Hello all,
Yesterday morning we found a coyote in our backyard trying to attack our flock. After running him off we discovered that he had bitten our bantam cockerel (who had been doing his best to defend the girls).
After checking out the cockerel, we discovered that he had a smallish puncture wound on his back. We cleaned the area, put neosporin on it and have him resting in the garage. None of the rest of the flock was acting/looked hurt.
Later in the afternoon, my son discovered that our blue (?) orpington pullet (appx. 26 weeks) had a large gash in her skin under her left wing. There seems to be no damage to the muscle underneath, just a large skin cut. It is in an upside down v shape with each leg of the v being about 1" long. She wasn't exhibiting any symptoms at all, in fact she was walking around scratching and eating with the rest of the flock.
We've cleaned the area, put betadine on it, a big dollop of neosporin, covered it with a gauze pad and wrapped it so it will stay covered. She is resting in a separate "pen" in the garage.
My question is, will such a large gash heal itself, or will I have to try and attempt stitching it? I've never done anything like that at all! I wouldn't even know where to get the supplies. Again, it seems just to be the skin, no muscle tears at all. If I could find the supplies, maybe even one stitch at the top of the v cut would be enough to bring the skin together close enough to help it mend faster...I just don't know.
She is eating/drinking fine and is almost irritated to be penned up instead of outside with her girlfriends, lol.
I'm sorry I don't have any pics, I've just finished redressing her cut and didn't think to snap a pic before wrapping it again.
I can add a pic tomorrow when we change the dressing.
Any help/advice would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Christy
Yesterday morning we found a coyote in our backyard trying to attack our flock. After running him off we discovered that he had bitten our bantam cockerel (who had been doing his best to defend the girls).
After checking out the cockerel, we discovered that he had a smallish puncture wound on his back. We cleaned the area, put neosporin on it and have him resting in the garage. None of the rest of the flock was acting/looked hurt.
Later in the afternoon, my son discovered that our blue (?) orpington pullet (appx. 26 weeks) had a large gash in her skin under her left wing. There seems to be no damage to the muscle underneath, just a large skin cut. It is in an upside down v shape with each leg of the v being about 1" long. She wasn't exhibiting any symptoms at all, in fact she was walking around scratching and eating with the rest of the flock.
We've cleaned the area, put betadine on it, a big dollop of neosporin, covered it with a gauze pad and wrapped it so it will stay covered. She is resting in a separate "pen" in the garage.
My question is, will such a large gash heal itself, or will I have to try and attempt stitching it? I've never done anything like that at all! I wouldn't even know where to get the supplies. Again, it seems just to be the skin, no muscle tears at all. If I could find the supplies, maybe even one stitch at the top of the v cut would be enough to bring the skin together close enough to help it mend faster...I just don't know.
She is eating/drinking fine and is almost irritated to be penned up instead of outside with her girlfriends, lol.
I'm sorry I don't have any pics, I've just finished redressing her cut and didn't think to snap a pic before wrapping it again.
I can add a pic tomorrow when we change the dressing.
Any help/advice would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Christy