Back Of My Hen's Head Is Missing!! Will She Survive? What Can I Do?

[yardmama]

I also have a pullet that some of the others attacked when I first put her in the pen with. They pecked until she had No skin on the back of her head. We brought her inside and put neosporin on her and kept her in the housr for a couple of weeks. She healed fine and now three months later she looks like she has a mohawk 'do. She also thinks she is one of the kids from spending so much time in the house.

I pray that your baby will do well also.

 

[irf1983]

The exact same thing happened to one of mine. It was literally scalped. We separated it and put a scabbing powder (sorry, forget the name) on every day and he turned out fine. Big and healthy. It will take time to fully heal, ours was months and you could still see some red, but he's a perfectly healthy roo. Yours should be fine.

 

[houndit]

I have had birds with wounds like that survive. Keep it as clean and isolated as you can.

 

[tropicalchicken]

We had one like this also. My roo took a dislike to her, then the other girls followed his example and by the time they were done they had all the meat gone behind her comb down to her skull. I think it really traumatized her as well, as she was dazed and shook up. But we put her in a cage by herself, cleaned it and used neosporin as well. It finally all healed up, took about a month, she was so happy when she finally got put back out, and the stupid rooster immediately jumped her again and opened it up. I never did figure out why he disliked her or how he even knew which one she was, as she is one of several black stars that I can't even tell apart except for the numbered leg bands I have on them.

So, we got her healed up again, and I moved her to another home where a beautiful rooster immediately fell for her and the guy I gave her too says she is the happiest sweetest girl he has, and his rooster still adores her.

My rooster on the other hand decided to start in on another black star shortly after this one was gone, so he was given to someone else to go to freezer camp. I am sure they enjoyed him.

 

[jjthink]

In addition to the info above, do all you can to keep her nutrition very good so she can have the building blocks to heal. And some healthy treats like black oil sunflower seeds may help keep her spirits up at this difficult time (it is stressful for them to be separated, to be hurting) - lifted spirits matter.
JJ

 

[chickeydee]

I used Benadine on my chicken it fights infection and than put neospron on it You can get that at Wal-Mart where the medicines are for cuts .It is what the hospitals use . I hope she makes it .

 

[lovemychix]

Good luck. I'm dealing with a hawk attack hen too. Vet told me neosporin and TLC. Stitching isn't a good idea. It should heal up on it's own he said.

 

[the Old Rebel]

You can also use Povidone Iodine on a bird's wound to fight infection. It won't burn the skin as some things do. You probably already know, but just in case, never use anything on a chicken or bird that has any ingredient with "caine" on the end like benzocaine, etc. It can kill them.

Our older hens attacked a two-month-old and ate her down to the bone from mid-back to her tail. I, too, brought her in the house, cleaned the wound with warm water, applied Povidone iodine in ointment form and let her stay with my special-needs rabbit that was paralyzed on his right side from a stroke. I fed her well with extra vitamins. It took time, but she healed completely. She is still missing feathers on about a one inch section above her tail and her tail feathers came back in black instead of gold. But she is fine. Her name is Annie, and she is about the sweetest hen I own. Her offspring also have black tails, so they all have Annie in their names. Don't ask me about that one. I don't know. She is a buff orpington and her tail was gold before this happened.

Anyway, I believe yours should be ok. Keeping her warm and fighting infection is the biggest thing. Good luck! Let us know how she is doing.

 

[dragonchick]

This same thing happen to one of our hens. We put blukoke on it to keep infection down and brought her into the house. After a month all the skin and even the comb grew back. One thing to watch real close for unless your in a really cold climate is flystrike. This will bring her down in seconds flat.

 

[Lunachick]

How's your bird doing chicken_noob? I'd also give her polyvisol (baby vits without iron) in her water. Or for pain crush 5 aspirins in one gallon of water...keeping her away from the others...Good luck! Please let us know how she does.