EMERGENCY - Turkey Skinned? *VERY Graphic Pics*

[ten chicks]

Watch her as she may start pecking/picking at this wound/tape once she feels better.

 

[BellChell123]

I don't see a way to tape it in the location of the wound to keep it secure enough. I'm really thinking that the flap needs to be removed. There is actually very little bleeding. We have scalpels, so if we just slice the flap away and clean the wound with diluted peroxide daily and applying neosporin (or generic triple antibiotic) would that work? We can keep her inside for the first few days, then put her in the hay barn after that, once we know she's eating/drinking well.

 

[ten chicks]

Decision is your to make,if you feel it will not stay in place then remove it. Even if you did manage to tape it into place,there is no guarantee tissue would survive,if no blood flow to tissue,tissue dies.

Whichever way you decide to go,make sure you clean wound and watch for infection. Wound will heal from the inside out.

Is flap of skin hanging by a piece or is it a good chunk?

 

[BellChell123]

It's a good size piece, hanging by maybe a 2" strip. Imagine if you tore a flap off a shirt, or a pair of jeans, and it's hanging there. It's just so awkward and heavy, and the edges are quite ragged. I really don't think it would re attach well. It would have to be wrapped way too tightly to keep it in place to heal, and then it wouldn't be able to get any air circulation and cleaning it would be very problematic. It would have to be stitched, and I do not have the skill or resources for that.
We can't do it until tomorrow morning, but I was planning to clean the entire area really well and trim the surrounding feathers. We would use a scalpel to cut the flap off. We have blood-stop powder on hand to control the bleeding. Then I feel like we would be better able to keep it loosely covered to keep it clean, and keep her wing from getting it dirty, and also clean it daily and be able to watch for infection.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan, or did I miss something significant?

 

[ten chicks]

This is a tough call b/c if a person with this type of wound (Avulsion)the flap wound be put into place and left to heal. This is a high risk infection wound due to the fact that it is was probably an injury inflicted by an animal. My first response would be to flush/clean flap with sterile water then put back into place(after 6 hours sutures are not advisable as the risk for infection increases)apply antibiotic ointment and wrap. Then clean daily with a saline solution.

i understand what you are saying about wound hanging/jagged. What i suggest is you clean it/flush with water,apply ointment,wrap best as possible for tonight,then reassess wound in morning.

 

[BellChell123]

Ten Chicks, that's what we've done. I cut back all the feathers and cleaned it up, flushed it with peroxide. I then slathered it with antibiotic ointment, put a gauze pad on it and wrapped it with vet wrap. I don't know if I'll ever be able to keep the edges lined up with the edges of the opening, but I will do the best I can. The only real concern is that it's a deep pocket. We may have to cut a drainage hole if I can't get it to drain, but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks, everyone, for your help and advice!! We really like this turkey hen, and want to keep her if at all possible.

 

[808inVA]

Ive seen some pretty gnarly wounds over the last year, didn't seem to affect the birds as much as it would have for me. One of my smaller, younger hens was molested quite a bit by my older rooster, she was missing a silver dollar piece of skin on her back between the wings that took about 4 months to heal completely. I also had a Cornish x that looked like someone had taken a ice cream scooper to its breast, I didn't even notice until I saw it scratching around for food in the yard with a nasty, dark "walking dead" scabbed over mess. For your bird Id probably remove the skin, check it daily and treat it with Neosporin or a similar product. Itll grow back, might even get feathers after a while.

 

[appaloosakeeper]

How is the turkey doing today?
Tammie

 

[BellChell123]

At about 10:00 our turkey had a seizure and died immediately. Thank you all for your help.

 

[ten chicks]

My condolences,very heartbreaking when one of our beloved pets die. I truly believed,she would survive this injury.