HELP- i think my chicken's back was ripped off

[coach723]

Really glad to hear your bird is doing OK. Most people here just try to help and don't pass judgement, it's not particularly helpful in an already stressful situation. Glad you were able to see a vet, an opportunity many people simply do not have reasonable access to, those that do are fortunate. I wish you and your bird the best for a full recovery, you've made very a good start.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

For the record I think you did right by the bird to wait for the vet visit. When suffering is truly horrendous I assume she wouldn't have looked and acted so perky.

If you had culled I think no one would judge that choice either. I think often it is the kindest thing but no one is standing where you are and only you can choose. Sounds like you made a decent call.

Sounds like you've had a rough time. We can all only do our best. Don't let that one dissenting opinion wreck your day. I missed whatever extreme post occurred but in general I never see really toxic stuff going on here, not the norm by any means. And without differing opinions life's pretty boring, we'd have no one to learn from.

Hope she does well I'll be watching for that progress thread!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

we just got back from the vet he said i've been doing everything i can correctly, with the exception of he prefers chlorohexadine. so he gave me some of that to use 2-3 times a day.

he said the fact that she's eating, pooing, and drinking are all good signs. we still don't smell anything and he doesn't think we have any infection.

he said she's got spunk- and the fact that she's upright and can flap her wings shows no nerve/muscle damage, especially from the vertebrae.

basically keep doing what i'm doing

This is good news! I'm glad to hear she is doing well and the prognosis by your vet is positive and that he was happy with how you have been caring for her.

Thank you so much for the update on Consuela. Please do continue to let us know how she is doing (and you too)

 

[azygous]

For the record I think you did right by the bird to wait for the vet visit. When suffering is truly horrendous I assume she wouldn't have looked and acted so perky.

I'd like to stress this observation is one of the most valuable means our chickens have that can tell us how they are feeling.

Back on page three I mentioned that it was encouraging that the patient was still being vocal. That's one of the first things to disappear when a chicken is in pain or feeling sick.

Not being active is another sign of decline, but when it's accompanied by the tail held low and flat, that, more than anything else, will let us know our chicken is suffering acute pain. When you see that, and you see the eyes closed, the chicken is suffering significantly, and that's when it's time to consider euthanasia.

That's acute pain. Then there is pain that chickens are able to handle and still function. Just as we have a scale of pain from 1 to 10, so do chickens. As with us humans, pain can be present but the sufferer is still able to function. In fact, chickens are pros at hiding their pain. But when the pain gets to be acute, and it's causing a lot of stress, the chicken can no longer hide it.

The tail held low and flat is like a big red flag waving. Be watchful for it.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

The one vet several miles from here who was willing to see Henry, had a very disinterested, nonchalant attitude. She actually said, "Yeah, well, I guess I can see him."

And my response: "Yeah, well, no."

Most people go it alone without a vet because none are available. With BYC I honestly don't feel a vet is necessary. The advice here is excellent. But the education you received from your caring, attentive vet was a blessing, as was the confidence he gave you and his demeanor and personality.

You're doing a fabulous job.

And for the record, I've been bottom of the barrel broke my entire adult life. But I've rescued over 25 stray dogs during the four years we've been property owners (read: mortgage owners), and we have eight cats, four dogs and six chickens.

I'm better for having them, and they're better (and alive) for having me. I love how that works.

Cheers.

 

[Latestarter]

Thank you for letting us know! I'm SO happy that my initial summation has not come to pass and that she seems to WANT to live! Also extremely happy that the vet didn't consider that damage on either side of her spine as life threatening. <whew!> That was my primary area of concern... Many chickens have survived muscle damage, skin and feathers ripped off, and just in general damage that most sane people would think impossible.

I too am rooting for you both and hope that the new year brings her renewed life, healing, and comfort. So glad that we here were of some help to you. I LOVE the EMT gel and am glad that it has worked as well for you as it has for me. I think what you are doing; concentrating it along the outer edges where the granulation will start and build from, is ideal. You could use it over the entire area and eliminate the triple antibiotic but if what you're doing is working, by all means continue!

 

[khemo]

So I have an update thread in the stories of my chickens portion. Link here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-little-chicken-who-will.1213863/

She's doing fine still, and is eating and drinking. I give her layer crumble, frozen peas and corn and I've been trying eggs- I hardboiled some and given her the yolk but after the second day, she just hasn't like eggs.
I'm going to set up regular weekly or bi-weekly appts with the vet for the laser and so he can keep an eye on her wound in case something funky happens that I don't know is happening.
I'm just not looking forward to reintroducing her to her buddy since you know, chickens are jerks.