock again...I have used Blu-Kote other times but not for something like this...the wound is better but still, in my opinion, kind of deep. I just didn't know if she needs to be fully healed before going back and whether she can tolerate the isolation for so long...

 

[Eggcessive]

The longer she is out, the more the risk of pecking and reintegration problems, so it helps to get her back as soon as you can. Every flock is different, and some chickens are more aggressive than others. If she was high in pecking order, she might not have problems. But I might remove the rooster at first so she doesn’t get pecked and roughed up. I hope that it goes well.

 

[LePetitPoulet]

Nine days ago, I found my Lavender Orphinton had been mauled by what started as overzealous breeding of my Cockerel who has started mounting my girls. It appeared he had bitten into the back of her neck, drawing blood which brought on the flock tearing at her wound and causing significant injury to her. She had a full head and neck of feathers which were all torn away and multiple open and bleeding punctures. Every day, twice a day, we have flushed her injuries with a saline wash, generously applied Vetericyn, and then applied original Neosporin into the wounds. Most of the massive bruising and punctures have healed except for the most significant injury. The yellow ich in the last two photos is the used Neosporin from the previous treatment that we hadn't brushed off yet when the pictures were taken today...we use a "soft" toothbrush to flake off the old ointment before we proceed with cleaning and treating.

I have posted photos of the original injuries and some pictures taken today to show the healing that has occurred. She has been downstairs in our basement in our ER station for the girls whenever there has been a need.

I would like to find out if it is too soon to put her back into the flock or do we need to wait for more healing to occur? She has been removed from the flock for 9 days now. If we can put her back into the flock, can I apply Blu-Kote to her head and neck to protect her from the risk of being pecked and re-injuring the injury? If not Blu-Kote, what can be used?

Personally, I would wait until you’re certain she’s healed. I just took in a silkie that this happened to. The previous owner put her back in too soon and they reopened her wound. I’m not sure she’s going to make it. I’ve I’ve kept flock mates out for at least a couple weeks after coyote and dog attacks and had little difficulty reintegrating them but I have a small run in my coop that I use for this. A dog crate works pretty well too. I just wouldn’t take the chance if it were me.