Help! Some thing took a bite out of my hen!!

[backyardbirder4]

I was letting my chickens free range in the yard yesterday and last night when I went to lock my flock up I noticed that my hen Carmel was missing. This isn't like her, generally she's the first in the coop at the first sign of dusk. My father and I looked for her for almost and hour and we couldn't find her.

Today I continued the search, combing the woods that but up to our yard. I couldn't find a kill spot or any signs of struggle. I couldn't figure out where she had gone. Fast forward a couple of hours and my friend and I are eating dinner when she hears a chicken scream in the back yard. Thinking that a predator had come back for seconds I rushed outside only to see that my Roos Ro and Ruby had found Carmel and ousted her from the brush at the edge of the yard. I rushed over to my girl and scooped her up and while she was clearly shaken she was responsive and warm. While I was checking her for injuries I found all these feathers pulled and this gruesome injury above her right thigh. Some thing had tried to take a bite out of my girl! I don't have a vet for my clucks and I'm not sure if any of the vets around treat chickens. What can I do for my girl to clean her wound and help her heal?!


Here are pictures of her injuries.

 

[DigMyChicks]

Poor girl...that looks painful! I hope she gets better.

I was letting my chickens free range in the yard yesterday and last night when I went to lock my flock up I noticed that my hen Carmel was missing. This isn't like her, generally she's the first in the coop at the first sign of dusk. My father and I looked for her for almost and hour and we couldn't find her. Today I continued the search, combing the woods that but up to our yard. I couldn't find a kill spot or any signs of struggle. I couldn't figure out where she had gone. Fast forward a couple of hours and my friend and I are eating dinner when she hears a chicken scream in the back yard. Thinking that a predator had come back for seconds I rushed outside only to see that my Roos Ro and Ruby had found Carmel and ousted her from the brush at the edge of the yard. I rushed over to my girl and scooped her up and while she was clearly shaken she was responsive and warm. While I was checking her for injuries I found all these feathers pulled and this gruesome injury above her right thigh. Some thing had tried to take a bite out of my girl! I don't have a vet for my clucks and I'm not sure if any of the vets around treat chickens. What can I do for my girl to clean her wound and help her heal?! Here are pictures of her injuries.

 

[Free Spirit]

You will need to clean the wound well so you can see the extent of the damage so you can evaluate. Mix up some hydrogen peroxide with warm water (a 50/50 mix). Hopefully you have a syringe (without needle) to use with the diluted H2o2 to flush out any dirt and impurities. The bubbles will help bring the impurities to the surface. When you think it's clean flush again with plain warm water. Only use the H2o2 this one time. Any further cleanings that must be done from here on should only be plain water.

Evaluate the wound. It would be good if you have an antimicrobial to apply such as Vetericyn wound and skin care. If it's really bad you may need an topical antibiotic (Neosporin). If it's deep you will want to monitor it for possible infections such as puss. But keep it clean and dry and free from debris.

Give her some ACV (apple cider vinegar) in her drinking water (2 tbls per gal) as its a natural antibacterial and provides electrolytes. Keep her separated from the rest of the flock until she heals and keep her warm.

 

[Free Spirit]

Forgot to mention that you may have to remove some feathers around the wound so they don't get stuck in there while it heals.

Give her a few treats when your done doctoring.

 

[backyardbirder4]

Thank's so much guys! She's doing better now, we have her set up in our basement at the moment. We've cleaned her wound and removed some of the feathers closest to the wound. I didn't know about the apple cider vinegar, thats a neat trick. We got some packets of electrolyte and probyotic powder from TS. We also covered her cage and packed it with bedding and straw so she would feel a little more secure.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Free Spirit]

Glad to hear she is doing well. You don't need the ACV while giving her the electrolytes and probiotic packages. But it is a good thing to have around for emergencies when you don't have the other.

May she have a speedy recovery

 

[backyardbirder4]

Thank's so much! She's gotten much better. The wound has stayed clean and healed beautifully, the scabs come off on it's own and her feathers are almost all grown back. It's starting to get cold out so we're gonna wait until all her feathers are back before we put her back with the rest of the flock.