Help bear attack... should I euthanize?

[KaseySnow]

I wonder whether letting the hole scab over might help naturally push those pin feathers outward a bit more like in the first picture? But I really have no idea. All I know is that she is looking GREAT.

 

[ryneaeiel]

If that one pin didn't bleed when it came out, I would probably pull the two (the white and black) that are basically "in" the wound hole. It'd probably ease some discomfort and make healing a bit faster since the pins/feathers won't be poking into that area while it heals over. The feather follicles should be pushed outward as it heals, so you shouldn't have to worry about a feather cyst. She looks absolutely amazing and I'd love a full picture of her to see how her healing's progressed!

 

[CCinVT]

 

[CCinVT]

 

[ryneaeiel]

She looks great!

 

[CCinVT]

She looks great!

Thanks so much! It took a while for me to get a full body picture for you! I kept forgetting. I had given her a bit of a break from the q tip/vetericyn/ointment cleanings this week. (My daughter broke her leg so that obviously took my attention) but I took these pictures tonight after cleaning her up well. It's still a bit of a hole as you can tell, but so close! I'm thinking this weekend we will move her out of the house. I think shes ready. It's a small enough wound now I think I can just keep it sprayed clean till it closes the rest of the way. Dont you think? There was one pin growing back inside it that I pulled out again. No bleeding. otherwise I'm just waiting for it to close up the rest of the way! Crazy how far we've come! Shes been coming along as needed on weekend get-aways, and travels like a pro, but is as fiesty as ever. I think shes ready to get back to chicken life. I wont let her totally back in the mix till that hole is closed up, but I feel like its gonna be soon! Crazy that that tiny hole is what's left of the gash on her back.

 

[EggDropper]

We had a bear tear into our coop. I dont know if this hen was then attacked by a racoon that got I to the openings or it was the bear. Deep puncture wounds on her back. One I can hear is sucking air. I'm worried about flushing and cleaning the wound like I would with just a gnarly flesh type wound. She is clearly in pain, but alert and oriented. I dont want to put her through the process of rinsing and trimming feathers and such if this is futile. Quality of life matters. She looks half skinned

use dakins solution and spray on the wounds

 

[ryneaeiel]

Thanks so much! It took a while for me to get a full body picture for you! I kept forgetting. I had given her a bit of a break from the q tip/vetericyn/ointment cleanings this week. (My daughter broke her leg so that obviously took my attention) but I took these pictures tonight after cleaning her up well. It's still a bit of a hole as you can tell, but so close! I'm thinking this weekend we will move her out of the house. I think shes ready. It's a small enough wound now I think I can just keep it sprayed clean till it closes the rest of the way. Dont you think? There was one pin growing back inside it that I pulled out again. No bleeding. otherwise I'm just waiting for it to close up the rest of the way! Crazy how far we've come! Shes been coming along as needed on weekend get-aways, and travels like a pro, but is as fiesty as ever. I think shes ready to get back to chicken life. I wont let her totally back in the mix till that hole is closed up, but I feel like its gonna be soon! Crazy that that tiny hole is what's left of the gash on her back.

Yes, the spray should work just fine to keep her on the mend! I wouldn't return her fully to the rest of the flock until the exposed skin is completely covered by new feathers (just to keep them from pecking at her.) She looks wonderful though and I can't wait to see her back with the hens!

 

[KaseySnow]

She looks awesome! Her beak is looking a little overgrown, might help her out to have a bit of a trim before you reintroduce. Some nail clippers and a nail file to dull the edge after the trim ought to do the trick.

I think she's probably ready, personally, since it looks like her feathers cover up the hole until you spread them to get at the wound. But if you feel she needs a bit more time, no harm done I'm sure! She looks so amazingly healthy, it's crazy how she recovered from that nasty injury so well!

 

[CCinVT]

Ok everybody! The moment we've been waiting for! Our girl is back with the remaining members of her crew! We tried putting her in her own run for a gradual reintroduction, but she was having none of it. She hopped the fence and is right back in the mix. I've seen no squabbling. She did roost a bit separately, but that's her buisness. She seems good, and happy. For reference the white feathers are what grew back where some of the deepest gash was. They are enjoying some leftover corn cobs, and yogurt the baby didnt finish. Shes just out there doing her chicken thing!
You can see our rooster is a little guy so I'm not too worried about him doing any harm, and I agree her beak is a bit overgrown but I'll give her a chance to wear it down herself. Trying to file or trim it could be a fiasco.