Amazing healing from owl attach... photos!

[tellynpeep]

My Welsummer pullet was attacked and partially eaten by an owl on 10/16.
I've helped many chickens who were attacked by dogs, foxes, and coyotes, and know they are amazing at healing. This one I wasn't so sure about, but thought she deserved the attempt to save her.

When I found her, the owl had eaten the skin and all the muscle on her back around and between her scapula (shoulder bone) and backbone. The wound between those bones was about 1 inch deep. In the second picture, the Left arrow points to the top of her scapula, and the Right arrow points to her spinous processes. There were bubbles coming out of the puddle of blood between the two, and I could actually hear her breathing through the wound. It must have been a ruptured air sac. The photos are in order, the last one taken tonight.




This photo is day 3. Note the green color to the tissue. This is NOT gangrene or rotten tissue, but the normal color of healing tissue in chickens. (Their hemoglobin breaks down into green pigment, not yellow like ours.)

This is two weeks (Nov. 1.) Note the healthy pink tissue, and the contracture of the wound edges. You can still see the tip of the scapula and spine (arrows.)

Today... All healed! I will keep her away from any roosters for a while yet while the scar tissue thickens!

 

[galanie]

What did you do to ensure such wonderful healing? I can't imagine that you simply let her do whatever. Do tell!!

 

[tellynpeep]

This is what she wore over her bandage (and is still wearing, as it is now cold here, and she is still missing some feathers!) Stretchy fleece makes easy chicken clothes! A hole for each wing, and she has a stylin' vest!

 

[galanie]

And it's a great shade of my favorite color, blue! hehe. What did you use on the wound though? Besides a bandage? What did you clean it with and then put on it?

 

[Acefit411]

Oh my!! You did an amazing job

Its a wonder they can live through something like that....did you have to put her on antibiotic?
It pays never to give up!!!

 

[tellynpeep]

Initially she was on antibiotics and prescription pain medication. After 2 days she got really good at avoiding the oral medications and I was afraid she would aspirate, so I stopped those. The wound was cleaned with dilute betadine. First 2 days I used antibiotic ointment, then I switched to honey dressings (seriously... honey. Look it up. Antibacterial, and hyperosmotic; it draws fluid out of the wound and is a natural antibiotic.) She wouldn't leave the dressings on, so I resorted to attaching them with surgical staples. Honestly, for the last 3 weeks I haven't treated her at all except for an occasional peek and clean bandage. The Kudos go to her, not me!

 

[jeeping31]

Awesome post and pic love the story !