Bone (?) growing out of her wattles?

[Flockincrazy]

She’s our biggest chicken. Not sure how to tell if a chicken is skinny or not, but behaviorally, you would never know that she has anything going on.

I would weight her then weight her again in a few days

 

[Inkisevidence]

Can you clean off the debris that is on top of her tongue? If you can, then maybe you can slide her tongue back in her mouth, and it will get soft again, with all the moister in her mouth.

I can try. It looked like there wasn’t a hole to put her tongue back into. Maybe we’ll try and manipulate it a little and see what happens. She is not eating easily at all. Even wet food.

 

[aart]

It looked like there wasn’t a hole to put her tongue back into.

That's what I was wondering....considering how long it could have been.
Was thinking the mess under the beak came from her trying to eat and it going thru the 'hole'.
Can she drink?

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I can try. It looked like there wasn’t a hole to put her tongue back into. Maybe we’ll try and manipulate it a little and see what happens. She is not eating easily at all. Even wet food.

From the picture it does still look a bit pink on the end. Clean it really good, then maybe try rubbing with coconut oil and slipping it back through the hole. Lather the wound good with antibiotic ointment too as the others said.

 

[Eggcessive]

How is your chicken doing? Any update?

 

[Inkisevidence]

We cleaned it again and put antibiotic ointment below her tongue which looks green and infected. There was no way to push her tongue back in. I’m sad but at a loss. She eats a tiny bit but it’s so hard for her. I’ve seen her drink and her behavior is pretty normal.

 

[Eggcessive]

It may need cleaning more aggressively on a daily basis. Dish soap and water, Hibiclens/chlorhexidene, or Epsom salts and water would be good to use. A bulb/ear syringe, turkey baster, syringe, or kitchen sink sprayer could be used to flush out the wound. QTips or a small toothbrush might help to clean it. Apply plain antibiotic ointment after cleaning. If a vet is available, they might be able to debride it and help her. If you ever feel that she is suffering, putting her down might be an option. She might be able to get more water if you make a small deep bowl of watery arey mushy chick feed and add some egg or tuna.

 

[Inkisevidence]

It may need cleaning more aggressively on a daily basis. Dish soap and water, Hibiclens/chlorhexidene, or Epsom salts and water would be good to use. A bulb/ear syringe, turkey baster, syringe, or kitchen sink sprayer could be used to flush out the wound. QTips or a small toothbrush might help to clean it. Apply plain antibiotic ointment after cleaning. If a vet is available, they might be able to debride it and help her. If you ever feel that she is suffering, putting her down might be an option. She might be able to get more water if you make a small deep bowl of watery arey mushy chick feed and add some egg or tuna.

Thank you so much. I’ll try all this!

 

[SulkyBantam]

WOW this is a strange situation. I didn't even know this could happen, poor hen.

 

[Inkisevidence]

Thank you so much. I’ll try all this!

Great news—found a vet that works on chickens. Taking her in tomorrow morning. Cleaned her really well today. The cleaning is getting easier the more I do it as things aren’t crusted onto it anymore. Applied antibiotic cream and she still seems to be behaving fairly normally. Tried to coax her into wet food, though it’s pretty hard for her. I’m so hopeful that the vet can help.