Help!! open wound on hen!!!

[chickenman101]

hello all i have a question. i cam home from work today and started feedin my chickens when i noticed something dark under one of my leghorns wings i picked her up to look more closey and its a deep nasty wound under her wing on her back it looks like its been there for a while it almost looks like something eating at the flesh. dont really know much about the chicken anatomy but i can see something in the wound where the skin is open. im not sure what could have caused this because she stays in a fenced in area with a rooster ans some other hens. she doesnt act like it bothers her she runs around, drinks and eats like a horse. do you think my rooster could have done this? disease? whats the best way to treat this sort of thing? any ideas and suggestions are appreciated!!

 

[chickenman101]

anyone?

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

A picture would help, but for now make sure that it is cleaned and that she is isolated.

 

[Damummis]

I don't know what could have caused your hens injury, but I find that if it is not cleaned and treated with say bag balm or something you will risk infection not to mention the other hens will pick at it. Blu-cote is recommended by some to keep picking at bay. But definitely clean and treat it.

 

[jjthink]

Clean with 9 parts water/1 part betadine and apply neosporin (WITHOUT the pain relief ingredient) at least daily till you see that things are not infected anymore. If your hen has a deep infection she will likely also need oral or injectible antibiotic suitable for the occasion. A festering infection will do her in so you must act right away. If it's a large enough wound, vet care is advisable.

Keep her warm and comfy and watch her eating and pooping habits to make sure she is eating and drinking and pooping well. She'll need very good nutrition to help with healing.

JJ

 

[BarkerChickens]

It could be from the rooster. Sometimes his toenails or spurs can catch on the skin and rip it open under the wing (but kinda towards the back). We've had a number of similar wounds (I highly recommend filing down the roos toenails.

Since we did that, we haven't had an incident!). As jjthink mentioned, you should clean it well with dilute betadine (iodine). You can use Neosporin with painkiller AS LONG AS the painkiller is not one of the -caine medications (like lidocaine). The -caines are toxic to chickens. Most Neosporin uses a different type of painkiller. My hens have had some pretty gnarly cuts for me to clean up (skin pulled back exposing the underlying muscle...4 inches diameter..OUCH!). If it is cleaned out well and covered with Neosporin regularly until it is scabbed over, it should be fine. If it is old, make sure you check for infection and any creepy crawlies. OH!!! You probably want to keep her inside until it is scabbed over well or even healed up (so the roo doesn't rip it back open and it doesn't get infected by the dirt baths).

 

[chickenman101]

thanks everyone!!