Chicken Attacked! Help!

[Chickens5433]

My chicken was attacked tonight by my dog. She has some tail feathers ripped out. Her injury is located directly above her tail. The feathers are gone, the skin is removed. I can see what almost looks like yellow fat.

I isolated her from the other chickens, applied a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water to clean the wound and then applied neosporin. I ordered some animal bandage spray but it won’t be here until Saturday.

We are in the middle of a snow storm here so I did the best I could tonight. I am going to take her in to the vet tomorrow for possible stitches and antibiotics but any help or suggestions in the meantime would help.

I am so afraid she’s going to die Gretchen is my favorite chicken and I love her so much. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Aapomp831]

Do exactly what you’re doing... make sure the neosporin does NOT contain painkiller. Keep her isolated from the flock for the night in a small crate where she can’t move around much.

 

[Painted Calls]

You did everything as you should have.

Pack the wound with Neosporin and keep it moist. That will heal up just fine. ❤

 

[Eggcessive]

Don’t use peroxide anymore, since it can damage tissue. 2% Chlorhexidene, weak betadine, saline, or a wound spray, such as Vetericyn or Theracyn with hydrogel are all good to use on the wound. Apply plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment twice a day to the wound. She she heal fine eventually. I would separate her in a dog crate with food and water but leave her inside the coop with her flock.

 

[Painted Calls]

Missed the peroxide. Always a good idea to have one of these ^^ wound cleansers on hand. If not, plain soap and water work well also.

 

[Chickens5433]

Do exactly what you’re doing... make sure the neosporin does NOT contain painkiller. Keep her isolated from the flock for the night in a small crate where she can’t move around much.

Okay thank you so much I appreciate the input! I set up a security camera so it detects motion so I will be able to monitor her actions throughout the evening.

 

[Chickens5433]

Don’t use peroxide anymore, since it can damage tissue. 2% Chlorhexidene, weak betadine, saline, or a wound spray, such as Vetericyn or Theracyn with hydrogel are all good to use on the wound. Apply plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment twice a day to the wound. She she heal fine eventually. I would separate her in a dog crate with food and water but leave her inside the coop with her flock.

Okay thank you. The only thing I was afraid for was risk of infection with her being in the coop and all of the dust and poop.
I placed a bandage on the wound. For reference it’s about the size of a half dollar. I was going to monitor her and two weeks and give her time to recoup before placing her back inside my coop in a cage. I have four little ones out there now trying to get adjusted. I was able to get her to eat some hot oatmeal. Spinach and mealworms and I was able to get her to drink a decent amount of water

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, the dust and dirt in the coop can be a concern, but I would let her have time with them in a day or two every day, to keep everyone familiar with her. Sometimes removing a chicken from the flock for more than 5 days or so, will cause some pecking order problems, but not in every case. Use your good judgement.

 

[ackie]

I personally keep injured ones in the house BUT mine have infinite room to re-work out their pecking order situation so ^^definitely do what you think is best for you. If keeping her inside calms YOUR nerves more than the stress of reintegration, then by all means leave her inside. I prefer inside because then I check on them a zillion times a day and it calms ME.

I don't have access to an avian vet so I would likely close the wound on my own and keep it clean and covered with triple antibiotic. I have lots of oral antibiotics from various people and animals not finishing the full course, so if I decided that was needed, I do tend to be able to give antibiotics without a vet. (Of course after doing research to see what is chicken safe, dosage and egg withdrawal if shes a layer.) BUT if shes your favorite, the vet is probably a better plan.

 

[ackie]

what is the black semi circle next to the wound in post 1?