Hen has growths/infection on back and wings

[gofetch]

One of my hens hasn't faired well from being mounted by our rooster. She's been fighting to keep feathers on her saddle and over the last couple days she's developed a large lump in the center between her wings on her back and this eve I notices the top of her wings (closest) to her back are looking swollen. I'm sure this has something to do with infection from all the injury to her back, but what do I treat her with? I tried seeing if I can open up the large swollen area, but didn't seem to have much fluid? Anyone ever run across this before?

 

[Renee]

Wow, I would consider getting rid of that rooster. That's some pretty serious damage.

Sorry I don't know how to treat this kind of infection.

 

[luvarabhorses]

I agree number one would be separate the hen from the rooster. I would wash it with sterile saline solution (boil saltwater and let cool, 1 cup per quart water) dry it and personally I like that Nuskin stuff. It forms a seal over open wounds. Hope that helps. lisa

 

[gofetch]

He's actually a good rooster, not mean, very beautiful, but he's huge and my girls have lost back feathers from his claws when he mounts? Should I just get rid of him? I've raised him since he was a day old, but is it the best?

 

[ivan3]

Are any of your other hens being denuded of feathers/scratched up?
How far down the back toward the tail is the swollen area?
Have you ever trimmed the roo's spurs?

The hen should be seperated until any open wounds are healed up.
Betadine `tea' (squirt Betadine into the sterile water until it looks like strong tea) is a good disinfectant.
Plain Neosporin can be applied to abrasions/shallow lacerations.

Cut/file off sharp spur tips (flat/rounded with no rough edges). Heavy grit emery boards to rasp off sharp claw tips.
He'll still get some feathers but chances of lacerations/bruising/abrasions are decreased.
Is he also pulling all the feathers from the back of her head?

I wouldn't get rid of him, but I'd keep an eye on his future breeding habits with the other hens while the injured girl heals up.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Excellent points so far, everyone.

To the OP: Definitely think of investing in some saddles for your hens once your bird is healed.

 

[gofetch]

He is pulling the feathers from the back of their neck. He grabs them there while he mounts. I'll start doctoring her. The swollen parts are just the one lump center of wings and top of wings. Feathers are missing down entire back to tail. She actually asks for it, quite honestly. She'll lay down right in front of him. His spurs are worn down from being outside all the time, but we'll work on trimming everything down more. I'm assuming I can just take animal nail trimmers to the rest of his claws?

All my hens are missing feathers at varying degrees, but she's the worst. I've been using Rooster Booster to detour him from wanting to grab them. It helps with the healing, but doesn't seem to bother him to much?

My chickens are more than just chickens, but I don't like to see animals suffer. So torn between putting her down and/or getting rid of my rooster

 

[Matt A NC]

Quote:
If you get rid of his "favorite", he will choose another. In a few weeks she will be in the same condition. If you can just keep him seperated for a couple months, it would at least give the hens a break.

Matt

 

[Judy]

Perhaps if you separate him for a while to give the hens time to heal, that would also give you time to think about the best plan for later. Maybe spur trimming and saddles would be enough for a long range plan.

 

[lavandula girl]

How many girls does he have to choose from? If all the hens are getting bare, like you said, maybe he needs a larger harem. Definitely if they are getting open wounds, they need to get some away time. (after all, some hussies have to be forced to take a day off...

)