dog bite

[FarmCoe]

I would cull. Sorry, but you don't want her to suffer. Good luck!

 

[Desert Rooster]

Hello

from Hesperia,CA and

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

IMO, you should wash that wound ASAP, then continue with the antibiotic ointment, or that silver spray that was mentioned. Poor little thing! I sure hope she recovers!

 

[Imp]

Quote:
The skin will grow back, probably will never even be able to tell.
The problem with pain relievers are the "caine" type, like lidocaine, benzocaine etc. It can sometimes cause a toxic reaction in birds, that can be fatal. Other pain relivers may be OK.

Good luck

Imp

 

[Judy]

Quote:
This is correct. Neosporin with pain reliever is safe to use on chickens because the pain reliever is a completely different type of drug, a distant relative of morphine. There's other antibiotic ointments (Bacitracin maybe?) that use cetacaine or a similar "caine" drug that you don't want to use. The reason is that chickens are very sensitive to them; the therapeutic (effective) dose is very close to the lethal dose for them.

First aid is similar to people -- try to clean the wound with whatever you use, plain mild soapy water, dilute Betadine or peroxide, a wound cleanser (check label for "caine" drugs though -- whatever. Then an antibiotic ointment. She might let you place her in a warm bath -- dishpan, sink -- and relax so you can at least rinse off the wound then get some ointment on it. A dressing is often not practical, although you can lay some gauze there and tape it on with duct tape on the feathers if there is a real need, like she picks at it. You have to let the duct tape fall off on its own. Or wrap around with gauze or vet wrap. Best to keep her indoors for a couple of reasons. Flies will lay eggs in the wound and you could get maggots in the wound if outdoors, which can be lethal in themselves. Also, the other chickens will peck at any open wound. For pain, the antibiotic ointment itself will help a lot. Sometimes people give a baby aspirin once or twice a day; I don't know how effective this is, if at all.

Culling is another option, and it's your choice here, of course. If they won't eat or drink, there is not much you can do, but since she is, she does have a reasonable chance of recovering.

Wounds do heal even with the skin gone, yes. They form scar tissue from the edges into the center, again much like people. Takes a little longer, of course.

Chickens do heal remarkably well, as someone said, especially if she will eat and drink for you; I sure hope so, and hope there is not a lung injury (the wound doesn't sound like it is in the right place to have affected her lungs.) Good luck!

 

[smoper]

Hello everyone,HOORAY!!!She made it!

---My girl is doing fine!!!

I had to switch anti-biotics to penicillin G,as she started to feel warm to touch on her waddles/comb.It worked great,although I had to inject it in her thigh because she just would not let me inject her breast.She is a champ--let me inject her,as if she knew I was helping her.I think talking to her calmly helps alot.Anyway,she has started walking again and is eating /drinking fine,but still not very stable on her feet yet;but exercises it (like physical therapy).Also back to cleaning herself.I cannot thank you all enough .much gratitude.My daughters are very happy that one of their chickens has not died.MORE GOOD NEWS!!One of my bantams just hatched our first chick!!!!THANKS again TO ALL. I am wondering ,as she misses her friends,when I can put her back in with the rest of the flock?Right now she is on a small 2nd story balcony and can see/hear all of her buddies.I do not want her to get dirt in her wound on her back,even though it has a scab.She really wants to get back to being with them,but am afraid some might pick at her wound.Will flies lay maggots if it's scabbed over, or only if it's raw?

 

[Imp]

That's great news. Glad she is doing well.
I would wait till she is completely healed before reintroductions. The other may/will pick at the wound. And unfortunately you will need to reintroduce, as she has lost her place.

Imp

 

[Dshelby11]

My chicken was attacked by a dog as well today. Once the wound is healed, how do I introduce her back to the flock.