Completely scalped chicken

[caerna]

I separated two chickens out a while ago because they had some leg issues. One managed to get better, but the other only got worse, so I had to cull her. I knew reintroduction of the other would be tricky, but decided to try the "sneak her back in at night" method.

We tried that Wednesday night, but it went horribly wrong. My boyfriend checked on her Thursday morning; he said she was in the coop while the others were in the run, but he though she looked ok. But then later he checked on her again and was worried she was dead because she was huddled up. He got her out and told me that she looked beaten up, so I told him to separate her again. He put her near the heater and moved the food/water next to her.

When I got home and checked on her from a distance, she was definitely injured but I didn't want to disturb her until she'd had time to recover from some of the shock, so I only went in this morning to assess the damage. I'm horrified, though because she is completely scalped. I though that was just her skin when I saw it yesterday, but the skin is gone and it's just her skull. I don't know if she can recover from this, as I don't see how she could survive with her skull showing, and it's not just a hole, it's the entire top dome from the mid comb to the back of the skull. I can provide pics, but didn't just want to thrown them up here right away.

She doesn't seem interested in food or water. I'm afraid to clean it, I'm afraid to do anything. She's not bleeding or anything, and she can stand and move around a little, but she's mainly just sticking close to the heater. I tried to give her some sugar water, but she's not interested. My boyfriend says that she did have her eyes opened yesterday and kept looking at him when he checked on her through the window.

Any help is appreciated! I'm not squeamish about culling if necessary, but I wanted to see if anyone can offer hope before I decide on an action. Unfortunately, I don't know if I have any avian savvy vets nearby.

 

[coach723]

PIctures would be helpful.
In general, flush the wound with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution (hibiclens) or sterile saline, apply plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment as needed to keep it covered in ointment and moist. Many times these heal up fine. Picture below of one of my hens that got scalped by a flock mate, her skull was visible. I treated as described, picture is about 5 weeks post injury and scab is gone. The scab may be quite thick. Infection is the biggest concern, so preventing that is most important.
I would keep her separate until it's healed enough that it won't be a pecking risk. She may be in shock, so keep her in a warm, quiet place and make sure she's drinking. Once she's recovered some then I would put her in a wire crate in the run, so she can see and be seen by the others. This will let everyone get used to each other before integrating. Then I integrate for short periods under supervision, until things are obviously going well. Increase the length of time however it works. If attacks happen, then longer in the crate, or separate a part of the run for her, and feed her and the other group on opposite sides of fence or wire, so they are eating 'together' but no one can get hurt.

 

[caerna]

Here are a few pictures. I have povidone-iodine if that can be used I can do that right away, otherwise I'll need to go to the store to find one of the solutions you mentioned. And looking at the pictures is seems like a flap of skin dried over her left eye, at least, so if I can moisten that with the antiseptic solution and try to reform it back, maybe she can open that eye. Ugh, poor thing.

 

[coach723]

Betadine and Providone Iodine are the same thing, you can use that. I would just dilute it with some distilled water first so it's not so strong, and don't get it in her eyes. And only use it for the first cleaning. If you have Veterycin spray you can also use that (most pet stores carry, in the dog/cat section - it's good for all species). If it's necessary to flush it again later then I would use sterile saline or the veterycin for that. Since it's close to her eyes and you are going to be trying to clean those up, I think I would probably just use saline, then no worries. You can make your own if you don't have any. 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup of water, boil for 15 minutes with the lid on, then let cool (you can double/triple if you want to make more). If it's dried over her eyes then using a warm, wet compress may help to get that loosened and cleaned up. You can use a clean washcloth or some gauze for that. Once she's cleaned as well as you can, then I would apply the ointment 2 or 3 times a day, as necessary, to keep it covered with ointment.

 

[caerna]

Thank you, I'll get that saline going and see what I can do for her.