Breast blisters and cut up wing tips

[Eddie12109]

Hi all,

I have an almost 9 year old hen named Eddie. She has arthritis, to the best of my knowledge, and has trouble walking around. I am with her for most of the day but that doesn't stop the tips of her wings from being scuffed up. Because she has such a hard time walking, she flaps her wings constantly, and they rub against the sand or wire of her cage constantly. This has caused her feathers to come off in that area, she is finishing up her molt and the feathers won't grow back in. I have been putting neosporin and other wound healers on her tips but it hasn't helped one bit. I even wrapped her wings in some wrap that is the sticky kind... I believe it is called vet wrap. That came off easily and I am at a loss. They aren't getting better and they still get bloody from the constant flapping. She comes inside into her 'wheelchair' a lot but it doesn't help her wings even though she isn't flapping. Any ideas to cover them or heal them?

Then, she also has a bad breast blister. She is arthritic and when she isn't moving around, she is laying down. This has resulted in a thick, yellow-scabbed breast blister. I have been putting neosporin on it every night before bed and yesterday I squeezed it and I believe some pus came out. I can't be sure since it was such a small amount but I do think it was pus. It has been there for a month+ now

Any experience or ideas?
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[Eddie12109]

I will attach pictures tonight.

 

[Eddie12109]

Here’s her breast blister, very hard to take pictures of her underside though

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's having trouble.

I agree, it looks like breast blister and there may be some pus in there.
I would clean it with Hibiclens then press out any more pus that you see, then pack with the ointment. You can try wrapping to see if that helps it heal and cushion it some too, but that would need to be checked daily and removed for a while so the blister can get air. I would fear wrapping 24/7 would cause it to really become infected.
This is a more severe case of breast blister in this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ister-graphic-pictures.1096276/#post-16850510

If you can get photos of the wings that may help. I'm pretty sure I understand what you are saying about them, but I'm having trouble visualizing how to wrap/protect them so they can heal.

 

[Eddie12109]

Can I use something like saline solution to rinse it out or is it best to use hibiclens?

And I am going to take pictures soon, here is my wrapping off her wings while she is in her wheelchair... in my opinion she looks like buzz lightyear, they lasted for a little, I took her on a walk and then after she flapped them right off.

 

[Eddie12109]

And this is the best one I can get of her wings. This is the worst side, it got cut up today

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Saline to clean the wounds is fine if that's what you have.

She's giving you the stinky eye! You must not be doling out enough treats to suit her
I'm still not sure how you could protect the wing.
Is that her elbow or the wing tip? Any bandaging is going to make it more difficult for her to move/walk though isn't it?

Is she getting any pain relief for the Arthritis?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I almost wonder if you could put something like a sock or something over each of them and attach them together across her front and across her back.

She is absolutely precious.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I almost wonder if you could put something like a sock or something over each of them and attach them together across her front and across her back.

She is absolutely precious.

That's not a bad idea. Or some type of sleeve on each wing. She's needing her wing movement to get around, so attaching them to each other may or may not work, but I like the sock/sleeve idea.

 

[TheCluckyClucker2]

I'm following! I think the sock is a good idea. She is precious!