Chicken cut open - pics

[I'vegotchickenfever]

Wait, are you saying her feathers aren't growing back? Roxy's skin scabbed over and all her feathers came back, we couldn't even tell where she had been torn open and this was a pretty large gash.

For example....if you are preparing to cook a chicken, and you cut the skin, you can see down to the raw flesh of the thigh. That's what she looks like. The pictures aren't very good...I could probably insert a large egg into the gap between the skin and the actual flesh.

Sounds like it time to clip the spurs on that rooster.

It was done today.

 

[speckledhen]

My rooster has a date with the Dremel tool tomorrow a.m.

 

[ivan3]

We had one pullet opened up (four stitches). We used the Dremel first time around and the inability to control the RPM made it a tool we avoid (too jumpy).

Heavy grit emery boards x15min. every month will render the roo's claw and spur tips harmless. Our guy's one straight spur was nearly three inches long when it was finally filed off. No problems with the hens -- his other spur was curved, they were locking together and he was falling off his roost in middle of the night whenever he'd try to shift position.

Cass filed `em down/off (he was being treated for bumble foot so he was already handy):

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/Dispurs/

 

[speckledhen]

We've cut spurs with the Dremel quite a few times, but Suede's just sort of snuck up on us. And the fact that my girl was the only one being mated (Skye isn't being mated and Dusty is raising chicks) may have had something to do with it. My big blue boy isn't a vigorous mating machine at all. I would imagine many a hen has died from infection from this same type wound, especially if she is feral and has no one looking out for her.

 

[ivan3]

speckledhen wrote: I would imagine many a hen has died from infection from this same type wound, especially if she is feral and has no one looking out for her.

Makes one wonder.

Next sharp spurred cockerel here is getting the rasp early and often (didn't appreciate the slope of the learning curve last time around).

Hope your guy enjoys his `spuricure'.

 

[speckledhen]

Suede's spurs aren't sharp at all. Guess the ends are blunt from the last time we cut them, but they are really long. I just feel bad I didn't catch this right away. Live and learn!

 

[walkswithdog]

Flushing the wounds helps with healing. I use a one part peroxide to three parts water to flush then wash with betadine. Blue KOTE is an excellent product for sealing and healing large areas.

They do close over time. Stitching and staples are both options. I'm better with staples so I use those now. One of my turkeys had a HUGE wound, I closed it partway after washing it, but it was huge so the remaining wound made those in your picture look small. The remaining wound was about 2 inches by four inches, down into the right leg.

Due to muscle damage I actually had to flush and debried the wound at least once a week - she hated seeing me coming I tell you... Keeping it clean, removing dead tissue and flushing and monitoring and she may limp a little, but she's happy, healthy and laying. I kept her isolated until she was strong enough to get out of the six foot high dog kennel.

They can survive some pretty significant wounds if they don't go septic. And most of the feathers grow back as they finish healing but the body's first priorities are fighting infection and producing skin/scar, feathers are a last step.

It can be helpful to pluck around the wound so you get a good view of the healing process and wound.

 

[I'vegotchickenfever]

hey can survive some pretty significant wounds if they don't go septic.

Septic?? What are the symptoms? We've evidently got alot to learn in the medical care of chickens

I hope it's not too late, but it has been quite a while already.

 

[FarmerDenise]

You'd know if she went septic. It stinks like dead rotten meat. Which it is. Just spoil her a bit and keep it clean as already suggested and she'll heal up fine.

 

[jemagsy]

I'vegotchickenfever :

For example....if you are preparing to cook a chicken, and you cut the skin, you can see down to the raw flesh of the thigh. That's what she looks like. The pictures aren't very good...I could probably insert a large egg into the gap between the skin and the actual flesh.

You could try stitching it as others have suggested, Roxy was cut to the meat too, and did self heal, but it is your choice and I would say go with your gut on this one especially since you can tell how bad it is. I think it would improve healing time to sew it up, but I am not a vet. The most important thing though is to keep it clean and the second to keep her and other chickens from reopening that wound. Best of luck! I hope all goes very and she recovers speedily.​