Big cut from the vent down - please help

[Finchley]

Hey there,

One of my five chickens has not been herself for the last couple of days. When I picked her up I noticed a really bad cut going from her vent down.
I've cleaned it with warm salty water, sprayed antiseptic purple spray over it and separated her form the others.

This morning I noticed another one of my girls have similar (albeit not quite so bad) cut as well.

Is there anything else I can do to help them? Does anyone know what could have caused it?

Many thanks,
Roi

 

[Judy]

It actually looks more like pecking injury, approaching cannibalism, to me. I would suggest you observe them for a period of time to see if you catch one or a few pecking others. Usually there is a "lead bully" who you can then separate from the group. Pecking is generally caused by a protein deficient diet, overcrowding and boredom, or a combination. It can be nearly impossible to stop once it gets going in earnest. That looks like it might be a Buff Orp, a breed which has a reputation for being easily bullied.

My chickens are pecking/eating each other's feathers:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=34705
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31291
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=36139
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30486

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you can get some Blue Kote most feed stores carry it, or Nu stock and put it all over the area it may deter them from going after this girls again, the Blue kote is purple and cover the red which chickens are drawn to, both Nu stock and Blue kote also aid in healing.

 

[Finchley]

Dear Judy,
Many thanks for your informative answer!
I've separated the two injured chickens from the other three, cleaned the wounds with salty water and sprayed it with purple antiseptic spray. Today, some three weeks after the attack the first one is still looking rather weak, losing weight and leaking puss. The second one is making good recovery but has not yet gone back to laying eggs.
You wrote it could be impossible to stop the attacker from reoffending, does that mean I need to kill her? Is there any less drastic actions you can recommend?

Many thanks,
Roi

 

[CottonGinWaste]

For your ailing chicken: if you are trying to save it, I recommend immediately starting up to 4 days of once daily penicillin injections (you can get a bottle of penicillinG at TSC), twice a day washing with Chlorhexidine soap and rinse (I got a bottle of each from my vet last summer when treating 3 severely wounded hens), then liberally applying antibiotic cream. Walmart has it very cheap, I went thru over a dozen tubes. Also tube feeding your bird is not difficult (or fun) but would help support it long enough to allow its system to recover, if possible. I'm using a foley catheter - its a perfect fit (!) for the sick bird I'm working with right now - 2 to 3x/day, giving it an egg yolk, tsp organic maple syrup, and dash lemon juice f/b enough water to total about 25 to 30 cc each time. I need electrolyte supplement for the water, used it last summer but couldn't find it today. Going to try TSC tomorrow. I'd do: 1st injection; then tube feed; then wash/ointment. 2nd treatment: 1st tube feed; 2nd wash/ointment.

If you can identify the worst offender in the attacks, try pulling her out and holding her alone for a week, then adding her back when you can keep an eye on her. I've also seen pictures on a thread of a plastic 'pinless peepers' thing for this scenario. It was the injured/pecked Polish rooster thread a couple days ago.