have you doctored on her any? Over the year we have had a multitude of chickens with wounds, that a littler antiseptic and antibiotic ointment healed in no time.
@SaraSue2014 I've been giving her antibiotic shots (tylan50 .06 ml twice a day), and she has very much improved. Her head wound isn't swollen or seeping anymore, but it just looks so gnarly. Not sure how exactly to treat it. It's well scabbed up, with a thick black scab, but I'm not sure if I should use an ointment, or spray on it? Not sure if the wound should be covered or continued to be exposed to air? Do I try to pry the scab off and clean it, or leave it be? I have her in a warm crate where she seems content. I plan on continuing with the shots for a few more days, then re-evaluate. It (to me) looks like the top of her skull has been damaged, but it's hard to tell with the thick scab, but there appears to be a... divet(?) in the center.
I've rehabbed a lot of critters, but this head injury is the worst I've seen on an otherwise fine animal.
Honestly, she doesn't seem to be worried in the least that the top of her skull is exposed and infected. Sometimes she has a hard time balancing on her left leg, but she is missing 2 toes on that side (frostbite? It's an older injury, as it's well healed), so that could be the culprit just as easily as a caved in skull, or severe infection...
I wouldn't removed the scab but I would use hot compress on it to make sure there isn't any puss underneath building up, which will also help to soften the scab and allow it to come of on it own when its ready. Also an ointment will help the skin stay moist and soft and heal. I would say its probably pointless to cover it, they say wounds need to breath.
Once she is all healed up you may want to watch her around other chickens. They tend to pick on and often times kill chickens who are crippled or have been injured if its apparent.
There was some puss buildup, but after the antibiotics started working it finished draining and dried up. The wound is much less swollen and goopy now. I covered the wound with triple antibiotic ointment, and will continue probably 2 more days of antibiotic shots. I'm going to see if I can't find her original owners and ask if they'd like her back. If not, I'll keep her out here with our flocks. She will have to be separated for I'd guess 3 more weeks, until I'm sure she has healed up, and has no more health issues to be concerned over. Thank you for the advice.
