Help! Chick got attacked

[Haley Clark]

2 week old baby chick got attacked by my cat on its wing, not a bad cut but it is bleeding. I got her separated, but what do I put on it to keep an infection out and help it to heal?

 

[Sarevan]

Bad kitty!

Stop bleeding by applying pressure, clean area very well soap and water is fine, or diluted iodine with water. A cat's claw can have a lot of bacteria on them. Try not to get the chick too wet, they lose body heat fast. Use neosprin or other antibiotic cream without any "caine" product in it, it will kill chickens. If bleeding will not stop can spinkle flour on wound to clot up the blood. The antibiotic will go through the flour.

Keep the chick warm, and dry throughly if got wet while cleaning wound. If the other chicks see blood they will peck the wound. Blue food dye can be applied on it to cover up the blood. I use a q tip to apply it on little chicks. Good luck!

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok thanks I put triple antibiotic cream on it with a q-tip, clipped loose feathers because try were bugging her, she is acting normal, eating pooping etc. but she is trying to clean the area. Is that ok?

 

[Sarevan]

The cream probably feels funny to her, as long as she doesn't start pecking the wound and making it worse she should be fine.


My cats sit and watch the chicks, have them in a dog crate cage wrapped in fiberglass screen so no paws get in even top is partially covered, lamp covers other part. I know if given a chance my cats would play with the chicks and not in a good way.


Hope she recovers quickly!

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok she is just cleaning around the wound, the cat has been watching the chicks, but I heard them pitching a fit, and walked down there and she was on the cage with her paw thru the chicken wire. I didn't see that she had even injured one until I went down there because they were still pitching a fit and they had here downed and picking at her. But anyways, I will keep you updated on her and... How much longer should I apply ointment?

 

[Sarevan]

I usually put it on for 2-3 days until it is nice and scabbed over with new skin visible around wound then stop and let healing go on its own. I then just watch for infection. Depends on how you think it is doing on healing to apply the ointment, I treat them like kids otherwise. Scabbed over healthy looking area they are good to me and hope they don' t pick off scab like a kid! Lol

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok thanks! What would be the first signs of an infection?

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

swelling and redness around the wound. Just watch for the other chicks picking on her if you don't have her separated from them.

 

[Haley Clark]

She's separated, but I noticed her poop has a little blood in it...could that be from stress or from pecking at the wound?

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Blood in the poop is probably from coccidiosis, are you feeding a medicated starter/grower feed?

I wouldn't think there would be internal injuries if she only has a small wound. But I guess its also a possibility.