Hens skin on neck sliced wide open on fence

[Shezadandy]

I've used the band-aid antiseptic with pain relief (https://www.band-aid.com/products/hurt-free/antiseptic-wash-6-oz) - on one hen - because every stitch I placed caused her so much pain that I couldn't physically get it done because she struggled so much even with the extra hands. Others barely react to the stitching process- very individual in nature. As soon as I administered it she stopped reacting to the stitching process. And made it to the other side. In general I avoid it, but in that one case the greater evil was not sewing her back up or shredding her with the suture needle.

Also had a bird with a hole in the head. Went to clean it and the antiseptic (not the bandaid stuff) came shooting back up like a fountain. Healed up and became the flock rooster. I included the 2nd picture from days later because fresh, all in all, it doesn't look too bad, right?

Fresh:

Couple days in:

Within 10 days:

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I would add something to her food and water to support her immune system and body. Increase her protein a bit.

 

[healthguru]

Thank you for this info. By dry hard, you don't mean actually hard, right? Still flexible to move with animal? Especially interested in the collagen

It kind of makes a scab. Does that make sense?

 

[Birdielee]

It kind of makes a scab. Does that make sense?

Yes. I'm going to look for it.

 

[Birdielee]

She's alive and alert. In pain. She wanted to preen, but gland is so far back it hurt to reach it. She reached it on the 4th try but...that was a lot of neck stretching

 

[Birdielee]

I would add something to her food and water to support her immune system and body. Increase her protein a bit.

Ive got nutridrench, homeopathic arnica, aspirin, and rescue remedy in the water. She isn't interested in drinking. She drank a lot last night, though. She ate a tiny bit, and ate eggshells. She's weak. Do you have a suggestion (echinacea, ... i guess this is a goldenseal moment. Astragalus?) I dont really know about bird medicine much. I was wondering if milk thistle works for chicken livers, sounds like I od'd her pretty seriously.

 

[Birdielee]

I put a little hay on the floor and put a towel on it and a half log. Hopefully she'll stay on the floor and rest, and keep her wound clean.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Your chicken will live provided you keep the wound clean. I had a chick survive a similar wound, although by the time I took the photo a scab was starting to form. When I first found her, the entire length of her neck had a torn flap of skin where all of the muscle was visible. It was horrific! To aid in the fastest healing, keep the wound as moist as you can, with Vetericyn and/or topical antibiotic without pain reliever. If you can, and it will not be perfect, place a non-stick trauma pad trimmed to the appropriate size and wrap with vet wrap. Your hen will hate it, but it will reduce the odds of her re-opening the wound. My chick was lethargic for two or three days before she started perking up and really picking at the wound, so in addition to the wrap I had to make little hobbles for her feet to reduce scratching. I know some others recommended asprin, but I actually don't recommend it. Asprin is a blood thinner, and really only works best once it's had time to build up in the system, so it doesn't provide significant pain relief until a few days of taking it at least, and by that time she will already be on the up hill climb, but that's just my opinion.

Here was her journey: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-old-chick-with-severe-neck-abrasion.1360038/

 

[Birdielee]

I've used the band-aid antiseptic with pain relief (https://www.band-aid.com/products/hurt-free/antiseptic-wash-6-oz) - on one hen - because every stitch I placed caused her so much pain that I couldn't physically get it done because she struggled so much even with the extra hands. Others barely react to the stitching process- very individual in nature. As soon as I administered it she stopped reacting to the stitching process. And made it to the other side. In general I avoid it, but in that one case the greater evil was not sewing her back up or shredding her with the suture needle.

Also had a bird with a hole in the head. Went to clean it and the antiseptic (not the bandaid stuff) came shooting back up like a fountain. Healed up and became the flock rooster. I included the 2nd picture from days later because fresh, all in all, it doesn't look too bad, right?

View attachment 2164081
Fresh:

View attachment 2164090
Couple days in:
View attachment 2164091
Within 10 days:
View attachment 2164094

Man, your stitching looks really good. Good job. It's actually closed. What did you use to clean up inside the black bird?

I'll have to see if i can figure out what the bandaid product is. Where do you get sutures? Are they available without a prescription? What size needle/what kind do you get? Did you debride the edges of the cut before you stitched?

 

[Birdielee]

Your chicken will live provided you keep the wound clean. I had a chick survive a similar wound, although by the time I took the photo a scab was starting to form. When I first found her, the entire length of her neck had a torn flap of skin where all of the muscle was visible. It was horrific! To aid in the fastest healing, keep the wound as moist as you can, with Vetericyn and/or topical antibiotic without pain reliever. If you can, and it will not be perfect, place a non-stick trauma pad trimmed to the appropriate size and wrap with vet wrap. Your hen will hate it, but it will reduce the odds of her re-opening the wound. My chick was lethargic for two or three days before she started perking up and really picking at the wound, so in addition to the wrap I had to make little hobbles for her feet to reduce scratching. I know some others recommended asprin, but I actually don't recommend it. Asprin is a blood thinner, and really only works best once it's had time to build up in the system, so it doesn't provide significant pain relief until a few days of taking it at least, and by that time she will already be on the up hill climb, but that's just my opinion.

Here was her journey: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-old-chick-with-severe-neck-abrasion.1360038/

Im heading out to get vetyricin and the collagen product mentioned earlier. Why no pain relief in the antibiotic?

The trauma pad and vet wrap i dont understand yet. basically a fancy non-stick gauze pad? I have to look it up . Did you wrap it around under her wings to keep it on? I considered bandaging her last night but decided she was more likely to rip it open, struggling with the bandage .
Vet wrap is tape? Or how does it attach?