Consolidated Kansas

[Plinky]

Sorry about your daughter. That's tough. I was going to study medicine but I got too grossed out with mammalian dissection in high school advance biology. Too bad- might have come in handy now. At least I can give poor Blinky an injection and clean the open wound. She was quite perky just now. I gave her some mashed egg yolk watered down and mixed with a bit of her regular feed. The ate some and was standing on her feet. I just worry about the depth of the wound and the dead tissue and what will happen when the antibiotics are done. Who knows maybe I'll summon the courage to try to trim and stitch.

 

[Plinky]

I truly appreciate the help of those who have given me advice here. Blinky is eating and pooping some. It is green and liquidy. However, the last stuff I really saw her eating were some dandelions I threw into the run last Friday. She must have already been in bad shape, but she ate them.
I am posting a picture. It's graphic and gross. You can barely see her vent at the bottom of the wound. The goopy stuff is remaining neosporin before cleaning and re-medicating. I think the wound goes through to her insides and that the dark areas are necrotic.

The big question is: can a chicken recover from a wound like that w/o removing tissue and stitching, or even then?
View attachment 1759351

 

[chicken danz]

Your picture doesn't show up.

 

[Plinky]

Oh no!

 

[Plinky]

This was from the day before yesterday. The hen is perkier, standing up most of the time, but not interested in eating. I think if it weren't for the nutridrench she'd be gone. Hard to give injection when there is no breast to speak of. I've been giving it to where the wing and breast muscles come together.

 

[Plinky]

Someone else on the forum suggested debriding the dark tissue with a cloth. I've been wiping the dark tissue with betadine and gauze and keeping neosporin slathered all over twice a day. Penicillin injection once a day. Today will be 5th day.

 

[chicken danz]

Let me tell you I have seen a lot worse in birds that did survive. But also have lost a few. I just hope you got all those maggots out and are still washing the wound each day. Not sure the neosporin is the best to use but if it's working that is what counts. I cut away dead tissue myself, but in her condition I would continue doing what you are. Your main focus at this point is keeping the flies from laying in it again. Does she still stink? One other thing I've done when girls are doing poorly is dropper feeding them pedialyte or a cheap equivalent. The kind without flavor is best, but just don't use orange or citrus flavored. If you keep her electrolytes up it will help her recover. You can also add some sugar or honey to the pedialyte to add some calories. And continue the penicillin at least until there is no sign of infection left. I don't really see any necrotized tissue there.
And in answer to your earlier question, yes birds can survive these injuries with the proper care. I wouldn't stitch or otherwise close the wound until you are sure all the infection is gone. You want to be sure it has a path to leave her body. Once all odor is gone and you see fresh healthy new tissue beginning, then you can take a needle and some cotton thread ( Not polyester ) and sew her shut. I've done it before. Just cut the thread when it looks like it is nearly healed if it doesn't break on it's own. The hole is too large for the super glue sort of binding and would just rip out due to lack of tissue so don't do that.

 

[Plinky]

Thank you!

 

[Plinky]

I finished 7 days of injected penicillin. Blinky is more alert- stays standing up most of the time, there is no smell. But she is still not interested in food and keeps pooping soft green stuff that looks like pesto sauce. Should I continue antibiotics past 7 days or is she just on her own in fighting this? I will continue cleaning and topical neosporin.

 

[chicken danz]

I would give her another three days of penicillin. The green is probably from her galbladder since she has had no food. Keep trying to give her something to drink with some sugar and salt in it. And then try giving her things like cucumber, tomato, meal worms,things that are treats. Or make her some scrambled eggs with lots of water in them so they are really wet.