HELP! Found my chicken bleeding from her tail! *GRAPHIC*

[Ikoniak]

My top hen and one of our bantams where missing tails this morning. Upon further inspection, I noticed my top hen had been been bleeding from this area as well. My bantams tail is gone, but no blood.

I washed them both in luke warm water, to get all the debris and feces out of their vent area. Then I applied rubbing alcohol to my bleeding chickens vent area.

Took me a while to get a picture of the wound, but here it is:



What's wrong with my girl? I am a novice chicken owner that lives in the suburbs of California. They are two years old.

Thank you for your help.

Josh

 

[Ikoniak]

I love my chickens beyond belief. Any type of information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Aeropennchick]

Were they fighting? Do you think it was an animal attack that they escaped from? Have you noticed any self-picking behavior that could lead you to believe they may have mites or something?

 

[Ikoniak]

Thanks for replying.

This is my top hen from a group of 4 hens. I know for a fact that the others where not picking on her, but an animal attack is definitely a probability. We have a solar powered chicken door that closes at sundown so I am not sure how exactly an animal could get to them unless they both where locked out concurrently.

As for self pecking, I haven't noticed any. So I am guessing it was likely an attack.

Does this look life-theathening enough to take her to the vet? I am a full-time college student, so doing so would severely effect my finances, but if necessary, I will do so.

 

[sinkorswim]

well first of all dont use rubbing alcohol.Thats just too painful for your poor hen.Soap and water maybe peroxide.Missing tails I would guess means they survived some sort of predator attack.Mites and other things would not cause their tails to fall out over night.If you do not know for sure if they were locked up or not then I would suggest checking on them each night before you go to bed.They are supposed to go in but that doesnt mean they always do.Personally I would rather be safe than sorry.
I am not a vet.I am not giving medical advice.BUT when I ran my farm I did not have a vet that would come out to the rural area that I lived in.I learned to do a lot of things on my own.At a feed store or Tractor Supply Company you can purchase powdered antibiotics that you can mix with water.Since I am not a vet I can not tell you how to use them,you can ask a store clerk or someone that works in a feed store.They do have directions on the package but it is usally how to mix it per packet.You probably only need to mix a gallon or less.If it were me I would put her on antibiotics for 5 days to make sure she does not pick up an infection from what ever attacked her.You will also have to try to keep that area free of dirt and debris.Maybe washing the area once or twice a day with soap and water.
hope that helps some-
addicted2chickens

 

[Ikoniak]

Does this look serious enough to take her to the vet?

 

[DamselinFlannel]

Wow, I'm so sorry.... I don't know about a vet, but you may call them and talk to them about your problem and see if they could just prescribe some antibiotics. Especially if it looks like an animal attack, which it does. Otherwise, you could wash it with peroxide and then put some antibiotic ointment (like the kind you buy over the counter at the grocery store) on her fanny. I would definitely keep her separated so nobody picks on her (from my experience, chickens are like sharks.... they smell/see blood, and they can't pull themselves away!).


I'm always surprised how fast chickens can heal. Good luck.

 

[Ikoniak]

Thanks for all of the replies guys. I just washed her with some peroxide for a few days, and she seems to be healing up quickly! Her egg laying wasn't even interrupted. As expected from this bird, she is one of the toughest pets I have ever had.