How to treat a narcotic hole

[Maggiescratcher]

Hi everyone,

I need some advice.

I'm not a chicken owner but I've been helping my mum who was chicken sitting my sister's small flock (4 birds, now two) after a fox attack. My sister is on holiday and my mum is distraught. One hen was badly wounded, the day after we could only see a wound on her thigh handsome feathers missing but she was pretty bright and still feeding but the next day we got a better look at her in her laying box and we saw a huge deep wound between her backbone and her wing, a chunk the size of a golf ball was gone and it was covered in maggots! We rushed her to the vets but the tissue is now necrotic. She's on antibiotics but they couldn't stitch it as there's a huge chunk missing. I've also been putting Manuka honey on it and she's on pain killers. She's bright as a button and chattering away but the wound is horrific.

I'm worried, how will it ever heal? Does anyone have a story of a chicken who survived such a thing. She's such a tough old bird hence 'Margret Scratcher' and I so badly want her to be ok!!! Please advise... x

 

[sourland]

keep applying the honey or an antibiotic ointment. Keep the flies away from her, and very likely the wound will heal. It will take time as such wounds heal from the outside inwards.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your chicken. Flystrike is when maggots enter a wound or soiled vent on chickens. Soaking the necrotic area once a day in warm soapy water, Epsom salts, or similar can be very good for healing. Any necrotic or blackened or dead skin can be gently washed away to promote healing. Then apply plain antibiotic ointment afterward. The manuka honey is very good as well. Here are some articles to read about it, and yes it can take time in healing:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/