EMERGENCY! - Young rooster had his scalp pecked off!

I have a young 8-10 week old FBCM rooster that had the back half of his scalp pecked off by older mature hens. He is still alive and breathing. He does not open his eyes, but was able to hold his head up for a short time. His right ear was taken off and his right eye lid was pulled a little, but still mostly attached. Left side is fine. I has used gauze to pat it down and dry it off. I trimmed off a long strip of skin that was still hanging. I have not put anything on the wound. This is what I want to know, what should I use. I have on hand Blukote, neosporin (with pain reliever, don't know if that is ok), hydrogen peroxide, bandages. Can I use the blukote? If not then what, I'll get anything at this point.

IF he makes it then what? Antibiotics, vitamins, electrolytes? If any of those will help then I want to get them now so if he does make it we can begin the healing ASAP.

This little guy hasn't had a place to stay. Our big coup and run has the main flock and our small coup and run have the chicks. This guy has been living in the house and getting a ton of attention. He stays outside during the day and always comes running to us whenever we walk outside. I gotta do everything I can to save him.

So he just stood up on his own and drank a couple of cap fulls of Gatorade. I think it is hopeful but I am still unsure of what to put on the wound. I am thinking blukote. I want something to kill bateria. Should I try cleansing the wound with water, iodine, or hydorgen peroxide?

HP I think.. I'm not to sure though! Thats me though!

SmallFarmChick said:

HP I think.. I'm not to sure though! Thats me though!

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Huh???

Cleanse the area well with soap and water. I would spray with blukote. If you choose to use Neosporin - DO NOT USE the kind with pain killer. Anything with "caine" in it can kill a chicken. Keep him in a clean, dry, dark, quiet place - preferably indoors. Give him electrolytes in his water, and keep him pretty dosed up with protein - soft scrambled egg works well. Monitor him and the injury at least twice a day being sure to keep his environment clean and the wound sprayed. Normally I would keep it loaded with neosporin, but I heard someone here the other day say neosporin can actually "lock in" bacteria - this was per their vet. So I will leave that dressing up to you!

Now, if someone else more experienced than I comes along and gives you different advice, go with them! I'm just trying to give you a starting place. Good luck!

klmclain1 said:

Cleanse the area well with soap and water. I would spray with blukote. If you choose to use Neosporin - DO NOT USE the kind with pain killer. Anything with "caine" in it can kill a chicken. Keep him in a clean, dry, dark, quiet place - preferably indoors. Give him electrolytes in his water, and keep him pretty dosed up with protein - soft scrambled egg works well. Monitor him and the injury at least twice a day being sure to keep his environment clean and the wound sprayed. Normally I would keep it loaded with neosporin, but I heard someone here the other day say neosporin can actually "lock in" bacteria - this was per their vet. So I will leave that dressing up to you!

Now, if someone else more experienced than I comes along and gives you different advice, go with them! I'm just trying to give you a starting place. Good luck!

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Couple years ago I had a new hen who got about a quarter sized hole pecked in her scalp, to the bone. This is exactly the treatment I used on her and she healed up completely. Just cleaned it up best I could and applied the Blukote. I also kept her penned up where she couldn't dust bathe and get it full of dirt. That would be my only concern with using Neosporin, just making sure the area didn't get gunked up with debris sticking to it. I kept her in a crate for a few days until I could see it starting to heal up. After she went back outside I still kept her separate from the other's until she was well healed. It's amazing the kinds of injuries chickens can survive and heal up from. Good luck with your roo, hope he pulls through.

Well, I got ahold of my kids 4H leader who is a vet. She suggested not being too agressive with cleaning after I described the wound. She suggested Neosporin over the blukote because blukote has alcohol that can dry out the skin around the wound. I went and got the neosporin without pain killer and put it on generously. He has been living inside at night since we got him and only outside during the day free ranging with the rest of the flock. This is why we thought he would be fine for the day in the run. It was 9 full grown chickens and him (about 10 weeks) in a 24' x 24' run. My wife was going on a field trip with my daughter so she bought a flock block too to help distract them, that doesn't work!

So far he seems to be doing well. I'm not sure if he will ever have use of his right eye again, but the left seems fine even though he is not opening it. You can see the bone of his skull in one spot. I can only hope skin will grow back over it all. I guess our first ever inside chicken gets to stay inside for a lot longer. I think at this point my wife would let him stay in forever and just accept the crazy chicken lady comments. We've been not mentioning that we have a chicken living inside as some of our family are neat freaks and would probably never eat here again if they knew. At this point I don't think any of us care about that anymore. Little Jorge is going to get the royal treatment! I told my wife if he lives he gets his own coup. I don't have the money for it, but I can always build another similar to the frist one I built with recycled wood from large 6' spools. It's very cute and would be perfect for a breeding trio. We'll have to get him his own girls.

Cute! yeah, I'm a crazy chicken lady too.... I wear the title like a badge of honor! I'm glad you have a vet to consult. Thank you for passing on the information!

Well, little Jorge made it through the night. He has been taking in water and Gatorade, but no food yet. I even tried scrambled eggs. I am going to try and clean up the wound a little more today.

moetrout said:

Huh???

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hydrogen peroxide is what i think HP meant