fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Mum looks very pleased with herself.

They're not in the nesting box this evening, but she's got them with and under her, behind the nesting box, on a pile of straw.

 

[fuzzi]

It does look like the injury is healing, she may have cut it on something, a toenail from the rooster cut it or ???
I had a hen with injury under the wing from a rooster's nail cutting her. I didn't catch it for days and it was oozy. Once it started healing, it looked similar.

I can tell you what I'd do if she were mine, others here may have better suggestions than I do.

Under a wing is warm and damp, so that's an area that I do not typically apply any type of ointment, because I want the wound to "dry" and heal. I would use Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) or Povidone Iodine. Start with swabbing the wound once daily, allowing the antiseptic to dry on the wound for a few minutes before letting her go. Nothing else. Check the wound twice a day, if possible.
If you think it needs swabbing twice a day when you check, then do that. With my hen, I'd swab only once daily and hers started out stinky, after the second day of just swabbing, it was not inflamed nor stinky and began to dry out.

As it heals the crusties will begin to loosen and slough off, take note if anything looks like embedded feathers or if the new feathers emerging look to have pus around them. If they do, then pluck them. Swab anything questionable with your antiseptic.

If there's changes to the wound - a lot of pus, oozing, bad smell, hot angry tissue or she starts to act off (lethargic/droopy/off food), then that's a major concern and everything needs to be reevaluated.

She's drinking and eating o.k.?

I went out to clean Tamar's wing after dark. I swabbed it first with Hibiclens (red fluid), then took photos. I should have taken them before.

It didn't look the same, was glistening.

Photos with flash, best I could do one-handed, wing joint is on the right side:

I did gently touch what looked like a white bump, and realized it was the white cap on the end of a bone! It's exposed.

I'll try to get some daylight photos tomorrow.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went out to clean Tamar's wing after dark. I swabbed it first with Hibiclens (red fluid), then took photos. I should have taken them before.

It didn't look the same, was glistening.

Photos with flash, best I could do one-handed, wing joint is on the right side:
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I did gently touch what looked like a white bump, and realized it was the white cap on the end of a bone! It's exposed.

I'll try to get some daylight photos tomorrow.

Exposed bone is not usually a good thing.

Is a vet visit an option?

 

[fuzzi]

Exposed bone is not usually a good thing.

Is a vet visit an option?

Not sure. My vet is strictly cats/dogs. All the others in town are owned by businesses, high end and high charges types.

I can ask my vet next week. In the meanwhile I can clean it as needed, and observe her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh, I understand that. It's the same here.

I agree, clean as needed. It may be a good idea to coat the exposed bone with triple antibiotic ointment.

Do you have any antibiotics on hand?

 

[fuzzi]

Oh, I understand that. It's the same here.

I agree, clean as needed. It may be a good idea to coat the exposed bone with triple antibiotic ointment.

Do you have any antibiotics on hand?

I will have to check, I don't usually have antibiotics on hand, as I'm allergic to all of them, and sulfa. I could use gloves to apply antibiotics, my allergic reactions weren't life-threatening.

What do you recommend?

 

[lightm]

@fuzzi I am sure gloves will work for applying antibiotics. Applying triple antibiotics ointment sounds great.

Should she be isolated? Maybe in a cage placed in the coop?

Good luck to Tamar and you. Poor little girl.

 

[fuzzi]

@fuzzi I am sure gloves will work for applying antibiotics. Applying triple antibiotics ointment sounds great.

Should she be isolated? Maybe in a cage placed in the coop?

Good luck to Tamar and you. Poor little girl.

I got triple antibiotic at the store, and iodine (as per @Shadrach 's suggestion).

Tamar is not being harassed, what would be the purpose of the confinement? It's like an oven outside, she might appreciate some damp soil.

 

[fuzzi]

Tamar's still eating with the others, no aggression that I've noticed..

As long as they're getting along I don't know that isolation would be beneficial.

 

[Molpet]

Tamar's still eating with the others, no aggression that I've noticed..
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As long as they're getting along I don't know that isolation would be beneficial.

Isolation is for bullying or reducing usage. But mine usually get stressed when isolated, so I just do if bullied or a rooster is insisting.