Hen Has a Bad Scar

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

I don't really know what kind of answers I'm going to get from this, but one of my chickens has a pretty large cut on it's side, and I have no idea where it came from. This past summer I lost 2 chickens, one to a dog attack while they were outside, and one to a raccoon who got into my run. From my experience with the dog attack, I made sure to check my chickens for cuts right after the attack, since last time the dog wound (which I had no idea existed) got infected. But when I checked, I never saw this wound. It's about 2 inches long and an inch wide, and looks like it's been their a while, just a simple gray color (tell me if that's bad). Since the racoon attack, I've really my reinforced my run, and the only possible point of entry I can think of is the roof, which has a tarp over it along with the hardware cloth it is made of. The largest holes are at most 6x4 square inches, and that would take some serious power to "open" because they would need to be stretched to that point, again, while being under the tarp. Any other holes in the run would only be about -4 square inch openings scattered around. Also, my chickens sometimes sleep on top of the coop itself since it's been so hot this summer.

This also happens to be my rooster's favorite hen to mate with, and he has been pretty rough on her (her back is all torn up, which I know for a fact is him). I put a hen apron on her which she somehow got off one night (before I even knew about the scar).

Now that I've given you the information, what's more likely? Did my chicken get attacked by something while sleeping on the roof with her fellow chickens and survive with a scar? or was this something else? I was wondering if my rooster could have done this somehow by accidentally cutting her side with his spurs. Again, when I found the scar it looked at least a weak old, and was pretty gray. I was also thinking it could have been from the racoon, and I somehow failed to see it (when I tried to check them all). What do you think happened?

Thanks for all who took the time to read this. I know it's a lot of info.

 

[Sussex19]

Without knowing exactly where it is on the hen, this does sound like it could be the rooster.
I expect more experienced people will have a better idea.
And welcome to BYC!

 

[coach723]

Pictures would be helpful.

 

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Without knowing exactly where it is on the hen, this does sound like it could be the rooster.
I expect more experienced people will have a better idea.
And welcome to BYC!

They're on her side closer to the back, not to far down. I'll get some pictures later today.

 

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Pictures would be helpful.

I'll get some today

 

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Pictures would be helpful.

They're hard to get because it's in an awkward spot to photograph on them. It's in the back on her side. Still very gray. About an inch or less wide, and an inch or two long. I've put peroxide on it too.

 

[coach723]

Since that is a favorite of your roo, I would guess those are injuries from spurs or claws. Looks like it's scabbed over. I wouldn't use peroxide on it. Some plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment would be better. Eventually the scab will come off, once it's healed. The larger/deeper the wound, the thicker the scab, the longer it takes. As long as there is no sign of infection, that is all I would do for it. You can trim and blunt your roosters spurs to help prevent injuries, you can also trim his nails. Hen saddles or aprons can also help, but aren't perfect.
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/how-to-trim-a-roosters-spurs-and-how-not-to/
Pictures of your coop and set up would help with suggestions there. If you have 4x6 holes or 4" openings, that can be plenty big for some predators to get in. It would be better to add ventilation to your coop so they can be inside at night and completely secure from predators. Foxes can climb fencing and wire very easily. I think it's a lot easier to prevent predator attacks than it is to lose birds or be treating them for severe wounds. More economical in the long run also.

 

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Since that is a favorite of your roo, I would guess those are injuries from spurs or claws. Looks like it's scabbed over. I wouldn't use peroxide on it. Some plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment would be better. Eventually the scab will come off, once it's healed. The larger/deeper the wound, the thicker the scab, the longer it takes. As long as there is no sign of infection, that is all I would do for it. You can trim and blunt your roosters spurs to help prevent injuries, you can also trim his nails. Hen saddles or aprons can also help, but aren't perfect.
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/how-to-trim-a-roosters-spurs-and-how-not-to/
Pictures of your coop and set up would help with suggestions there. If you have 4x6 holes or 4" openings, that can be plenty big for some predators to get in. It would be better to add ventilation to your coop so they can be inside at night and completely secure from predators. Foxes can climb fencing and wire very easily. I think it's a lot easier to prevent predator attacks than it is to lose birds or be treating them for severe wounds. More economical in the long run also.

 

[Kaiser Fertilizer]

Thanks. I don't know how much I will trim the spurs, because I feel like my rooster does a good job of protecting my chickens, although I will consider it. I'd rather have to deal with bad cuts like this rather than have one of my chickens die. Also, his spurs don't seem to sharp in the first place, but I guess they got that hen pretty bad. I will consider trimming them.

Thanks for the advice ho how to treat it too.

I took an example of the worst hole in my run, although it has to be pealed back pretty far before something of that size could even get in (and even then it's under the tarp too). I do plan on tying these up with wire soon. Here's a picture of my coop too, of course that door is secured down at night. I know that nothing below the height of the tarp has a hole larger than 2x1 inches. I made that part pretty secure. And remember, the largest hole in the entire run is what you see in these 2 photos.

 

[coach723]

I would blunt the end of his spurs if he were mine. They aren't terribly long, but they are sharp enough to hurt and do damage. Sometimes they slip while mounting and that's when it happens. How many hens do you have? He may be overmounting if you don't have enough girls. I would try to secure those places you can raise on your wire, a determined predator, is just that, determined. Also wonder how secure that door is when closed? Are there any gaps? Do you know how the raccoon got in? It's more of an enclosed run than a coop. If you have any predator come around at night, since they can see the birds, it could cause a panic, and you could have injuries from that, they could bash themselves on the wire trying to get away.
Where are you located, generally? Is this going to work for you in the winter? If it gets cold where you are they are going to need to be able to get/stay dry and have a windbreak, likewise if you have heavy, blowing rains. If you have snow, not sure that frame is going to be strong enough to support it.