Gosling with open wound on neck

[Wolfefarmyard]

Okay, I’ve rinsed it out with water, then hydrogen peroxide, and then water again. After that I put some triple antibiotic ointment on it.

I think I’m going to keep her inside in a kennel for a while so that way no one will peck her as it heals and flies won’t bother her.

I’m really hoping it heals up well and quickly, she’s such a sweetheart!

 

[Eggcessive]

One time use of the peroxide is okay, but don’t use it anymore. It can prevent wound healing with repeated use. Saline, which you can buy or make at home, is much better, or you may also use Vetericyn or weak betadine. Apply the ointment twice a day. To make homemade saline at home, add 2 tsp of table salt to a quart of water, then bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes covered. Store it in a clean jar.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

One time use of the peroxide is okay, but don’t use it anymore. It can prevent wound healing with repeated use. Saline, which you can buy or make at home, is much better, or you may also use Vetericyn or weak betadine. Apply the ointment twice a day. To make homemade saline at home, add 2 tsp of table salt to a quart of water, then bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes covered. Store it in a clean jar.

Yes, I only planned to use the hydrogen peroxide once, just to flush it out.

I completely forgot that I have vetericyn! I’ll use that!

Should I still be applying triple antibiotic ointment if I’m using the vetericyn?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it is good to keep it moist with the ointment. You can let the Vetericyn dry, or blot it, and then apply the ointment.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

@Eggcessive

One more quick question!

Out in the pen I have a heat lamp for them just incase they get cold. Do you think this one needs still needs a heat lamp while being kept inside. She’s 3 weeks old.

 

[ebretzel]

Just wanted to chime in that we've had a couple of pecking cases and all the chicks pulled through and healed up just fine by flushing the wound with clean water, applying some anti-bacterial cream and then keeping them separated for a few days. I did nothing further other than check on them to make sure that it wasn't dirty or infected before putting them back with their mates. Wait until it dries out enough not to be bright red/bloody so the other chickens don't find it interesting to peck at. You will be surprised at how fast she heals.

One chick had been pecked quite severely and I did not think she was going to make it. Not knowing what to do I had, at first, wrapped gauze all around her head hoping to hold the gaping wound together. This turned out to be a mistake as the gauze just stuck to everything. Our kind neighbors came over to help with a tube of this super sticky stuff (I think maybe it was EMT gel but I cannot remember the name). After peeling off the gauze and flushing out the wound we put the goop all over it and it miraculously held the skin together enough to heal over. That particular chick not only recovered from her wound just fine, she went on to grow feathers on the back of the neck and you could not even tell she had been pecked.

 

[Eggcessive]

How long do you usually keep heat on a gosling? With chicks, I do it for 6 weeks until they have all feathers grown in. A lot depends on your temperatures, but it looks like there is a lot of down, so that might be helpful. Did you hatch it or was it with a broody?

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

How long do you usually keep heat on a gosling? With chicks, I do it for 6 weeks until they have all feathers grown in. A lot depends on your temperatures, but it looks like there is a lot of down, so that might be helpful. Did you hatch it or was it with a broody?

This is actually my first time raising goslings, so I’m not sure. What I’ve read has stated that they do much better with minimal heat than chicks. But I’ve always just kept a heat lamp in there anyways since I’m not sure. The temperature has been pretty nice lately, low to high 70s but it can get down to low 50s on colder nights.

I hatched it and it’s siblings myself along with some ducklings.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

I just did some more researching and an article recommended heat until 5 weeks old in colder climates, so I’m going to stick with the heat lamp just Incase I think.

 

[aart]

I just did some more researching and an article recommended heat until 5 weeks old in colder climates, so I’m going to stick with the heat lamp just Incase I think.

I'd leave lamp available but have lots of cooler space too.