embedded wing band and eeeewwww, mites in it

[mychickensrock]

I went to check the wing band numbers on some Delawares we bought back in November. Getting a hatch mate from same guy and needed to match numbers. First one was fine, got the number. Second one was turned a different way and was partially embedded in her wing. EEEEWWWWWWWW there were mites crawling in the wound. I have no idea how long it's been like that, I forgot they even had bands. She's like 17 weeks old. Healthy otherwise. Any helpful hints as to how to remove an embedded wing band? The skin is inflamed, so I think it needs to come out versus just letting the skin grow over it. Any ideas?

 

[chickenzoo]

I've never cut a wing band off or even had a wing band, but I did cut a metal ear tag off our alpaca that was very infected. Cut it off with metal shears/aviation snips and them smothered the area with nitrofurazone. Healed up great, use it on chickens too.

 

[Poohbear]

Cut the band and take it out. Clean it with hydrogen peroxide and smear some antibiotic ointment on it. You can always use plastic numbered leg bands for identification on your fowl.

 

[Fudgie]

they come undone the same way they go on, just have someone hold the chicken and you grab the wing band on each side(top and bottom) and gently pull it apart. It should come right off depending on the severity of the wound. We do this when one dies to preserve the numbers for record keeping.

 

[mychickensrock]

DH and I had a fun morning of prying the wing band out. He had to use wire cutters, then we hand to maneuver it through the skin. OMG it was gross! There was some infected looking skin grown around it. Poor Rosemary, she was a trooper. Oh, and the mites were worse than we though. We gave her a bath, cleaned her wound, then blow dried her. We let her rest, then we gave her a dust bath with DE. She's in our chicken hospital (aka our bathroom). Everything has a fine DE film over it. Yuck! I think she's gonna be ok though.

 

[WisconsinChick]

Quote:
DO NOT use hydrogen poroxide! It kills flesh. You could use iodine though.

 

[Gallus_domesticus]

I would also use a systemic antibiotic in addition to the topical. Baytril or Pen-G or Cephalexin. Good luck!

 

[Fudgie]

Good job getting that wing band out, evidently you must give them enough growth room when you put that thing in! I never would have thought about that on the little ones.

 

[hcammack]

If one bird has mites they all have mites you will probably have to treat with seven dust or DE because all your birds mostlikly have mites. Good Luck with the delaware girl I love delawares they are beautiful.

 

[mychickensrock]

We checked them all and only our other Delaware, Speckles, has mites. They were hatch mates and are never apart from each other. They've both been dusted with DE. We are keeping a close eye on them. They're in our bathroom. As I was cleaning up poop in there this morning, there was a poop with a long worm in it. Darn it!!!! What now!?

DH is cutting up pumpkin seeds for them as we have read that it is a natural remedy for worming them. That's the first time I've EVER seen that in any of our girls. Jeez! And we're supposed to be getting another of their hatch mates this weekend. Beginning to think that may not be a good idea. IDK!