Advice on treating the face of a "Biter"

[HeatherKellyB]

Hi! I hope everyone is having a wonderful 2021 so far. I'm hoping someone has some advice that will help me.

I've got a chicken that needs treatment to wounds on the face, comb, and wattles. My problem is that this bird is a biter and to be exact, a hard intentional biter. Said bird hasn't always been a biter, in fact, this just started this morning, as I was trying to clean up the wounds more and apply more antibiotic ointment. I tried cleaning the head last night but it seemed painful so I did as much as I could. One wattle is slightly ripped away from the beak so I can't hold them. I feel like every part of the head is painful, so that's probably why they're biting, but the wattle especially needs attention. Thank you for any and all advice, tips, tricks, suggestions.

 

[Nafalie]

I know this sounds mean, but if you can enlist the help of a second person they can hold the chicken upside down by the legs. They can't really do much in this position and you should be able to apply whatever ointment you need. I hope this helps!! Good luck!!!

 

[Ebony Rose]

Wrap bird in old clean towel to pin wings to its body and grant you more control of the bird. The gentle yet firm restraint ought to cause the bird to rethink aggressiveness. Best of luck.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Wrap bird in old clean towel to pin wings to its body and grant you more control of the bird. The gentle yet firm restraint ought to cause the bird to rethink aggressiveness. Best of luck.

I tried the towel this evening and it seemed to make the bird more angry. I'm certainly open to trying this again as I am seriously concerned over this ripped wattle. Thank you so much for your time and knowledge

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I know this sounds mean, but if you can enlist the help of a second person they can hold the chicken upside down by the legs. They can't really do much in this position and you should be able to apply whatever ointment you need. I hope this helps!! Good luck!!!

I didn't think about this. Thank you. If I can find someone to help, I will try this in the morning while the crop is empty, so I'm not risking the bird aspirating. Thanks again. I appreciate you sharing this tip with me

 

[Ebony Rose]

Just a thought; Super glue was first used in the Vietnam War in a spray form as a hemostatic agent to temporarily patch the internal organs of injured soldiers until conventional surgery could be performed. Tissue adhesives are now used worldwide for a variety of sutureless surgical applications humans and animals. It will sting the bird when applied, but it will also bind the wound and will grow out and be sloughed off once the wound has healed.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Just a thought; Super glue was first used in the Vietnam War in a spray form as a hemostatic agent to temporarily patch the internal organs of injured soldiers until conventional surgery could be performed. Tissue adhesives are now used worldwide for a variety of sutureless surgical applications humans and animals. It will sting the bird when applied, but it will also bind the wound and will grow out and be sloughed off once the wound has healed.

Thank you! The rip isn't too far back but I am worried that infection is going to or already has formed. (I worked on an ambulance for years without any problems and have always had a strong stomach, but for some reason, the color of the skin in the wound and seeing food in it, really turned my stomach) I wonder if any infection would be treatable if I used superglue?

 

[WindingRoad]

Thank you! The rip isn't too far back but I am worried that infection is going to or already has formed. (I worked on an ambulance for years without any problems and have always had a strong stomach, but for some reason, the color of the skin in the wound and seeing food in it, really turned my stomach) I wonder if any infection would be treatable if I used superglue?

You might try 1 baby aspirin for pain and that might help reduce her fighting you. I used 1 baby aspirin twice a day on a bird who injured her leg very badly. Pain can make anyone fight treatment. Good luck

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You might try 1 baby aspirin for pain and that might help reduce her fighting you. I used 1 baby aspirin twice a day on a bird who injured her leg very badly. Pain can make anyone fight treatment. Good luck

It's actually a rooster that has been human aggressive before but seems to be getting better as *I* have gained a lot more confidence around him(it's my fault that he's shown aggression as he was one of three ~all boys~in my very first flock and I didn't do anything the way I should have). He's never been a biter while being held before now and he's almost 2 years old. I feel confident that he's biting out of fear of pain or because he is in pain. I could probably hide aspirin in a grape or raisin and he'll take it no problem.

I haven't referred to him as a "him" in this thread until now because not treating him isn't an option. I don't believe he needs to be culled for his injuries but I'm keeping a close eye on things.
As a side note, I am planning on removing his spurs along with the other rooster that he keeps fighting. He's trying to get his pecking order status back but I just don't see it happening. He does though

 

[WindingRoad]

It's actually a rooster that has been human aggressive before but seems to be getting better as *I* have gained a lot more confidence around him(it's my fault that he's shown aggression as he was one of three ~all boys~in my very first flock and I didn't do anything the way I should have). He's never been a biter while being held before now and he's almost 2 years old. I feel confident that he's biting out of fear of pain or because he is in pain. I could probably hide aspirin in a grape or raisin and he'll take it no problem.

I haven't referred to him as a "him" in this thread until now because not treating him isn't an option. I don't believe he needs to be culled for his injuries but I'm keeping a close eye on things.
As a side note, I am planning on removing his spurs along with the other rooster that he keeps fighting. He's trying to get his pecking order status back but I just don't see it happening. He does though

Doesn't bother me at all if he's a he or a she. Just take care of him. My bird that got injured is a WLH pretty small bird so I don't think 1 baby aspirin twice a day is too much for him. Good luck.