Chicken Plucked while alive

[dfchaser]

We responded to an add about some chickens that needed a new home ASAP due to dog problems yesterday. We picked up 7 chickens. One of them has basically been plucked. She has no feathers on her back, and she has a spot about the size of a quarter that has been ripped away. Today she was out in our yard, but got terribly dirty. We decided at that point to bring her in, wash her up and we used Penicillin topically to her bad wounds. We have her in a cage in the house, until that one wound begins to heal. What else can I do for her?

 

[PurpleChicken]

You can give her some yogurt and vitamins to boost her nutrition.
If the wound gets infected oral antibiotics may help.

It sounds to me like you are doing everything well. Nice job.

 

[dfchaser]

I put some chicken drench in her water, she seems to be drinking that, is that the type of vitamins you mean?

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
What do you mean by "chicken drench"? I guess I've just not heard it called that before, but that could just be a regional thing. Here, "drench" means to get something completely soaked.

Sounds like bringing her inside, keeping her warm, safe and clean and giving her food is the best thing you could possibly be doing for her right now. Since she is eating and drinking, that is a good sign.

Other chickens will pick at wounds, so keeping her separated from the others until her wound is healed is a very good idea. It will also keep pests and parasites out of the wound.

 

[PurpleChicken]

I'm not sure what chicken drench is. The hatcheries sell a vitamin/electrolyte
mixture many of us give to our chicks for the first few weeks or when facing
and injury like your hen.

Polyvisol, a childrens' vitamin, will also work and is available at any drugstore.

If she is eating and drinking and you can give her some yogurt her nutritional
needs will probably be satisfied.

Chickens are very resiliant. I've seen mine recover from some pretty bad injuries.