Healing and open peck wound/Healing Log

[TesoroSena]

Today we left to pick up our dog from surgery, and when we returned a chicken had somehow climbed her way into our turkey run. Our turkeys attacked her, and she has a severe open wound on her neck. It is the back of her neck, almost two inches, and deep enough to see the tissue and some muscle. We took her inside, where she will be staying for a few weeks, with a chicken diaper and a cage in a room. Today we cleaned it with saline, sprayed Vetericin, and sprayed another antibiotic with pain treatment.
We have dealt with open wounds and flystrike before, and this hen is young and healthy, i believe she will be okay. I am making this thread to log what we do for her, what works, what doesn't, and how she is each day. Partly to help us, and partly for future reference if something similar happens to others. Tips are very welcome!!
Thanks!

 

[Hannah Jean]

Hope they both get better soon Thea

 

[SmiYa0126]

Hello! I'm so sorry! You'll need to clean it twice a day, let it dry, and then slather with plain antibiotic ointment. She'll be greasy,but will get cleaned up once she heals.

 

[TesoroSena]

Hello! I'm so sorry! You'll need to clean it twice a day, let it dry, and then slather with plain antibiotic ointment.

Thats our plan! Thank you.

She'll be greasy,but will get cleaned up once she heals.

Yeah, due to the extent we aren't quite sure whether or not the feathers will grow back in that area. She is also currently molting, so I'm unsure if that was affect anything...

 

[alinas2010]

Good idea! Would be great to see pictures along the way, too. Here for moral support Hope she recovers quickly.

 

[TesoroSena]

Good idea! Would be great to see pictures along the way, too. Here for moral support Hope she recovers quickly.

I am not sure consistent i can be with pictures, but i will try and post one now! And thank you.

 

[TesoroSena]

Poor quality, but some pictures.

 

[alinas2010]

I suspect she will become such a spoiled house chicken after this whole process is over! One tip to offer, if she seems reluctant to eat or drink, wetted down chicken feed made into a mash is always tempting, so is rinsed canned chicken or scrambled egg. Both will be great additions to her molting recovery, too. But if that still doesn’t work, a lot of them won’t come around to eat or drink until they see friends, so consider supervised visits from another chicken. That will help with reintegration, also. I would also offer water with electrolytes and a bit of sugar to help with shock after the initial attack if you haven’t already. Gatorade or pedialyte at room temp will work, also if she seems shocky.

One more thing, which I’m sure you know already, but be careful with using products with pain treatment in them. Make sure the ingredients don’t end in -caine, (like lidocaine), as those ingredients are toxic to chickens. They can alway be given baby asprin or children’s Motrin for pain (for a limited time) if you’re sure that no damage has occurred internally that will put them at risk for bleeding.

 

[TesoroSena]

I suspect she will become such a spoiled house chicken after this whole process is over! One tip to offer, if she seems reluctant to eat or drink, wetted down chicken feed made into a mash is always tempting,

I still don't understand why they love that so much lol

so is rinsed canned chicken or scrambled egg. Both will be great additions to her molting recovery, too.

I've never tried that! She was a bit shocked at first and we put some raw egg. I think we will do that, scrambled from now on if she still seems hesitant. She warmed up and ate, and is chilling right now lol.

But if that still doesn’t work, a lot of them won’t come around to eat or drink until they see friends, so consider supervised visits from another chicken. That will help with reintegration, also. I would also offer water with electrolytes and a bit of sugar to help with shock after the initial attack if you haven’t already. Gatorade or pedialyte at room temp will work, also if she seems shocky.

I may go do that now, didn't think of that. She doesn't seem to shocky anymore, but it couldn't hurt. And yeah, we are washing our chickens (some of our breeds get poopy butts in the winter and we cut the feathers and wash them) and they will be kept with her until they are dried.

One more thing, which I’m sure you know already, but be careful with using products with pain treatment in them. Make sure the ingredients don’t end in -caine, (like lidocaine), as those ingredients are toxic to chickens.

I did not know that!! Wow okay, thank you.

They can alway be given baby asprin or children’s Motrin for pain (for a limited time) if you’re sure that no damage has occurred internally that will put them at risk for bleeding.

Luckily i don't think its in a place where it has any internal bleeding, i was concerned her skull/brain may have been knocked up but she seems pretty normal, no twitching or tilting of the head, walking straight and normal, etc..

 

[alinas2010]

I still don't understand why they love that so much lol

I've never tried that! She was a bit shocked at first and we put some raw egg. I think we will do that, scrambled from now on if she still seems hesitant. She warmed up and ate, and is chilling right now lol.

I may go do that now, didn't think of that. She doesn't seem to shocky anymore, but it couldn't hurt. And yeah, we are washing our chickens (some of our breeds get poopy butts in the winter and we cut the feathers and wash them) and they will be kept with her until they are dried.

I did not know that!! Wow okay, thank you.

Luckily i don't think its in a place where it has any internal bleeding, i was concerned her skull/brain may have been knocked up but she seems pretty normal, no twitching or tilting of the head, walking straight and normal, etc..

She may be just fine without pain relief, but let us know if you need help with dosing any medication. She may also just take a bit in general to come around to eating and drinking, sometimes that happens after an injury and being moved inside.

Sounds like you have a wonderful plan for her recovery already keep us updated.