Anyone perform minor surgery on a hen?

[Lil Mucket]

Alright well I've been waiting and watching and I decided just to leave her alone. I took her out for a really good inspection today, trimmed back a lot of her feathers and got a really good look. Didn't have my camera nearby but it takes such bad pictures you probably wouldn't be able to see anyway.

I have decided not to cut anything off - the extra skin is definitely necrotic, but the dead parts seem to be dried and scabbed over and look like it will just fall off at some point. She's been picking at the area on her back that she could reach, and I was a little concerned about that at first, but she's such a levelheaded hen that I figured it was probably for the better - either nature or instinct taking over.

I was right - the area where she's been picking at is completely clean, pink and has a tissue-thin layer of new skin. I think I can see new feathers growing as well. The part she can't reach has a pretty big thick scab on it, but it's loosening up on the edges a bit so I'm pretty sure she's got new skin growing under there too.

I'll probably leave her inside for a little while longer but I'm not sure how long I should keep her out - I hope she doesn't have problems re-integrating. It's been about 2 weeks now. I'm debating on getting her a little fabric jacket to wear, but I might just blukote the area to start with to keep the other hens from pecking at her. She really wants to go back outside though, poor thing tried to have a "dustbath" using the shavings in her kennel

 

[ErinG]

That is great news! I wouldn't re-introduce her until her feathers have covered the area. You don't want to start from square one again. They probably will not accept her with open wings, but just stay close and keep an eye on them for the first day or two. I'm so happy she is recovering.

 

[Lil Mucket]

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Why not until the new feathers cover her? Is it to keep them from pecking? I was hoping that a little jacket and some blukote would help with that. Though they might not recognize her! lol

 

[ErinG]

Yes, for pecking. If you cover it, it might work? That way too, she can be social again. Either way, watch to make sure - I'm sure you will, you sound like a great chicken mama

 

[nurseshelly]

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Yea!!! So glad she is doing well

 

[Lil Mucket]

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Oh okay yeah that makes sense. I'm going to make her a little jacket to cover it up so the other hens won't see the wound. Plus it will help her poor new skin from sunburning! It was just so pathetic watching her try and take a fake dustbath in her shavings, knowing how much happier she'd be outside doing the real thing!