HELP!! Found a wound on chicken

[Chicklover96]

I let my girls out today to free range and I was able to catch my smallest lady & found a huge wound on her back. Looks to be an older one but the weather has been so horrible I haven’t been able to get to them in about a week besides to fill water. I didn’t notice it earlier this week but as I said it looks older. I’ve never had any injuries before, not sure what to do about it

Almost 1 year old chicken. Behaviour is normal, assuming eating and drinking normal or she’d be dead.

Extra info. I do have a mean chicken but she has never displayed any time of pecking behaviour, she more so is just the dominant one and keeps the others in line. However they have been stuck inside with the Canadian storms so maybe she’s gotten fed up.

 

[Chicklover96]

Picture

 

[SandyRiverChick]

It could have started out small and got pecked by the others to where it is now. What I would do is put a layer of triple antibiotic creme on it and then spray bluekote over it. I always do this as the bluekote not only helps with wounds but it covers up the red that is very attractive to the rest of the flock. And who doesnt love a purple chicken. Hope she improves.

 

[Chicklover96]

Ok thanks. Are they available at local farm stores?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Ok thanks. Are they available at local farm stores?

Yes. Or Amazon.

 

[Chicklover96]

Yes. Or Amazon.

I did as you recommended, we also set up a camera to see who is doing the pecking and 90% sure it’s her..she’s our special chicken out of the bunch so it doesn’t surprise me… also the wound got covered in shavings overnight from the ointment, is that ok or should I try and cover it?

 

[FrostRanger]

I did as you recommended, we also set up a camera to see who is doing the pecking and 90% sure it’s her..she’s our special chicken out of the bunch so it doesn’t surprise me… also the wound got covered in shavings overnight from the ointment, is that ok or should I try and cover it?

Leave it open
What was the aggressor's behavior like? Was she just pecking at it or was she actively going after her? How big are their coop and run in feet and what's their diet like?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I let my girls out today to free range and I was able to catch my smallest lady & found a huge wound on her back. Looks to be an older one but the weather has been so horrible I haven’t been able to get to them in about a week besides to fill water. I didn’t notice it earlier this week but as I said it looks older. I’ve never had any injuries before, not sure what to do about it

Almost 1 year old chicken. Behaviour is normal, assuming eating and drinking normal or she’d be dead.

Extra info. I do have a mean chicken but she has never displayed any time of pecking behaviour, she more so is just the dominant one and keeps the others in line. However they have been stuck inside with the Canadian storms so maybe she’s gotten fed up.

I did as you recommended, we also set up a camera to see who is doing the pecking and 90% sure it’s her..she’s our special chicken out of the bunch so it doesn’t surprise me… also the wound got covered in shavings overnight from the ointment, is that ok or should I try and cover it?

If it's just one hen that is doing the picking, you can put Pinless Peepers on her to deter her from picking at the others.

The wound looks to be healing. If you wish, reapply the ointment or put a saddle on her. She looks to have been plucked fairly cleanly, so likely she will regrow at least some of the feathers in. The new pin feathers are what some hens pluck out, apparently they are tasty, so covering the area with a saddle may help her grow those feathers to fill in the bare spot before they get plucked out.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How is your hen doing now? Did you get an apron for her, or Pinless Peepers for the aggressor? Those PP things may restore peace to your flock, as they will definitely cut out the bullying. Good luck!

 

[Chicklover96]

How is your hen doing now? Did you get an apron for her, or Pinless Peepers for the aggressor? Those PP things may restore peace to your flock, as they will definitely cut out the bullying. Good luck!

She was doing great, feathers started to re grow so I thought it was good to stop but I checked on her 48 hours later and she was fully packed clean & cut open again. I didn’t see these notifications or I would have read that the new feathers are tasty!