Bad head wound with graphic pics

[Back on the Farm]

I don't think I would bring anyone in with her. Chickens have a cannibalistic trait and may injure her more. I would keep her isolated till healed and then begin reintroducing her to the flock. They have a pecking order and probably have re-established it with her gone. It will need to re-established when she returns to the flock.

Good luck. Sounds like she is on the mend.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I had one with worse head injuries than that. It is amazing what chickens can recover from. Gatoraid or a similar type sports drink with real sugar in it will stimulate appetite and keep her hydrated. I made a smoothie out of baby food, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and Gatoraid and spoon fed until he could eat solids. Neosporin, Polysporin, or another topical antibiotic ointment (without pain meds) will help keep the wounds from getting infected and speed healing.

 

[Busybee1]

I agree with the advise you have been given, and she has a good chance of making it. If you use an antibiotic ointment do not get the kind with pain reliever in the eye, I just posted about an injured rooster i found with an injured eye and was told this. See if she will eat boiled egg or a mash with yogurt, extra protein helps the healing process. The smell of the egg may help her "find" the food. You can also use betadine to disinfect the wound, but I don't think you can get it in her eyes. It is heartbreaking....good luck!

 

[terrilhb]

Just found this thread. Oh my the poor girl. It sounds like you are doing everything right. Please keep us updated on her progress. Prayers are with you both.

 

[Time-Out]

Thanks for the support, everyone. She's a little trooper. I need to find her an adequate name!

She is hungry, there is certainly no problem with that. I have a raised dish with pellets in her 'box'. She goes over to it, pecks in mid-air for a bit, then gives up and goes to stand in a corner.
I've been hand-feeding her somewhat. We've managed to come to a sort of agreement: if I hold a pellet to the right side of her beak, she'll take it from me. It's a painstakingly slow process during which we both get our patience stretch (she wants more food and I keep dropping it). I KNOW I'm not feeding her half as much as she needs. I just wish I could get her to peck a little lower at the dish

I've tried egg and yoghurt. She must think I'm just out to torment her; keeping all these tantalising smells just out of reach!

 

[CherylR]

Sorry you and your girl are going through such an ordeal. I don't have much more to add above what has already been said, but i do have an idea about how to get some nutrition into her. I had a hen that was attacked by a racoon and was injured a bit worse than your girl. I used Hills A/D diet, watered down, and given through a dropper two or three times a day. Gradually i added less and less water as she recovered and then started mixing in her regular crumbles until she was back to her normal food. By the way, Hills A/D is a prescription diet that is specifically designed for pets (well...dogs and cats!) recovering from accidents/illness. If you can't get this particular diet, you may be able to find one similar (ask at your local vets office) or maybe even find a good quality canned cat food would work too. Anyway...that's what I did even though I had my doubts as to her surviving such awful injuries. However, with nursing care, keeping her safe/warm (but not too warm), keeping the wound clean and treated with triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin- without pain reliever is what i used), and keeping her fed and hydrated, she has completely recovered and I feel great that I was able to help her.

Hope your hen gets well soon. Please keep us updated.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I forgot to mention in my post that my severely injured bird and another I had with an eye injury had problems with perception. They would also peck too high, too low, or to the side of what they were aiming for. Both adjusted within a week or so and are now fine.

 

[Time-Out]

Thanks for the reassurance, Taz! Are they back out with the others? Do they not get picked on?

Thanks for the idea, Cheryl. I'll email the vet tomorrow and ask about recovery diet. She refused to take any pellets from me tonight. Looks like I'll be scrambling more egg in the morning!

My mum suggested vaseline to soften the skin. It worked a treat. I'll keep applying it once a day. The neosporin should be arriving soon.

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
My one-eyed roo went back outside and became the alpha for a while. It was funny watching a three pound bird lead a group of roosters more than twice his size!

I never did put the severely injured boy back with the roosters. It took a long time for him to heal (he actually had a skull fracture) and he is still a chocolate or two short of a full box.

He loves living with the girls though. He regrew his skin but not all of his feathers. He has a bald spot on top of his head. That is still pretty good considering he had no skin on his head, neck, and shoulder area after the attack. I still notice a little jerk in his head movement from time to time but it doesn't hinder him at all. We named him Twitch.

The vasoline may help keep bacteria and debris out of the wound until the Neosporin gets there. You are really going to have to watch for infection (you will be able to smell it). Once you get the ointment, you will want to apply a couple of times a day for a few days and then reduce to once a day. The wound will need to dry out and scab over for it to heal.

This is a link to the thread I started when Twitch was first injured. I hope it helps.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=501351

 

[Time-Out]

Just read your story. It really made me laugh. The bit about you singing to the chick made me think about Babe, but the time when they were playing with the cat was hilarious! I can really picture the scene

My girl is carrying her tail higher today, almost like a normal Araucana (British type), which makes me happy, because I see it as she's feeling better. She still sits in a corner with her head tucked in, tail drooping and all puffed up, but less

I do wish she was as clever as your young lad! She picked up on the drinking really quickly, but food is still a no-go. Her crop has a permanant hard lump, so, thinking it might be impacted, I scrambled her an egg with lots of olive oil. Did she want any? Of course not! Looks like I'll be giving it to my other chickens with apologies for any side effects it might have...

When we sit to watch a film or an episode of JAG, she peers over the side of the box, watching the screen. Then she'll try to get out of the box. I go to put her back and she snuggles her head into my sweater and pretends to be asleep lol So she ends up sitting on my lap for the rest of the evening.

Which eye is Twitch's 'problem' eye? Here, it's the left one. They would make a good pair.