Hen attacked by other chickens,head is torn open

[Judwah2000]

Yesterday I saw my 6 month old rooster (one of two) attack my 4 year old hen. I separated him out. Went down to check on her today and found her like this. Her scalp has been picked away, one eye is shut and it looks so awful!! I'm thinking the other rooster attacked her and possibly other hens too. If she makes it I will separate her out. What can I do for her except blue cote and antibiotic cream???

Jude

 

[Pickled Plaid]

Yesterday I saw my 6 month old rooster (one of two) attack my 4 year old hen. I separated him out. Went down to check on her today and found her like this. Her scalp has been picked away, one eye is shut and it looks so awful!! I'm thinking the other rooster attacked her and possibly other hens too. If she makes it I will separate her out. What can I do for her except blue cote and antibiotic cream???

JudeView attachment 1929180

There are others with much more experience and wisdom than I have who will hopefully be along shortly, but if she were mine, I'd separate her now and set her up with a hospital cage somewhere warm, quiet and safe. The other birds will keep picking until she dies if you let them.

Her head wounds need to be cleaned (hibicleans or chlorhexidine are fantastic choices for everywhere else, but so close to her eyes, sterile saline might be a safer option).

Monitor her closely for shock. That's a nasty looking head wound.

 

[Judwah2000]

Thank you for replying, I will do everything you suggested...what are the signs of shock that I should be looking for?

 

[Pickled Plaid]

Thank you for replying, I will do everything you suggested...what are the signs of shock that I should be looking for?

Pale comb/wattles, open mouth breathing, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, stunned appearance are all symptoms of shock. Your hen might show one sign or all of them.

Here's an article that might help.

 

[MotherHen75]

Oh my gosh, so sorry that happened. But yes, clean the wound. Is that white part the skull? Yikes. Keep an eye on her.

 

[coach723]

Agree with separating her to let her heal, blood can draw pecking, which may be what happened. Separate the cockerels (less than a year old they are still cockerels) since hormones are raging and they can be horrible brats and way too rough. I had one with a similar injury (she got hung up in a crop bra and got attacked by the flock), I cleaned it with veterycin spray and kept it covered with plain neosporin until it healed. I didn't use blu kote until it had scabbed over enough that she was ready to reintegrate. Picture below is 4 -5 weeks post injury. I would also do some observing and complete exam on this hen to look for any other health issues. Either the cockerel hurt her and the injury drew pecking which made it like it is, or she has another health problem which drew an attack from the flock, they will sometimes attack a weak/sick bird to drive it from the flock. I think those are the most likely scenarios. I would not put the cockerel(s) back with the hens until they are more mature, and then only under supervision until you know how they are going to be with them. I don't keep roosters that hurt hens.

 

[Judwah2000]

Thank you for your reply, that gives me hope...Will definitely put both roos in another pen.

Jude

 

[ValerieJ]

I am so sorry about this! Big hugs to you and your hen!!! You have already received good advice. I'll just reiterate what I think is important. Put her in sick bay, warm, quiet place. Clean the wound well and as often as needed, daily or more often. I would use betadine or saline solution for this. Then slather with triple antibiotic ointment, like neosporin, without pain killer. Watch for fly strike! I had a hen get attacked this bad in my first flock. It was terrifying, but she lived through it with this treatment. When I introduced her back to the flock, about a couple weeks later, I used Blu-kote to cover the wound. That keeps the other hens from pecking at her. The rooster didn't fare as well, but he made a delicious Cockerel in Reisling Sauce.

 

[Eggcessive]

Save the BluKote for later if needed to hide her healed wound. For now use Hibiclens (chlorhexidene,) Betadine (Equate First Aid Antiseptic at WalMart,) Saline, or Vetericyn on the wound. Then apply plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment twice a day and keep it moist. Keep her separated and away from flies. Agree with keeping the young cockerels separated.