Noticed my hen acting a little funny last night but I figured she may be tired. (it was late when I got off work and checked the coop) She was freeranging and didnt go into the coop that night. I came home from work the next day and that is when I noticed she was back, but acting different. Went out today to check her and her wings were down, head down like it was too heavy to hold up, and her eyes are twitchy (I am guessing she is in shock) I am not sure that this is from the night she disappeared though. It seems far too progressed to be from 2 days! I picked her up and began checking her crop when I realized there was nothing in her crop (totally empty) I started checking her everywhere else. I found a lump just below her vent about golfball sized, I couldn't see it very well so I decided to soak her in a warm bath, which she took to very well. I was thinking she was eggbound, but upon looking more closely at the lump it looks more like a scabbed over and very hard wound. I pulled off one of the scabs and there is a huge crater, the edges are all very very hard. I cleaned it out, put neosporin on it, and wrapped it up. I gave her a mash of nonmedicated chick starter, mealworms, and scrambled egg. I really don't know what else to do. Has anyone ever dealt with anything like this. When I say the wound is hard I mean rock hard. I used vetwrap to wrap it up. Is there anything else I can do for her? BTW she is a dominique, about 10 months old never laid an egg that I know of!
I don't have any experience with this. Just wanted to wish you luck. hopefully someone will come along soon that can be of more help.
Thanks DrGlennon, I hope so too! I put her in the bathtub with a blanket for now with the mash and water. She seems to have eaten some!
I think your hen was most likely attacked by a predator. Good you found the wound, and good you soaked her in a warm bath. I would keep a very close eye on her, and give her another warm bath with Betadine in it. Once finished gently dry her behind off and spray with VETERICYN. Large wounds like that do very well with the use of Vetericyn. This stuff does absolute wonders on wounds....Wishing you well....
Thank you iwiw60! I just hope she makes it! She is the only one left from my old flock (Had a raccoon problem) and I would be devastated if something happens to her! I will pick up so vetericyn tomorrow! Should I pull the hard crusty spots out of the hole so it goes back down to normal size, or should I leave it alone to heal naturally?!
I think that you will find that after giving her a warm bath mixed with some Betadine in it (let her soak for 15-20 minutes) you'll find that that scab will more or less sluff off on it's own. Don't force it, you don't want to make her bleed.
Once all the commotion has blown over and your girl is on her way back to her old self, you need to address your predator problem with a vengeance.
I'm not sure exactly how old the wound was... We haven't seen the raccoon (or had any other problems) in a month since we got the new Roo. Not sure what did it!