How to keep chicken from picking at her dressing? Need help ASAP!

[CaliforniaChickenGirl]

My almost 4 month old hen Yukari was attacked by a raccoon last night and had her entire wing ripped off. I was able to treat and dress her wounds and she was really good about not picking at her dressing until this evening. I can't get her to stop, any suggestions that may help? I'd greatly appreciate them!

 

[thechickenchick]

I am sorry she got injured. I had that happen to an even younger bird. I could not get her to let me do anything other than clean it out. I separated her and kept her warm and dry (in the house). She left it alone and it scabbed over in a day or two. I kept her in about a week, then introduced her back into the flock and she did fine. Do you think she would be ok if you took the dressing off? Is she seperated from the others? Good luck.

 

[CaliforniaChickenGirl]

Whenever her dressing is off she pecks at her wounds, so I don't think that keeping the dressing off is an option.

Out of desperation I created a little shirt for her that will keep her from picking at her dressing, but allowing her to stay mobile. Yay for old kids clothes.

I'm open to other ideas though, I'm pretty clueless with chicken emergencies.

 

[emvickrey]

A few days ago I had a young 4 month hen attacked by a cat. (that's my best guess anyway). The skin on her neck got ripped almost off. It was ripped from her right side to just under her left side of her neck. After I cleaned and packed it with neosporin I layed the flap of skin back over her neck to cover as much as I could.

I made the mistake of putting gauze over it, but I was trying to hold the skin in place at least over night so it would hopefully adhere itself. WEll all went well but the gause stuck. And it was stuck good. It took me 2 days to pick it all out of her neck meat. She was very patient through the whole ordeal.

If I where you, I would remove the dressing and let air get to it. If she picks at it I don't know anything else to do.

Oh, I have an idea. When I lightly wrapped self-sticking tape to my hens neck to hold the gauze in place she stayed so still she hardly moved much less to bend her neck to preen herself. That may work but I still suggest that you remove the dressings to let it get air but put neosporin on it a couple times a day and keep it clean. If she picks at it, wrap a couple of rounds around her neck of that self-sticking tape. Lightly though. Don't want to restrict eating and drinking.

The tape I used is 2" wide.

Good luck and I hope she heals quick without any problems. I would also keep her inside. When you reintroduce her to the flock watch to see what the others do. They may peck at her wound and end up killing her or eating her alive.

I've seen that happen.

 

[thechickenchick]

That is a great idea! Don't feel bad, it seems like every emergency is a little different. Just when you think you have it figured out... they go and do something new!!

 

[CaliforniaChickenGirl]

Thank you both for your kind words and advice, it's been an exhausting 24 hours, that's for sure.
I do have some concerns with leaving the dressing off, we'll see how her wound is tomorrow. We've already been applying neosporin to it. As for her returning to the flock, the only chicken she's been around so far is her sister Tomo. We finally separated them today and they're not happy about it. Tomo has actually been standing guard over Yukari. It's interesting behavior, my chickens are teaching me a lot. So far I don't have any concerns about her getting attacked by Tomo, hopefully it stays that way.

 

[Judy]

What an awful injury. Anything to keep her from pecking at it is good.

There is a product that I think is called Vet Wrap, brightly colored, sticks to itself. You can buy the same stuff for people in the drug store. Might help you.

Meanwhile, is there some bone sticking out of the wound? Did it get ripped off at the joint? You have a whole other problem if there is bone sticking out.

 

[Judy]

So glad she has a companion. She should do much better this way.

 

[CaliforniaChickenGirl]

There is a little piece of bone sticking out, I'll try and get a picture today of it if that will help.

Here's a picture of her in her new shirt though.

 

[threehorses]

Can you also post this on the other post? I had no idea that your bird had bone sticking out, and it might be fixable or cause a problem later.