Hen keep pecking at bandage

[BigBlueHen53]

It is not that you can never use pain relievers or canines in chickens, but since large dosages may be toxic and fatal, only small doses can be used safely, or avoid them if possible. Vets do use lidocaine during surgery for chickens but are very cautious about dosage. Read post 11 in this thread from 2016 about drugs with pain relievers, such as lidocaine, benzocaine, pramocaine/pramoxin, etc:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fact-or-fiction-caine-and-poultry.1130757/page-2

Thanks, Eggcessive. The key word in all this seems to be "injected." Well, mercy, dabbing a little Neosporin on a wound is a far cry from injecting a bird with lidocaine, isn't it!

 

[R2elk]

Thanks, Eggcessive. The key word in all this seems to be "injected." Well, mercy, dabbing a little Neosporin on a wound is a far cry from injecting a bird with lidocaine, isn't it!

There is lots of information that says topical application is okay.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

This is what I love about BYC, I'm always learning!

 

[Pollogal1]

So…still having the same problem with her…only now it is both legs. None of the areas are really bad, but they are like bad scrapes that bleed. And she has re-wounded (word?) the very first spot that was wounded on her foot and it has swelled a bit. Could she be bored? Would a neck collar work so she can’t reach her legs for a week (not sure she can eat with it on)?? Today a neighbor is coming over to help me. I am going to remove all the wrap bandages, clean her legs really well with warm water and epsom salts, dry them good, put antibiotic cream on any open areas and then firmly (not tight) wrap both legs from the top where her feathers start - to her toes. If she doesn’t get them off at all, then I will leave them for a week and do it again next week. Hopefully this will help them heal and keep her from creating new areas. Any ideas would be helpful. I feel so bad for her going through this. UGH Thanks.