Hen's throat slit

[HickoryHollow]

Ok, so last night when I went out to close the chickens in for the night.......(I have a habit of counting the girls) I only say 17 at first. Then I spotted the 18th behind the hanging feeder standing on the floor. I didn't think that much of it, it was just dusk and I thought she just hadn't roosted yet.

This morning when I left them out, she was still standing there. I picked he up and felt something wet. When I rolled he over, I could see a huge gaping gash in her throat. Her collar bone is exposed and it is a really bad gash.

My first thought was to just put her out of her misery. My wife wants to try to save her. Any thoughts on treatment? Pour Peroxide in the wound? I isolated her in the brooder house in a nest box and she is just mostly sleeping.

 

[SleeplessHollow]

I'm no veterinarian, but if the wound does not show any signs of clotting, I suggest killing her.

 

[HickoryHollow]

I just found this wonderful blog. There was a link to it in BYC.

http://richie-cunningham.com/2012/04/11/chicken-wound-healing-process/

 

[Eggcessive]

If she lived through the night the blood must have clotted. Cleanse it with Betadine, peroxide, or soap and water, then dry it well. Apply Neosporin or other brand of antibiotic ointment without painkiller once or twice a day. Watch for signs of infection or abscess--swelling, foul smell, yellow gunky drainage, or redness. Give her some scrambled eggs and other good protein snacks. She may have a good chance of healing if the others don't pick on her. I would place her in a cage inside the coop to hold her place in the pecking order. When she heals more, BluKote can be sprayed on wounds to disguise them, but only when healed more.

 

[RussianChickens]

If she lived through the night the blood must have clotted. Cleanse it with Betadine, peroxide, or soap and water, then dry it well. Apply Neosporin or other brand of antibiotic ointment without painkiller once or twice a day. Watch for signs of infection or abscess--swelling, foul smell, yellow gunky drainage, or redness. Give her some scrambled eggs and other good protein snacks. She may have a good chance of healing if the others don't pick on her. I would place her in a cage inside the coop to hold her place in the pecking order. When she heals more, BluKote can be sprayed on wounds to disguise them, but only when healed more.

I think this^ is your best bet.

 

[HickoryHollow]

Well, she didn't make it. We brought her in the house to clean the wound. When I saw it better, I had huge doubts. It was really deep. She died as I was holding her to clean her up.

Thanks for the help anyway!

 

[RussianChickens]

Well, she didn't make it. We brought her in the house to clean the wound. When I saw it better, I had huge doubts. It was really deep. She died as I was holding her to clean her up.

Thanks for the help anyway!

Aww. I'm sorry! At least she didn't suffer any more. :/ Do you know what she cut it on?

 

[HickoryHollow]

We are pretty sure a hawk tried to get her and our new Rooster "Romeo" tried to save her but didn't get there quite quick enough. :-(