hen with deep wound, how often to change dressing?

[ChicksOnBikes]

I was sooo happy to find the posts about wounded chickens. It came in handy for us this week.
We had 2 chickens killed and others injured by dogs this week. All hens are just under 1 year old. One Sussex hen Rachel managed to escape death and came limping home before dark. I did not notice the deep wound under her wing. The next day, I noticed she wasn't feeling well, and I discovered the wound. We were going to euth her until I found the posts about wound care.
The wound was on Weds night, it was discovered and treated Thurs night and again this morning (Fri). The wound is towards the tail end under the wing, and is kind of like a piece of skin missing, and it sort of opens up into a puncture wound, like as you lift the skin, you can see down in a bit (one angling towards the front of the body, and another angling towards the back. I hope that makes sense at least sort of.

We followed directions posted here about flushing with dilute peroxide and packing with neosporin. We tried a small t-shirt sleeve bandage, and that didn't stay, so we used gauze. This morning during the bandaging, we noticed maggots and picked them out and flushed and repacked again.

Rachel appears to be doing alright. She is mostly sitting, but she appears alert and fights me, and she is eating, drinking, and pooping. She is weak on her feet, but she also has one deformed foot and doesn't walk 100% right anyway. We are feeding her some yogurt and cooked oatmeal along with her regular food.

SO, the question is: How often to change her bandage? Hubby thinks 36-48hrs should be alright. I was voting 24hrs for the first few days. I think he doesn't want to stress her any more than necessary. Thoughts??

THANKS!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I would look at the wound everyday just to make sure there are no maggots. so I'd say change every 24 hrs. or more. Keep her where the flies can't get to her. Chickens are marvelous healers so as long as you keep the wound clean and free of maggots she should heal fine.

 

[appychick]

If you are dealing with maggots,less time wound is covered the better as will get much more necrotic when covered. Also have you ever used homeopathic Arnica for chickens ? I use 1-Arnica 6X pellet daily for any size bird from a few weeks to adult for pain control & to help heal faster with success,no withdrawl. I prefer Hylands as it is quick disolving form & birds can't spit it out once you get it in beak. Good luck with saving your bird.

 

[ChicksOnBikes]

Thanks for the input.
I'm going to wait until morning (24hrs) to redress the wound.
Just checked on her and she has made it onto the low perch to roost for the night (about 18" off floor). We are cautiously optimistic. I'll post how she is tomorrow!

 

[ChicksOnBikes]

Rachel is getting around more, and got the dressing off of her this afternoon, so I had a neighbor help me do it over more securely. It still looks bad, but doesn't smell bad and no sign of maggots, so we are still optimistic.

BUT, QUESTION: the injury was a like a hole up under the skin. there is a small area (less than dime-size) that appears to be darkening and look like a scab or dead skin, but it is surrounded by healthy (healthier) tissue. I'm guessing this is an area where the wound opened up from underneath and there was an air pocket or something. I have repacked with neosporin. I'm wondering what to do??? My neighbor is an ER nurse and she'll be looking at it. I don't want Rachel to be improving and then die of gangrene or something. this is all new to me.

THANKS

 

[neVar]

If it's a puncture- you are best to make sure it is open at the surface- so that it can drain and properly heal from the inside out- if it closes up / scabs up over the top any infection will fester- and not get cleaned.

I would occasionally still flush with peroxide (Dilute) you don't want to do this daily as it kills off good and bad stuff- but on occasion to help insure nothing is festering deep inside.

 

[ChicksOnBikes]

Thanks for the info. i have made sure it's not closing from the top. My concern is the darkened, dry skin. No smell of infection and Rachel seems to be acting almost normally. I talked to the vet and she suggested more flushing as well, she said plain water would be alright and to just irrigate the area.
My neighbor the ER nurse is coming over soon to help me re-wrap the wound because Rachel seems to be purposely trying to remove it. I'm going to put her in a dog crate to keep her quiet and might take her into the vet tomorrow.

 

[tiki244]

I hope she gets better

 

[tiki244]

I saw your post on the other one and am respomding here. I am sure you read through that one and well, my hen had that too and I did cut it off. I hesitate to recommend this to anyone. I rinsed her with a weak saline solution as it does draw out (dirt, infection, germs )somewhat Did you check out the article on cell migration? Is this what you are doing? Mine struggled too with the bandage. I used duct tape and when I changed the bandage every day I just cut the tape on the top on each side of the gauze and then reapplied ointment and gauze and tape to the preexisting tape that went under her bellie and loop-de-loo through the wings. She struggled a lot and not a pleasant experience. But I didnt have to rip the tape off of her. Then by the time it needed to come off I soaked her in soapy water and worked it off that way. Have you given her antibiotics?
ETA: In the cell migration article it does mention removing any dry scabs with every dressing so that new skin can grow.

O and the cutting of the dead skin was one of my worst experiences and the hens too but is worked out in the end.

 

[ChicksOnBikes]

I saw the article on cell migration, and I do realize that the skin can't possibly regenerate if it dries out. My plan for today when my help arrives is to irrigate, swab with neosporin, and rebandage. I'm probably going to take her to the vet tomorrow, I'm sure they can do a more secure bandage than I can manage. And they can cut off the skin, which is beyond what I'm comfortable doing. Sheesh, I can hardly stop thinking about gross wounds all day.
Anyway, I hate to duct-tape my chicken. I just really want to get to the point where it's somewhat closed/healed. How long did that take for yours??? couple of weeks??