Big laceration on back

[LittlePip21]

hello, so I’ve got way to many roosters, and I was able to catch a particular hen of mine that is very wild, so I haven’t been able to get a good look at her till now. To my horror I found this huge laceration that has cut her skin, when she moves I can see the muscle underneath. It appears whatever bleeding there was has since scabbed over, so I cleaned the area with alcohol and put triple antibiotic cream on it. It’s on her back, and I believe this happened because her back is plucked. Anyway, my question is, other than isolation and keeping it clean, what else should I be doing? Thanks guys! Ps, I know it looks deep from the pick, but that brown stuff is scabbing.

 

[silkiemother]

well, you might have to prevent her from picking at it, you have to make sure she is still eating and drinking enough, among other things, and make sure she doesn't re-open it, and make sure she doesn't get stressed out too much

 

[LittlePip21]

well, you might have to prevent her from picking at it, you have to make sure she is still eating and drinking enough, among other things, and make sure she doesn't re-open it, and make sure she doesn't get stressed out too much

yeah, I have her in quarantine, and she’s quiet now, she hasn’t been touching it at all, it’s kinda under her wing too far back for her to really pick at. She looks good otherwise, I can tell she’s got food in her crop, I’ll be watching her closely, thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Does the wound have any odor or pus?
Flush out well with some saline, soapy water or something like diluted betadine. Alcohol was o.k for the initial flushing but use one of these others from now on.
I would trim the feathers away from the wound to make it easier to see and tend to.

Apply a triple antibiotic cream/ointment. Watch for signs of infection (odor/pus/redness/swelling).
It looks like it's already starting to heal. If you are in a warmish environment and flies are out, keep the flies away, you don't want them to lay eggs in that or you will have bigger problems.

Is she eating/drinking o.k.?

As for the roosters - can you catch some of them up and pen them separately? Filing/trimming nails and spurs may also help.

 

[silkiemother]

it should heal up in a couple of weeks, depending if infection sits in, and your welcome, I hope she gets better

 

[LittlePip21]

Does the wound have any odor or pus?
Flush out well with some saline, soapy water or something like diluted betadine. Alcohol was o.k for the initial flushing but use one of these others from now on.
I would trim the feathers away from the wound to make it easier to see and tend to.

Apply a triple antibiotic cream/ointment. Watch for signs of infection (odor/pus/redness/swelling).
It looks like it's already starting to heal. If you are in a warmish environment and flies are out, keep the flies away, you don't want them to lay eggs in that or you will have bigger problems.

Is she eating/drinking o.k.?

As for the roosters - can you catch some of them up and pen them separately? Filing/trimming nails and spurs may also help.

Hey guys, sorry I haven’t replied, healing is going well. thank you for the advice, is diluted dish soap a good idea for flushing? She is doing tremendously, and has been eating and drinking, not to mention pooping a LOT. You can see in the pics it’s a lot better, no infection that I can tell, no smell, puss etc. I’ve been cleaning it every day and putting on triple antibiotic. it appears as if the skin may be starting to knit back over it a bit. I have the perpetrators in quarantine, I’m going to either re home them or maybe even butcher them of it comes to it. I have a fan on her and the flies haven’t come near at all, I put her back with the others for a day, but there was a bit of pulling on the newly healed scab, so I separated her again. Thanks guys! I’ll keep you posted, she’s doing tremendously!

 

[LittlePip21]

Ok, I came in to flush out her wound, and I noticed a little bit of smelly puss under where her skin was pulled up, so I washed it out really well and I’ll keep an eye on it, she doesn’t act differently, so hopefully I caught early and it won’t spread

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If there was some pus with odor, it would be good to get some betadine or chlorhexidine to flush the wound well.

If it gets worse, consider giving her a round of antibiotics as well. Do you live in the US?

 

[LittlePip21]

If there was some pus with odor, it would be good to get some betadine or chlorhexidine to flush the wound well.

If it gets worse, consider giving her a round of antibiotics as well. Do you live in the US?

yes I do live in the US, I can also take her to the vet if she gets worse. After I washed it out, i only saw what I think is scar tissue. The skin is tight now around the scab, not sliding around where I can see the muscles anymore. I think what happened was she took a dust bath when I let her in with the others, and she got dirt down in the crack where her skin got pulled up. I’ll see about getting some betadine. She’s acting good, not noticing any discoloration of the skin. I’ll keep you guys posted. Ps. I trimmed up her wing and feathers, so that should help a bit

 

[Wyorp Rock]

yes I do live in the US, I can also take her to the vet if she gets worse. After I washed it out, i only saw what I think is scar tissue. The skin is tight now around the scab, not sliding around where I can see the muscles anymore. I think what happened was she took a dust bath when I let her in with the others, and she got dirt down in the crack where her skin got pulled up. I’ll see about getting some betadine. She’s acting good, not noticing any discoloration of the skin. I’ll keep you guys posted. Ps. I trimmed up her wing and feathers, so that should help a bit