Hey everyone I really appreciate this forum and have learned a lot about my chickens this last week! A gate was left open on our farm and a dog was able to get into the chicken run. Usually our miniature donkeys are there to protect the chickens but they were out to pasture that afternoon. 5 out of 6 chickens were unharmed and I was very lucky to find Pepper my barred rock hiding in our garage in shock. About 70 % of her back skin and feathers were missing. I have treated many wounds on horses and dogs but never a chicken so I panicked and raced her down to my vet because I didn't think she would make it and wanted to put out of her pain. I also couldn't examine the extent of the injury and needed help immediately I thought that would be the safest way. I realize now some chickens might not survive being transported but pepper let me know on that ride that she was not ready to up despite the fact the damage was worse than I could have imagined. Now I have been documenting her treatment and miraculous recovery because it would have been really helpful for me to see something like this and knowing chickens are so sweet and incredibly resilient! I saw some photos of a wound almost as bad but there was not a lot of follow up to show the positive outcome! I had to give her a chance considering she had the will to survive and I felt so terrible that this was done by one of our rescue dogs.
First the wound was cleaned very well with very dilute chlorhexidine. All of the feathers touching the wound were trimmed over the first few days unil no feathers could get in the wound. I also got a 1 liter bag of lactated ringers more gentle than sterile saline to rinse the wound with as it is sterile but gentle and doesn't disturb the granulations tissue as the wound is healing. If anyone can get silver sulfadiazine also known as thermazene they use it on burn victims.
It is the most amazing cream for a serious wound on humans and all animals and it incredibly soothing as well as having broad antimicrobial activity and is a bactericidal. Effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. I have been packing the wound with a gel impregnated gauze that was recommended by my amazing equine vet. This makes everything so simple!
This dressing promotes healing and natural debridement of the wound so you don't have to fuss too much and do any painful debridement of the wound.
I ordered some online http://www.healthykin.com/showprodu...gnated-gauze&gclid=CLCGp6Kx_7QCFQhyQgod1GYAzg
I did put my girl on antibiotics due to the extent of the wound. I give her a shot 2x a day subcutaneously I could give someone the name and dose if the want. I also gave her a small amount of pain killer the first few days when I had to clean the wound in some very deep pockets which she hated. I have been feeding her lots of hard boiled egg yolks yogurt and mealworms as well as her normal layer pellets and plenty of fresh vitamin mineral supplement in her water.
And a chicken saddle is a must if the wound is on the back I sent my mom a pattern and she made a few more me the very next day!
The 1st photo is about 1/2 the wound on day 2 I couldn't get a good picture but the skin flap to the left of my thumb I thought would die and have to be cut but that is not the case now!
This is day 8 before cleaning
Day 8 After cleaning Skin has reattached healthy granulation tissue some necrotic dead tissue but should slough off in a couple more days!
You can't even tell she is hurt with her cute chicken saddle
All her yummy food and treats at first she didn't want to eat but i tried everything mealworms got her back eating about 5 hours after the attack.
Sweet girl in her chicken hospital, large dog crate up on a table in my house with an infrared heat light to keep her warm. They say an injured chicken heals best at 80 - 85 degrees.
I know this is long but I just signed up today after looking at this forum for help the last week and hope that this helps anyone out there with a similar problem. Any small wounds will seem simple to me after this! I will continue to show her wonderful progress and eventual reintroduction to her flock who has seen he a couple times since her attack last Tuesday!
First the wound was cleaned very well with very dilute chlorhexidine. All of the feathers touching the wound were trimmed over the first few days unil no feathers could get in the wound. I also got a 1 liter bag of lactated ringers more gentle than sterile saline to rinse the wound with as it is sterile but gentle and doesn't disturb the granulations tissue as the wound is healing. If anyone can get silver sulfadiazine also known as thermazene they use it on burn victims.
It is the most amazing cream for a serious wound on humans and all animals and it incredibly soothing as well as having broad antimicrobial activity and is a bactericidal. Effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. I have been packing the wound with a gel impregnated gauze that was recommended by my amazing equine vet. This makes everything so simple!
This dressing promotes healing and natural debridement of the wound so you don't have to fuss too much and do any painful debridement of the wound.
I ordered some online http://www.healthykin.com/showprodu...gnated-gauze&gclid=CLCGp6Kx_7QCFQhyQgod1GYAzg
I did put my girl on antibiotics due to the extent of the wound. I give her a shot 2x a day subcutaneously I could give someone the name and dose if the want. I also gave her a small amount of pain killer the first few days when I had to clean the wound in some very deep pockets which she hated. I have been feeding her lots of hard boiled egg yolks yogurt and mealworms as well as her normal layer pellets and plenty of fresh vitamin mineral supplement in her water.
And a chicken saddle is a must if the wound is on the back I sent my mom a pattern and she made a few more me the very next day!
The 1st photo is about 1/2 the wound on day 2 I couldn't get a good picture but the skin flap to the left of my thumb I thought would die and have to be cut but that is not the case now!
This is day 8 before cleaning
Day 8 After cleaning Skin has reattached healthy granulation tissue some necrotic dead tissue but should slough off in a couple more days!
You can't even tell she is hurt with her cute chicken saddle
All her yummy food and treats at first she didn't want to eat but i tried everything mealworms got her back eating about 5 hours after the attack.
Sweet girl in her chicken hospital, large dog crate up on a table in my house with an infrared heat light to keep her warm. They say an injured chicken heals best at 80 - 85 degrees.
I know this is long but I just signed up today after looking at this forum for help the last week and hope that this helps anyone out there with a similar problem. Any small wounds will seem simple to me after this! I will continue to show her wonderful progress and eventual reintroduction to her flock who has seen he a couple times since her attack last Tuesday!
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