help i dont know what to do *** UPDATED WITH PICS PLEASE TAKE A LOOK *

[artsy1]

That looks horrible, if it was my bird, I would take her to the vet.

 

[maxxsmommy]

Quote:
trust me if i had the money right now i would take her in! but i dont have the money due to only one of us "adults" having a job. I feel terrible enough about how it looks but i am trying to help her in any way that i can right now.

 

[rbaker0345]

Don't worry about not being able to take her to a vet. Keep it dry, antibiotic ointment is okay, a wound powder would be better. Flushing with betadine or clorhexidine would help, but if you don't have either of those, some sterile saline is fine (like for contacts, they sell it cheap at the dollar store). You might need to separate her from the other chickens. And make sure you cut away any feathers that are covering the wound. If you have a tractor supply nearby, see if they have some penicillin for chickens. This should be given by injection into muscle, but I think you can give it orally I'm just not sure of dosage. However, if you can't find or afford the penicillin, don't worry. She will probably be just fine without it. Petsmart sells antibiotics for birds and for fish. The fish antibiotics can easily be ground for chickens, the dosage will be different though. I have to go now, but if you have any questions, you can send me a private message. Antibiotics aren't absolutely necessarry, though, chickens have amazing immune systems.

 

[artsy1]

Im sorry, I hope she makes it.
I don't want to make you feel bad. I will say a prayer for her.

 

[Rhode Island Rita]

Poor sweetheart!

I'd recommend a cream-based topical antibiotic (something like thermazine or silver sulfadiazene) instead of an ointment. Ointments are greasy and can cause a buildup of debris to the wound.

That second photo looks like the wound could use suturing (even really crude sewing together, if you're handy with a needle), but she could also benefit from a wet-to-dry bandage if you're not comfy with a needle.

Wet to dry is gauze plus warm saline (or chlorhex, but NOT peroxide) on the wound, dry gauze (thick) over the wet gauze, coflex (or tape?) to hold it all in place.

The wet gauze keeps the exposed underlying tissue from drying out, and stops the wound from healing over and essentially creating a closed abscess (akin to dry rot in a mouth); it lets the would heal from the inside out. The dry gauze keeps it from getting too moist in there. So you'd apply antibiotic cream, then the wet gauze, then the dry
change every 12-24 hours, cleansing away (gently) the old antibiotic when you do.

I would also like to x1000 the suggestion to increase her temperature; it bolsters the immune system. Putting her under a low wattage heat bulb should do.

She'll be in my thoughts!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I took a look a the photos. It is a little hard to tell from them if there is a flap of loose skin or just a gash. I had a hen with similar gashes on one side with a flap of skin and we did have the problem with new skin healing over dead tissue even though she did not develop an infection. That is why I like Rhode Island Rita's advice:

"The wet gauze keeps the exposed underlying tissue from drying out, and stops the wound from healing over and essentially creating a closed abscess (akin to dry rot in a mouth); it lets the would heal from the inside out. The dry gauze keeps it from getting too moist in there. So you'd apply antibiotic cream, then the wet gauze, then the dry
change every 12-24 hours, cleansing away (gently) the old antibiotic when you do."

If you think there is a chance that rooster spurs or nails caused the wound (which I agree is possible) then follow Cetawin's advice about blunting his spurs by trimming and filing. Of course you know to keep her away from the roo until she is fully healed.

I have had chickens recover from some really bad wounds.

 

[maxxsmommy]

she is doing ok now, she is healing some... kinda weird though, is like greenish skin normal? I wash her every day sometimes 3 times a day and i tried the gauze but she just rips it off. I trimmed all the feathers all around the exposed area.. Yes in the pictures she is missing most of her skin. Its really kinda gross. She is eating and drinking normal and her poop is normal. She even laid a huge huge egg for me today! Im still applying the triple antibiotic ointment. We also gave her a shot of penicillin

 

[Northwood Silkies]

When I think of green skin I think of gange green. Hopefully that's not what it is. Your very brave! I would of freaked out and probably had the hubby put it down. I don't deal with stuff like that very well. Good luck with her!!

 

[Animalian]

green chicken skin is bruising. She is healing! That's all so don't fret any more that nessessary!

 

[MamaMarcy]

Please never use peroxide on any wound that is open beyong the first lyers of the skin. It damages helahty tissue, yes, but that's only aa concern with repeat clening....on superficil wounds you cna use it the first time then stop. The biggest concern is deep wounds. Peroxide can absorb into the blood stream and cause air embolus.