A wounded bird

[Candacemore]

I had something similar happen to a hen of mine. Just as others have mentioned, spraying the area with something like hydrogen peroxide and then covering it completely with an ointment (really slather it on) will help. If the flesh is beginning to stink, that means it is probably starting to die and you will next see maggots on the flesh unless you keep up the regimen of peroxide spray/ointment. Some people think maggots are a good thing, however, because they eat the rotten flesh away and allow new flesh to grow. With my hen, I did let the maggots be for a day or so, then cleaned them off and covered the area with bag balm. A year later and she is just as fine as can be - missing a tail but otherwise perfectly healthy.

 

[Chad N Rose]

Hey folks, it seems our poor hen isn't out of the woods yet. It looks like her vent can't close properly, and/or is constantly leaking white and yellow gunk which I assume is poop. Is there anything we can do for her? Is it possible the hen pecking damaged it so it can't close?

 

[centrarchid]

Probable cause of this needs to be addressed. What are you feeding them and how much?

 

[Chad N Rose]

I'm confused.

But to answer your question....she hasn't been eating hardly anything since the pecking. just here feed and some lettuce. Same things she was eating before.

 

[centrarchid]

I'm confused.

But to answer your question....she hasn't been eating hardly anything since the pecking. just here feed and some lettuce. Same things she was eating before.

What were you feeding the flock in the days and weeks prior to the incident?

 

[Chad N Rose]

Laying feed and vegetable scraps.

 

[centrarchid]

Do you have a handle on relative amounts consumed. The layer formulations are designed to be the sole nutrition source and to provide the optimal / minimum amount of protein required to produce near maximal egg production. When you cut / dilute intake of such a diet with another with much lower protein (or other nutrient type) you can decrease the overall protein consumed either with respect to quantity or quality. Insufficient protein intake can be a contributing factor to cannibalism. You are currently nursing a victim of cannibalism.

Consider supplementing current diet with another formulation that is much higher in protein to offset the vegetable scraps.

 

[Chad N Rose]

From everything that people have said and what we have researched online , she was pecked because she was injured. Nothing to do with diet...they had been eating this same diet with no issues before the injury. my concern now is that she seems to be "pooping" without stopping. She is alone and no longer attacked by the other birds...we're just trying to nurse her back to health.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chad

 

[Shabana]

I am now wondering if the yellow and white poop is egg ? Is it possible that she has internally laid and that's what made her ill resulting in being bullied ?

Can we have a pic of her and her poop and vent ?

I would be tempted to do a warm bath for her and rinse out her bottom with cooled boiled water if this is the case.
She deffo will need antibiotics too like baytril.

I don't want to get too far ahead of myself as I may be barking up the wrong tree but a gloved finger with some lube to check for any shell would be another thing i would do.

Good luck to you all x

 

[centrarchid]

From everything that people have said and what we have researched online , she was pecked because she was injured. Nothing to do with diet...they had been eating this same diet with no issues before the injury. my concern now is that she seems to be "pooping" without stopping. She is alone and no longer attacked by the other birds...we're just trying to nurse her back to health.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chad

A lot of people say a lot of things online but their experience is generally limited to what is imposed by birds in confinement being fed diets the keepers do not understand. I keep my birds under a range of conditions which helps see how different nutrition and husbandry regimes impact behaviors and health.

I doubt the damage caused by other birds was traumatic enough to bust an egg internally. Change in feces could be because of change in diet or internal infection.


I am aware your are concerned about the bird currently in trouble which is a reactive and neccessary measure. Unfortunately I suspect you will realize this type of event again because you are not taking proactive measures that prevent such problems from arising in the first place. My birds get injured relatively frequently but it does not result in cannibalism.