Hen attacked, by what, I don't know

[Wyorp Rock]

How many times a day should I flush the wound?

Should I re-apply triple antibiotic after each flush?

Should I keep her isolated until she is healed, or at least until her wound in no longer exposed?

I did see her drink this morning - just plain water. I will look around the forum to see the mix of sugar/water to make.

And she did poop this morning. Watery, but I am sure that is to be expected.

I assume the cutting of the feathers do not cause pain if they are not pin feathers.

She ate last night, but not yet this morning, even with her favorite of chopped up poached eggs and cooked lentils. I left this in the cage with some regular crumble. They are all on chick starter b/c of the rooster.

Yes, you can use the LA200 if that's what you have. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/miracle-la-200-dosage-and-vetrx-for-crd-treatment.631458/

If her wound is clean, then I would only swab it once day for a few days with the Chlorhexidine, then apply your ointment. Once it scabs over, then I'd stop the daily swabbing and just apply the ointment to help keep it moist and not so itchy.

You're correct, the trimming of feathers shouldn't hurt unless they are new pin feathers coming in.

Chick starter is just fine for hens to eat. Just provide oyster shell free choice. Plain water is fine to give if she's drinking on her own. Sometimes having a bit of sugar water will help get them out of shock, plus it's sweet and tasty, but if she's drinking o.k. then plain is fine.

Yes, that is the pits about the Chlorhexidine.
I usually buy from Amazon, but you're right again, TSC carries the gallon and the price is reasonable. I use Chlorhexidine for myself/Hubs and the animals as needed, so I try to keep some on hand.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Rooting for you! Chickens are amazingly tough and you're doing great. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say she'll be well on her way to being nicely healed in about 3 weeks. It will seem as if not much is happening for a while, then suddenly you will notice the wound beginning to heal from the edges and get smaller, then it will seem to heal quickly. That was our experience anyway. Good luck with her!

 

[Sammster]

Yes, that is the pits about the Chlorhexidine.
I usually buy from Amazon, but you're right again, TSC carries the gallon and the price is reasonable. I use Chlorhexidine for myself/Hubs and the animals as needed, so I try to keep some on hand.

Is this the product you buy, that is labeled for horses and dogs? Do you dilute it for use on chickens or humans?

 

[MarlaMac]

Yes, you can use the LA200 if that's what you have. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/miracle-la-200-dosage-and-vetrx-for-crd-treatment.631458/

If her wound is clean, then I would only swab it once day for a few days with the Chlorhexidine, then apply your ointment. Once it scabs over, then I'd stop the daily swabbing and just apply the ointment to help keep it moist and not so itchy.

You're correct, the trimming of feathers shouldn't hurt unless they are new pin feathers coming in.

Chick starter is just fine for hens to eat. Just provide oyster shell free choice. Plain water is fine to give if she's drinking on her own. Sometimes having a bit of sugar water will help get them out of shock, plus it's sweet and tasty, but if she's drinking o.k. then plain is fine.

Yes, that is the pits about the Chlorhexidine.
I usually buy from Amazon, but you're right again, TSC carries the gallon and the price is reasonable. I use Chlorhexidine for myself/Hubs and the animals as needed, so I try to keep some on hand.

Rooting for you! Chickens are amazingly tough and you're doing great. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say she'll be well on her way to being nicely healed in about 3 weeks. It will seem as if not much is happening for a while, then suddenly you will notice the wound beginning to heal from the edges and get smaller, then it will seem to heal quickly. That was our experience anyway. Good luck with her!

Thank you!

 

[MarlaMac]

Thank you, @Wyorp Rock. The LA200 post was for a different issue - a soft shell egg busted inside a chicken. Do you suggest antibiotics for this hen with the wound? I do have some amoxicillin coming on Wed for the other issue I have. I could treat this girl as well if necessary.

Currently she is looking very well. She is eat - just a little and she is being very select with what she eats. She will eat a little egg, any watermelon I put in with her and I think she is nibbling on her regular crumble. I keep the watermelon to just a little - maybe a tablespoon per day. She is drinking, but more so when there was sugar in the water. I think the watermelon is probably giving her some hydration so that may be what is happening. She is pooping, still really watery - probably also the watermelon.

I think mostly she just wants to go outside. I am guessing that I will have to wait until all is healed before I let her out, then reintroducing her to the flock. She was pretty high up on the hierarchy chain, but I am assuming she will have to re-establish that.

I will get a picture tonight when addressing her wound again. But the wound looks really good to me.

Again, thank you for your time.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is this the product you buy, that is labeled for horses and dogs? Do you dilute it for use on chickens or humans?

The LA200 post was for a different issue - a soft shell egg busted inside a chicken. Do you suggest antibiotics for this hen with the wound? I do have some amoxicillin coming on Wed for the other issue I have. I could treat this girl as well if necessary.

Currently she is looking very well.

I usually buy Hibiclens, but the Durvet is the same active ingredient. I would use it on myself and animals if that's what I had - yes, I'm one of "those" people.

Look forward to the updated photos.

It's up to you if you want to give an oral antibiotic or not. If you feel that she needs it, then use the Amoxicillin. Dosing for Amoxicillin is 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10 days.

Watermelon seems to be very interesting to sick and injured birds. I'd let her have it to pick at for sure, it won't hurt her. Tomatoes also seems to be something they really like too. Offer feed as a wet mash is sometimes more interesting than dry. The egg is good.
The main thing is to keep her hydrated and eating. Once she's feeling better and has healed more, she will start eating more of her normal food.

 

[MarlaMac]

I usually buy Hibiclens, but the Durvet is the same active ingredient. I would use it on myself and animals if that's what I had - yes, I'm one of "those" people.

Look forward to the updated photos.

It's up to you if you want to give an oral antibiotic or not. If you feel that she needs it, then use the Amoxicillin. Dosing for Amoxicillin is 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10 days.

Watermelon seems to be very interesting to sick and injured birds. I'd let her have it to pick at for sure, it won't hurt her. Tomatoes also seems to be something they really like too. Offer feed as a wet mash is sometimes more interesting than dry. The egg is good.
The main thing is to keep her hydrated and eating. Once she's feeling better and has healed more, she will start eating more of her normal food.

Thank you. I will keep her offering her watermelon and will try tomato tomorrow. I do wet her crumble and she does seem to prefer that over the dry. She does pick at her food, so that is reassuring.

Forgot the pics, again. UGH. Will post tomorrow.

My other hen has move back with the flock so now my recuperation run and coop is available. I was thinking about putting her there tomorrow. She is currently in the house. This set up is currently inside of the main run but it would allow her to see and be seen by the flock. My only issue is that it the winds are suppose to be high tomorrow @ 20mph. Our land has a lot of sand that gets blown around in the wind. Do you think this would be detrimental to her or do the benefits of being among the flock outweigh this?

She certainly grumbles a lot when I walk in the room as if to say, "let me out".

Also, not sure when I can reintegrate her. I am a little cautious in that rooster will want to mount her and that will definitely cause issues with her wound. Can you provide any guidance here?

Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you. I will keep her offering her watermelon and will try tomato tomorrow. I do wet her crumble and she does seem to prefer that over the dry. She does pick at her food, so that is reassuring.

Forgot the pics, again. UGH. Will post tomorrow.

My other hen has move back with the flock so now my recuperation run and coop is available. I was thinking about putting her there tomorrow. She is currently in the house. This set up is currently inside of the main run but it would allow her to see and be seen by the flock. My only issue is that it the winds are suppose to be high tomorrow @ 20mph. Our land has a lot of sand that gets blown around in the wind. Do you think this would be detrimental to her or do the benefits of being among the flock outweigh this?

She certainly grumbles a lot when I walk in the room as if to say, "let me out".

Also, not sure when I can reintegrate her. I am a little cautious in that rooster will want to mount her and that will definitely cause issues with her wound. Can you provide any guidance here?

Thank you.

Ime, the first thing they will do is dig a hole and take a dust bath. Oh my. Dirt, ointment and a wound.
I completely understand and know she wants outside, they usually do best being near their flock, but I'd wait until she's scabbed over. It's going to take a while for her to heal and for new feathers to come in.

Yes, her rooster is going to want to mate her and could cause some issues grabbing onto her head or neck right now.

 

[MarlaMac]

Ime, the first thing they will do is dig a hole and take a dust bath. Oh my. Dirt, ointment and a wound.
I completely understand and know she wants outside, they usually do best being near their flock, but I'd wait until she's scabbed over. It's going to take a while for her to heal and for new feathers to come in.

Yes, her rooster is going to want to mate her and could cause some issues grabbing onto her head or neck right now.

Exactly what I thought. Was trying to be the nice guy. Thanks for your input. Will put the recuperation pin/coop away for now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Exactly what I thought. Was trying to be the nice guy. Thanks for your input. Will put the recuperation pin/coop away for now.

Do you let your flock out on the grass at all?
If so, you may be able to take her for monitored "visits" or she may enjoy being in a kennel outside near the flock. I just wouldn't let her have access to much dirt at this point.
Believe me, trying to get a wound like that cleaned back out after they take a nice dust bath isn't anything I ever want to do again