Hen with back of head/neck ripped open/scalped.

[looptloop]

My sweet girl Maude is all torn open on the back of her neck. I noticed her many of her feathers were missing the other day, but figured it was from the rooster. This afternoon I opened the chickens to let them out and 1 is dead on the floor, and Maude is scalped! The dead one appears to have just died, I could not find anything wrong with her, so I don't think the two of them got into a fight, plus they were both very mild mannered chickens. I think my head hen and the roo are just beating the snot out of this poor girl.

She also has what appears to be a lump the size of 2 peas in the unfeathered part of her neck. I need to know what to do first! I have her in the house in a dog cage, she is eating and drinking - but I must need to clean her up right?!

 

[a123andpoof]

What I would do and I am no expert is wash it up, and put some neosporin on it. Thats what I do with all injurys in my flock. And sorry about your other hen.

 

[looptloop]

Thanks for replying! Do I just use plain water? I have plain neosporin, with out the 'caine' and I'll use it, just didn't know if I need anything special to wash her with......?

 

[looptloop]

The bummer about the poor dead hen is she was my 4 yr old's favorite, Donna bawk bawk, the Blue Andalusian. The 4 yr old is taking it pretty well tho!

 

[Aeropennchick]

If the lump on her neck is soft, it's probably just a hematoma (collection of blood). I wouldn't worry about that unless it grows, which would mean there is still bleeding somewhere.

 

[looptloop]

Oh phew! Many thanks, I'll just keep my eye on it. She seems to like the special treatment she's getting!