Chicken with large gash in the side! Please help!

[CaliBlueChicken]

P.S. Here is my post about our chicken, probably alot of repeated information, but maybe something there will help

Also pics of his "sanitary wing".
Chicks attacked by predator one badly wounded <New PICS>Graphic

Good Luck!!

 

[redroosta]

i think he will be fine, we had a hawk get a hen in the back of the nect and she bled alot but she healed fine, she hid for a while so she could recover in peace but she was completely fine.

 

[Airehead012]

Thanks for the suggestions. He has been less lethargic today (in fact, he was very fidgety and crowed a bunch). I'll try the electrolytes, but our main concern is that the spot will get infected, or not heal at all. If it get's infected, we're going to have to put him down, but other than that we're just crossing our fingers.

He is very restless and lonely, but I'm afraid to let him out (the spot could get infected). Would it be okay to supervise him in my backyard for a bit so he can get some fresh air (he's in a bin in the garage right now)? Also, we're not sure if we should bandage it or not, or even how to. Any suggestions? Thanks for the help so far.

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

Hello,
About letting your chicken go outside: Today I took my healing chick out in a cat carrier, so he could still be outside but in a "clean" area and so that he could talk and see the other chicks. We were outside all day with him (building thier coop) so I just made sure there weren't flies hanging around him and to ensure his cat carrier stayed clean, and he didnt get too hot. He seemed to be fine today we have yet to do his wound treatment tonight, it seemed as if he liked the cat carrier and to see his friends and us all day outside. We have not bandaged our chicks wound, just covered his wing in bandaging to keep the feathers from getting into it. Some information that I read from someone that replieded on my post said to try and keep wounds airy. I am not sure how you feel about chickens in the house but we have our little guy enclosed in the kitchen so we can socialize with him. And we have no where else to keep him haha.

Just make sure you clean the wound... put neosporin on it and keep his living area clean, and give him electrolytes. He should be okay

Someone on my post told me that my guy should heal just may take a while and it seems like he is.

Also you might want to post pitures of his progress and wound. It might help the more seasoned (and newer

) chicken owners to get a better idea of how to help you guys. Good Luck!

 

[Airehead012]

Ok. Thanks for the clue-in.
He is very restless right now (his bin is a little too small for him), so we're going to clean him up today and supervise him in (as you put it), " an outside but clean area". His "girlfriend" has been lonely so we'll probably let them chat a bit. I'll post some pictures of his progress (we can't tell if there's been any yet) this afternoon.

 

[Airehead012]

Here is a picture of the wound today (3 days after event)

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

Hello again, how did his day go today outside? One thing I would do is trim back the feathers that are getting into the wound to help prevent infection. But I think its looking pretty good. I am new to chicken injuries... I am only have my chickens wound to compair it too. Keep up the good work

. Did you read the link that chickensioux posted pm 07/23/2009 12:08 pm? It is a good one to read it is long but worth it and helpful information on treating wounds. Well keep us posted on how you guys are doing. Best of Luck!

 

[Airehead012]

Here's another picture of Victor, taken today. I think it's starting to heal. We've been following the same procedure daily (but we're not washing off the hibiclens), and he was fine when we took him outside. His girlfriend was happy to see him. If anyone thinks it might be getting better please tell me! I need some hope for this poor bird (although his attitude is back to normal!). We probably will trim the feathers around the wound, they keep getting wet when we clean it up, and we don't want it to get infected. Thanks for the help!

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

Hello Again,
It doesn't look like it's infected. I think it is looking pretty good... though just to remind you I am totally new to chicken wounds as well. I am only going off of comparisons to my chick's wound and what others have told me. I would for sure trim those feathers that are getting in the way just to be safe. I think it looks better than it did when you took the first picture. And if he is acting his normal self I would say that is good too. Well, let us know how things are going. Take care

 

[dlhunicorn]

Everything seems to be going so welll... personally I would not risk it (outside) until healing is a bit further along.
Do you have a play pen? That will give him a bit more room.
I didnt have one and gave my bird free range so to speak in the bathroom ... perfect as I could easily clean up/disinfect ... luckily I also have a spare room with vinyl flooring that I also use for recovering rescues.