Chicken Injured by Predator (Graphic Images)

[LadyDragonborn]

Our rooster Hei Hei was found four days ago with a really bad injury to his back. My husband believes a dog may have attacked him. I am not sure that he will survive his injury, but I have washed it out with iodine, diluted iodine, and I have put a Triple Antibiotic ointment inside and on the outside of the wound. I have also isolated him inside our house away from outlr hens and trimmed a few of the feathers laying across it. It is a pretty deep gash. On day four it still looks pretty bad. The inside has a yellow hue and there is a small spot of green.

Also, it appears that he
1.) either has some severe caked up feathers -from dog saliva or blood or something?-
Or 2.) Has a raunchy looking scab forming over the top.

It looks like feathers, but my husband thinks I should leave it alone. He has some experience with birds, and fears I may cut a blood feather and him bleed to death.

Anyway, if someone could show some pointers my way on what to possibly expect or if some of you that are more experienced more with chickens and these instances could tell me how you think it looks... if it looks infected etc.

The first picture is today, and the second is the day I found him. Sorry you cant see the inside the wound very well on either picture. Thank you all.

 

[Eggcessive]

I just want to point out that normal saline does not sting, as posted by another person earlier. Eye wash is saline. Normal saline 0.9% is the same pH as the fluid and blood in the body. Water can sting in a wound, but saline is isotonic and that is usually what wounds in hospital ER’s nowadays use to clean deep wounds. Harsh chemicals, such as betadine or hydrogen peroxide have been used in the past to clean deep wounds, but saline is now seen as being better and more gentle to irrigate wounds, especially deep wounds. If you make homemade saline, you need to be careful not to mix it incorrectly, since too much salt could sting. To make saline add 9 grams (1.8 tsp) of table salt to a liter (16 ounces or 1000ml) of water. For small cuts and scrapes, gentle soap and water are fine to use to clean a wound. Then keep the wound moist with plain antibiotic ointment to help with healing. Here is a good link about deep wound care:
https://advancedtissue.com/2015/07/the-best-and-worst-ideas-for-open-wounds/

 

[LadyDragonborn]

It’s looking so much better. Your doing a great job!

Thank you so much We hope he is better soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can use a piece of gauze or paper towel wet with the saline, and just dab it on the wound for a minute and remove it. That way you are not wiping or damaging anything. Then apply the ointment. That wound looks pretty good, and you will be amazed how well that heals in a few weeks.

 

[Eggcessive]

then

now

Wow, so much improvement already.

 

[LadyDragonborn]

Today!

 

[LadyDragonborn]

 

[LadyDragonborn]

today!

 

[azygous]

In the future, not that we want to encourage predator attacks, you need to wash the wounds immediately with soap and water and get some antibiotic ointment on them so infection doesn't set in.

So, that's the first thing you need to do. Fix a basin of warm water with mild soap and let the chicken soak. No need to remove the broken feathers.

After soaking all the dirt and dried blood off, examine the wounds carefully. Look for swelling and redness around them that indicates infection. This can kill a chicken in a day's time, will require an antibiotic if you see signs of infection.

If the chicken is acting lethargic, he may be suffering from shock. Give him electrolytes to counteract it. Be sure he drinks plenty of water. You may need to keep him indoors if it's very cold. Cold will make shock worse.

Keep him in a clean place for awhile so his wounds can heal and not get dirty and infected. Keep ointment on the wounds so the wounds do not dry out. Chickens can heal up pretty quickly from severe wounds. Unless they get infected, he should recover just fine.

 

[LadyDragonborn]

He is eating and drinking and pooping well. Even crowing in the mornings startling me at times! Lol.
He's definately acting more like himself than the day I found him. He has also flapped his wings a few times at us lol. (He done this outside at us before he got hurt.)

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice!