Hen bit by possum help!

[sammy]

Hi my poor hen was bit on her toes/leg by a possum today

how it happened:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=126556

she is bleeding a tiny bit-i have not touched the bird or the wound and wore work gloves to move her

what do I need to do for her now?

although chickens cant get rabies, I know humans can not touch the saliva of a possum so how and what do i need to do to treat my bird's foot?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Do you have surgical gloves (hair coloring gloves, dish washing gloves, thinner latex gloves)? Those would give you better use of your hands. You should be able to just clean up the wound with some sterile saline solution (if you wear contacts, you would have this around). Then you can dab on some neosporin. Keep her warm and dry, perhaps in a dark room. Put some electrolytes in her water, if you have some.

 

[sammy]

Quote:
yes i have surgical gloves-can i make a simple saline solution with water and salt?

do I need to wash the whole hen in case any possum saliva is still on her?

thank you!!!!

 

[birdlover]

I don't know about washing her all over though I suppose it wouldn't/couldn't hurt. Be sure to dry her well afterwards, with a hair dryer if you have one. I was going to say that you should get some antibiotics at the feed store because your hen could get a systemic infection from the bite. Put them in her water for as long as it says to in order to stave off infection. Good luck!!!

 

[sammy]

thanks i will get the antibiotics tomorrow-the 2 birds share water-the anitb's wont hurt the other chicken i assume?

 

[birdlover]

No, it won't hurt her but they say not to give chickens antibiotics for no reason because it could cause problems down the road if she took them and then, got sick and the bacteria had become resistant to the antibiotic. I don't know how to explain it exactly. This is a subject frequently discussed because some people put antibiotics in the water as a preventative which is a definite no-no. You're only supposed to use them when they're needed. (Your hen that got bit needs them). Maybe somebody else can chime in but I don't think it would hurt your other hen if you just do it this one time and don't make it a habit. You can't eat their eggs, though for a month.

 

[sammy]

do i HAVE to give the antibiotics or can i watch her first and see if she gets worse?

it would be impossible to water them separately and now i am not sure i want the ok one to take the meds...

???

 

[chickenzoo]

I would give antibiotics... bites can get infected quickly

 

[birdlover]

Once infection begins, it may be too late to start them. Get them asap.

If you're worried about them being separated, just put them in cages side by side so only the one who was bitten gets the antibiotics.

 

[sammy]

i dont have 2 cages for them


i will just feed the 2 of them the antibiotics

the possum ran away but we are still going to try a trap because i am sure it will come back

her foot actually looks well and she can curl her "toes" and hasnt bled at all, it is scabbing and she is eating like a horse

happy to see that

thanks all!