A wounded bird

[Chad N Rose]

Hey folks,

We could really use some help. We are new to the chicken world and have three young hens. Whole moving our coop last night one of the ladies had her foot injured so that she always held it up. I checked it out and it was just a small cut. However, on returning home from work tonight we discovered that the other hens had pecked her very badly. Her tail is pretty much a bloody stump. We have separated her but not sure what to do to clean her up and get some baby asprin into her. I'll include a pic of her tail.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Chad

 

[AmishThunder]

I clean them with water and then use Betadine iodine antiseptic when mine get flesh wounds and they have all recovered. Last month I woke up to a possum chewing on a hen's butt and she is doing fine now, although she looks odd without any tail feathers. Chickens heal pretty quickly in my experience.

 

[Chad N Rose]

Thanks. I sure hope she does. She's my favorite. :-D.

 

[Chad N Rose]

I have read that a roster will help with hens pecking at each other? Anyone have an opinion on that?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

WARNING:
Chickens do not tolerate any sign of weakness in a flock mate, NONE, NADA. In the chicken world it is either root hog or die, there is no second way.

Roosters do prevent hens from fighting as much because the rooster views two hens duking it out as a challenge to his position of authority, and power in the flock. This is just an affirmation of the first sentence, not an exception.

 

[missnu01]

I have had hens get hurt and not get picked on and heal fine. Not sure it has anything to do with the rooster but I've never had less than a few... so maybe. But keep her separate and she will most likely heal. I had a hen get mostly skinned last year. I noticed she had a little blood by her tail and I went to check and see where it was coming from and when I lifted up the tail feathers all the skin on her back just lifted up. I could see all her tissues underneath. Like something grabbed her tail and just jerked upwards to her head. I did nothing. I didn't clean it. I didnt separate her. And she is fine now and sitting on eggs and you cant tell anything ever happened or that at one point her back had come loose. Everything just reattached and she was good as new. It's amazing what they cs. Heal from

 

[Chad N Rose]

Update: we have had her separated and in her own box for a few days now...

My concern is that she does not move much still and inspite of us cleaning her up as much as possible and spraying her with peroxide, she has started to take on a very strong odor. I'm a bit worried that she isn't going to recover and she is just suffering. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Chad

 

[Shabana]

You can use a general antibiotic like tylan in her water if you are concerned about infection, and keep her clean and dry.
You are right to keep her isolated. I wouldn't reintroduce her until she is fighting fit and healed.

My roosters definately keep their ladies in check, and also protect and find food for them.
I have a little sablepoot roo who is totally devoted and will even take over on the nest while a broody hen stretches her legs.
It might be a help to you.

Offer her a protein boost like cat food or scrambled egg.
Poor little girl. Why does this happen to our favourites

Best wishes x

 

[dawg53]

You can put an antibiotic ointment on the wound such as Neosporin or triple antibiotic. I recommend that you give her penicillin injections, here's a link with info on how to do it:

https://sites.google.com/a/poultryp...oultry-podiatry#chickens_penicillin_injection

 

[subhanalah]

You can put an antibiotic ointment on the wound such as Neosporin or triple antibiotic. I recommend that you give her penicillin injections, here's a link with info on how to do it:

https://sites.google.com/a/poultryp...oultry-podiatry#chickens_penicillin_injection

x2
These were my thoughts too, if she's stinkin'.