how soon do I have to clean a wound?

[BeardedChick]

My remaining buff orp flew over a fence right into the dog pen this morning (the other got killed Friday when it did the same thing). I found this one alive, but her comb was blue. Got her inside into a warm, dark place. She is still bleeding a few drops of blood and her poo is bloody. I can find a couple of bite wounds but they don't look *terribly* bad compared to others I've seen in this forum.

Can I let her rest or do I need to get her out and clean those up right now? I have not used any betadine yet, but I do have some on hand.

Do I need to get to town for antibiotics?

We had just picked up materials to make the fence taller, darn it, plus I thought she would stay where she belongs, with her friend gone. Those orps have been escape artists since we got them, which is really frustrating as they have a nice, safe, big free range area.

I gave away most of them as I never could keep them out of the tomato garden, and kept the two.

Darn it, darn it, darn it!

 

[key west chick]

I personally would go ahead and clean the wounds. Bite wounds that don't bleed alot a more prone to infections.Blood in her poo may mean she has some internal bleeding. Never had that happen but imagine it wouldn't be good. I don't know about antibiotics but it might not hurt. Good luck.

 

[Fudgie]

If they are ripped open deep, get them cleaned up ASAP, if it is surface, let her rest. Don't stress her out too much. Don't worry about blood on the feathers and such, that can be taken care of later on. Just concentrate on the wound.

Was her comb blue like she was almost dead blue or blue as in really torn up?

I would make sure she gets water, and drop it in her beak with an eye dropper if necessary, use lukewarm water in case she is cold, it will warm her up from the inside out. Put a heat lamp on her. Keep her comfy. Poor thing! You would think she would learn. Guess she was looking for her buddy!

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks - I cleaned the wounds best I could as soon as I got your two posts above. The one by her back end is not good looking - I think it may go into the vent area which is why the poop has some blood in it. That is going to be a high infection risk.

It didn't have poop coming out of it, but I could hear air moving through it a little bit. The one on her back is deeper than I thought. I dribbled betadine over them, and DH is going to pick up terramycin tonight.

I think her comb was blue because she was shocky.

Poor thing! Not sure if she'll make it but we'll do the best we can.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Sorry to hear you are having injury problems. Sounds like you are on top of it. Just wanted to show ya some support.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thank you ZooKeeper

- this is the pits.

I didn't think it was possible for me to build two 6' tall gates, dig two deep holes, and set two new posts in concrete by myself in one day. Being angry at myself, the dogs, and the chicken has some small benefits, I guess.

Next round of chicks I raise will have their wings clipped so they don't get started flying over the gates.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Glad to hear that ya got the gate done. Alot of work for one person, hope ya didn't hurt yourself. Wing clipping is a good idea, but it doesn't always work. Good luck with your gal sure hope she is on the mend.

 

[Wildsky]

Clean as soon as you find the injury - the longer you leave it the more chance infection can set in.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks -

She is trying to eat and drink just a little bit. She took a few bites of scrambled egg and a drink of terramycin/aspirin water (I had been syringing her).

Jean, I just read on the 'Dogs' post about your chickens. How terrible! I am so sorry for your loss.

When did this happen??

WildSky, I didn't think to clean my pullet's wounds first things because she seemed so shocky. I guess the EMT in me thought to treat for shock first. Next time I'll figure out how to do both... This was my first chicken-911.

I hope that some of my current chicks in the 'bator hatch at the end of this week. Some fuzzies in the room with her might really cheer her up, and maybe she'd have someone to bond to. I had hoped she'd be my broody hen eventually.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

They were my first chickens, I hatched them out on May 7th, 8th and 9th. They were killed on July 27th only one survived. I am lucky that I came out when I did as there was a pen of 42 chickens that were 9 and 10 weeks old right next to them.

I really didn't want him to pay or anything I just wanted him to say so sorry and we won't turn her loose no more. Fat chance of that. Sad part is him and his wife run the raptor rescue next door and they turn those birds of prey loose right in the back yard, not on state land like they are suppose to.

They also have had coon, bobcat you name it they have had it and they are not suppose to as they only have permits for raptors. They turn them loose in the back yard too.

I just turned my fence up she don't go thru it now. I got over 18 inches of snow on Thursday night and Friday day and I was out with the shovel cleaning snow away from my fence. She got it good this morning. It was worth the pain in my shoulder I just had surgery on just to hear her yelp, man she is hard headed. Aussie shepards are like that I guess. Sad because she could be a good dog.

Let us know how the chick is. I love my orps, but they never learned to fly LOL I can't believe those big butts can get off the ground.