Hen filleted open!

[mbphotos09]

Glad you got it taken care of.
Did the wound pierce the abdominal cavity?
Did you ever figure out how it happened?

The vet didn't say anything about it being in the abdominal cavity, and I totally forgot to ask. But from what I could tell, it just looked like the skin was peeled back. It started by her neck and ripped all the way down to her leg.
I haven't figured out how it happened and I've searched the coop from top to bottom! I'm thinking she might have done something to herself before going up to roost and then it got picked at until it turned into a huge wound. I may never know, I guess.

 

[aart]

It started by her neck and ripped all the way down to her leg.

HolyCrap!!

 

[lilmillefleur]

That's HUGE! I hope she heals up OK.

 

[Red Banks]

The vet didn't say anything about it being in the abdominal cavity, and I totally forgot to ask. But from what I could tell, it just looked like the skin was peeled back. It started by her neck and ripped all the way down to her leg.
I haven't figured out how it happened and I've searched the coop from top to bottom! I'm thinking she might have done something to herself before going up to roost and then it got picked at until it turned into a huge wound. I may never know, I guess.

I had something happen like this with a horse once and might explain where the injury didn't happen. A horse had jumped out of the paddock and when I came home that night I caught him and put him in a stall. When I went out the next morning I snapped a lead on him and turned to walk off. He wouldn't walk. I looked at him and realized he was pretty ripped up. He had jumped the fence the night before and had been injured but I didn't see it in the dark. Maybe this bird was hurt before she went on the roost. Does she free range? Could a predator have tried to get her? I had a hen badly ripped like this by a hawk. The skin was open and you could see the flesh.

Hope the chicken recovers, mine did.

 

[mbphotos09]

I had something happen like this with a horse once and might explain where the injury didn't happen. A horse had jumped out of the paddock and when I came home that night I caught him and put him in a stall. When I went out the next morning I snapped a lead on him and turned to walk off. He wouldn't walk. I looked at him and realized he was pretty ripped up. He had jumped the fence the night before and had been injured but I didn't see it in the dark. Maybe this bird was hurt before she went on the roost. Does she free range? Could a predator have tried to get her? I had a hen badly ripped like this by a hawk. The skin was open and you could see the flesh.

Hope the chicken recovers, mine did.

Yes, she does free range. That sounds exactly like what probably happened! When I locked them in their coop the night before, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary and that was probably because she was sitting on the wound while she was was roosting! That would also explain why there was just a pool of blood where she perches and not really anywhere else.
Glad to hear your hen fully recovered!

 

[Red Banks]

Yes, she does free range. That sounds exactly like what probably happened! When I locked them in their coop the night before, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary and that was probably because she was sitting on the wound while she was was roosting! That would also explain why there was just a pool of blood where she perches and not really anywhere else.
Glad to hear your hen fully recovered!

Chickens are so stoic when they are injured like that. I had a chicken with it's crop ripped out. Everytime I looked out the bird was standing somewhere..... just standing. It kept drinking water and eating. Finally I picked it up..... all the water and food she ate was on her chest. I felt so bad but you would have never known this bird had such a serious injury. For her there was no hope though.

 

[mbphotos09]

Chickens are so stoic when they are injured like that. I had a chicken with it's crop ripped out. Everytime I looked out the bird was standing somewhere..... just standing. It kept drinking water and eating. Finally I picked it up..... all the water and food she ate was on her chest. I felt so bad but you would have never known this bird had such a serious injury. For her there was no hope though.

Oh, poor thing. Yeah they hide their injuries and illnesses very well! A lot of times you won't even know there's anything wrong with them until the injury/illness has gotten serious... Even with Pom-Pom's entire chest ripped open, she hopped out of the coop, almost unfazed by it! Crazy.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Still following her progress. It sounds like she will be OK.

If you let her range in the future you may want to give her a haircut so she can see danger better.

I have no crested birds and I still won't let them range unless I can be right there with them. I won't even leave them to go to the restroom unless hubby can spell me. Hawks are FAST.

 

[micstrachan]

Poor Pom Pom! Looks like she is on the rosd to recovery. So glad you were able to get her some veterinary care, and good work with your follow up!

 

[venymae]

I might need a pom-pom next time I get chickens....she so darn cute i just want to cuddle her!