HELP! Hen has gaping wound from rooster's spur ***GRAPHIC PIC***

[tamtam84]

Sounds like you have done the right thing, chickenmomma2. A saddle is definitely a good idea. My hen, Tubs, healed up completely in a couple months and has since molted and grown lots of new feathers so she has plenty of protection from spurs/nails now. Another hen, Liliana, had a bare back, so I put a saddle on her just to be safe so the rooster wouldn't tear her skin. She is his favorite, so she gets the most action out of all the hens!

Hope your girl heals quickly!

 

[chickenmomma2]

Thank you TamTam 84. I've been spoiling her with treats too.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Another question - I noticed tonight that her wound smells pretty bad, like rotting flesh. Is it going to die and eventually fall off? If it's rotting will it spread to her surrounding healthy tissue?

That can be a sign of infection, but the wound looks fairly healthy. Did you wash it yet? If not, you can put saline solution in a clean spray bottle and spray it on the wound. The gentle water pressure will help flush any contaminants out. Then you can put Neosporin or Bacitracin on it. Make sure to keep her separated until she heals. The wound doesn't need to be sutured, since it isn't that deep and isn't bleeding.

 

[amishhippie]

I had the same problem, the rooster just kept picking on my poor hen and then I noticed a bad gash under her wing, I cleaned it and put her back and he immediately attacked her and then me. I know this is going to sound harsh and my rooster was a beautiful bird, but I will not have him doing that to my hens and I made chicken and noodles with him. That was the only way I knew how to control it and he had eight other hens in with him.

 

[CarolinaSkies]

We had very similar wounds to 3 of our hens a couple years ago. One had a large, deep gash on each side from spurs. This is what my vet had recommended. Because the wound has dry edges, make a paste from Epsom salt and a little water, pack the Epsom salt paste into the wound. Hold a very warm, damp cloth over the wound packed with ES for as long as the hen will let you...20 minutes if possible. Then rinse with warm water and pat dry. Two soaks a day for about 4 days....then only 1 for as long as needed. She also prescribed Silvaden cream to put into wound after ES soak. I'm not sure what you could substitute for Silvaden that would be available w/o script...maybe and antibiotic cream. She also prescribed antibiotics...SMZ-TMP, (I think). And separate from rooster...which you have no doubt already done. Good luck and hope this helps.

Ok-didn't notice that this post was older, but I'll leave the Epsom salt soak info up anyway.

 

[Maz_Chicken]

Hi there, Just reading through everyone's posts here. I have 2 hens who have had this happen. Just wondering how to trim/file my roosters spurs? I've heard you can hurt them by cutting to far etc. Thanks

 

[GreenAcres Homestead]

I am so glad I found this post for we have two hens that have wounds just like that and I have been thinking it was my fault. We have to trim our birds wings now and then if they start going over the fence into our neighbors yards. I thought maybe I had trimmed the wings to far back causing the short wing to cut into her side. But then I saw our rooster holding her down with his dew claw right in that spot where the cut is. So now I wonder if it's his claw cutting several hens. If so then I am faced with cutting his claw for he his a good boy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am so glad I found this post for we have two hens that have wounds just like that and I have been thinking it was my fault. We have to trim our birds wings now and then if they start going over the fence into our neighbors yards. I thought maybe I had trimmed the wings to far back causing the short wing to cut into her side. But then I saw our rooster holding her down with his dew claw right in that spot where the cut is. So now I wonder if it's his claw cutting several hens. If so then I am faced with cutting his claw for he his a good boy.

Sometimes the spurs and nails on roosters do need to be trimmed, filed and shaped to help prevent injury on hens. See if that helps, if not, then you can try hen saddles.

Are your hens healing up o.k.? Injuries under the wing usually heal fine with a little TLC.