Help!! Chicken with a hole in it’s neck!

[ChickenCameFirst]

I wasn’t the one who found our golden comet hen, but she had her head stuck in a feeder, for who knows how long, and the other hens felt the need to cannibalize her. She wasn’t moving much but is now standing upright in a low standing position. I’m worried about infection and keeping it clean. How can I help her?

 

[GodLovesU]

I don’t think there’s much hope for that. @Eggcessive

 

[ChickenCameFirst]

Can the wound be rinsed with something? Hydrogen peroxide?

 

[GodLovesU]

If be concerned that she will drown if you put anything in it.

 

[WingItRanch]

Don't use hydrogen peroxide! Flush with saline if you feel it's safe to clean at all.
I'll tag a couple more educators.

@Wyorp Rock @azygous

Edited to add: Eggcessive responded right away and gives good advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would spray it with saline or Vetericyn and take her to the emergency vet in your area, to get the skin stitched. Saline is 1/2 tsp salt in 8 ounces of water. If that is not possible, I would clean it with saline, and stitch the skin closed. Do you have Betadine or Hibiclens? Normally I would not stitch a dirty wound, but this one is very open and deep. If you have Telfa nonadherent gauze pads, you could apply that and wrap a bandana around her neck, and keep her separated tonight. Give her sugar water or electrolytes held up to her beak. Try to get her to a vet by morning.

 

[ChickenCameFirst]

Thanks a ton!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would spray it with saline or Vetericyn and take her to the emergency vet in your area, to get the skin stitched. Saline is 1/2 tsp salt in 8 ounces of water. If that is not possible, I would clean it with saline, and stitch the skin closed. Do you have Betadine or Hibiclens? Normally I would not stitch a dirty wound, but this one is very open and deep. If you have Telfa nonadherent gauze pads, you could apply that and wrap a bandana around her neck, and keep her separated tonight. Give her sugar water or electrolytes held up to her beak. Try to get her to a vet by morning.

Agreed.

 

[ChickenCameFirst]

Happy news! She made it!
I ended up using the saline mixture and bandaging it closed with butterfly bandages and a big bandage over those. Stitches would’ve worked way better, but the bandages were really sticky, so they held great. I wish I would’ve taken pictures when it was still scabbed over, but here’s it now.
Thank you so much, everyone!

 

[WingItRanch]

Happy news! She made it!
I ended up using the saline mixture and bandaging it closed with butterfly bandages and a big bandage over those. Stitches would’ve worked way better, but the bandages were really sticky, so they held great. I wish I would’ve taken pictures when it was still scabbed over, but here’s it now.
Thank you so much, everyone!

Wow great job! Thank you for the happy update!