Extended hawk attack and large open wound - what treatment?

[Eggcessive]

That sounds like a good plan.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Great pictures and good job with the trimming.

There are many more experienced than I, but I get the impression that blue kote is for smaller superficial injuries that will heal without a great deal of supportive care-pecking, picking, scrapes, etc.

What you have here is a deep gash that has fully breached the skin layers and deeper. My recommendation is such: peroxide, betadine and water mix with a firm irrigation. That dried blood and anything within needs to be washed out. Peroxide is actually more detrimental to wound healing but its cleaning and foaming effect will assist in getting anything foreign out of the wound (hawk talons and beaks are probably loaded with remnant bacteria from rodents and other kills).

After a deep irrigation, you can examine the wound in a better light. If the irrigation causes a little bleeding as it breaks up scabs that is okay too. This would be an opportune time for better pictures to see if there is bone or organ involvement etc. Then apply your triple antibiotic-I would have to check, but I think neosporin has fallen out of favor as a wound care product much like peroxide and alcohol (but if it's all you got, it's all you got). After the antibiotic, apply a non-stick gauze and kerlix wrap to protect from further picking, pathogens.

Of course, little bit of electrolytes, softened food to assist. Soft high protein foods to assist in would healing.

 

[Rivington]

Great pictures and good job with the trimming.

There are many more experienced than I, but I get the impression that blue kote is for smaller superficial injuries that will heal without a great deal of supportive care-pecking, picking, scrapes, etc.

What you have here is a deep gash that has fully breached the skin layers and deeper. My recommendation is such: peroxide, betadine and water mix with a firm irrigation. That dried blood and anything within needs to be washed out. Peroxide is actually more detrimental to wound healing but its cleaning and foaming effect will assist in getting anything foreign out of the wound (hawk talons and beaks are probably loaded with remnant bacteria from rodents and other kills).

After a deep irrigation, you can examine the wound in a better light. If the irrigation causes a little bleeding as it breaks up scabs that is okay too. This would be an opportune time for better pictures to see if there is bone or organ involvement etc. Then apply your triple antibiotic-I would have to check, but I think neosporin has fallen out of favor as a wound care product much like peroxide and alcohol (but if it's all you got, it's all you got). After the antibiotic, apply a non-stick gauze and kerlix wrap to protect from further picking, pathogens.

Of course, little bit of electrolytes, softened food to assist. Soft high protein foods to assist in would healing.

Wow, thanks for the comprehensive advice. I have ordered Blu-Kote online but it won't be arriving for a few days, and in any event I wasn't planning to use it until I am closer to reintroducing her to the flock.

 

[XanderWiFi]

My guess is that you should plan for an extended medical isolation with visitation. That wound is more a gouge. It does not appear to be a good candidate for stitching which means it will have to slowly fill in with granulation tissue.

You could also attempt wet to dry dressings for a case such as this-to assist with mechanical debridement , but that may be too equipment and time intensive and is debatable as to whether it increases the chances of infection.

Also, if you think she could benefit from some pain control: 5 325 mg aspirins ground up into 1 gallon of water may help.

Best of luck and keep us updated! Rooting for you guys.

 

[Rivington]

Hi, this morning we gave the wound a good flush with a 50/50 peroxide/water mix, then reapplied neosporin. I didn't notice any pus in the wound. The rotten smell in the wound has lessened since yesterday and is barely noticeable now. She is alert but inactive and doesn't seem to have much appetite. She ignored some scrambled eggs and apple I offered her but has had a little cracked corn. She hasn't pooped either as far as I can see.

I set up a straw "nest" with a golf ball and she is nesting now.

Thanks to everyone for their help so far.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not use the peroxide more than once, since it can affect wound healing. Once will not hurt though. Try experimenting with a mash made of chicken feed, a lot of water, a bit of chopped egg, and a tsp of plain yogurt. Most chickens love wet feed, but only mix what she may take in one day. Bits of tuna, liver, or meat are usually accepted well, as well as mealworms in moderation.

As far as separation goes, if you can place her in a dog crate in the coop where she can be with her flock, that can make it easier to rejoin the flock when her wound heals. Hopefully she will start having more droppings.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Maybe more pictures. The primary organ appearing in that area is the kidneys.

 

[Rivington]

I’m travelling this weekend so my wife and kids are on duty. We have stopped the neosporin to allow the wound to dry a bit more and are now using CVS wound wash (Ingredients: LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE 0.025g in 1g, BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE 0.0013g in 1g) followed by Theracyn spray. She thinks there may be signs of infection and has sent this pic but it’s hard for me to see anything. As for Caramel’s behaviour she is eating in small doses but still relatively inactive.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not use the product with lidocaine. Chickens can be very sensitive to any of the numbing medicines or “caines.” Probably best to stick with the Theracyn spray or get some Hibiclens (chlorhexidene) if it looks infected. She looks to be healing, so the Theracyn if similar to Vetericyn is best.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Wound looks very nice and clean. Hard to tell how deep it goes exactly, but if she has made it this far I think she is on the right track. The 3x abx, a good gauze covering should do the trick for preventing infection and keeping it clean. A single shot of long acting antibiotic can take care of anything systemic. She definitely got gnawed on for a bit but looking good!