Huge bump/scab on chicken's breastbone!!

[Fluffbutts84]

Hi There, I have a question concerning one of my chickens. She has a quarter size hard black scab on her breastbone that has turned golfball size and smells horrible. I know it's infected and I read about "bumble breast" which I think is what she has. I am preparing myself to soak her in warm water with epsom salts for about 30 mins, then remove the scab and hopefully the abscess. I am going to put her alone in a pen for a while to let her heal, was going to bandage it up with vet wrap and gauze after rinsing it and applying vetericyn spray. Before I did all this, I wanted some insight on what you thought before I start this process. Other than this issue, she is totally normal, eating, drinking, running around with the others, so it doesn't seem to bother her. I am sure when she roosts it is in the way as to where it is located on her. The roost has also been changed because I believe that is what caused this breast blister. Any info would be greatly appreciated before I start with the removal of this. Thanks!

 

[azygous]

I believe you have it pretty much covered, including determining the cause. If it smells terrible, it could be staph or some other bacteria. You will want to debride after soaking (remove all dead and dying flesh) at least every other day to be sure you're ahead of the infection.

Vetericyn is a valuable wound care as it controls infection and promotes tissue growth. I'd follow up when it dries with an antibiotic ointment. It probably won't need a bandage, and a bandage wouldn't survive long on the breast anyway.

Also, I would return her to the flock unless the flock notices her wound and starts to abuse it.

 

[Fluffbutts84]

I believe you have it pretty much covered, including determining the cause. If it smells terrible, it could be staph or some other bacteria. You will want to debride after soaking (remove all dead and dying flesh) at least every other day to be sure you're ahead of the infection.

Vetericyn is a valuable wound care as it controls infection and promotes tissue growth. I'd follow up when it dries with an antibiotic ointment. It probably won't need a bandage, and a bandage wouldn't survive long on the breast anyway.

Also, I would return her to the flock unless the flock notices her wound and starts to abuse it.

Thanks for the info! I need to prepare myself for this....eek!

 

[azygous]

You will get used to it, and after a few days, you will be able to do it in your sleep.

 

[Fluffbutts84]

You will get used to it, and after a few days, you will be able to do it in your sleep.

Well I was able to remove the abcess scab and "gunk" from chicken. It all went pretty smooth minus my "weak stomached assistant". It left a pretty good size hole where it was, but the size of the abcess that came out was like a golf ball! I am spraying with wound spray 3 times a day. Anything else you would recommend?

 

[azygous]

Kudos for a job well done! Just keep the wound clean by flushing it with saline and following up with the wound spray.

There is a handy, inexpensive saline you can buy in a squeeze bottle that works great for flushing chicken wounds.

 

[rebrascora]

I just make my own saline by dissolving sea salt in boiling water and letting it cool. My horse vet once recommended irrigating wounds with a hand operated trigger sprayer because the pressure of the spray hitting the flesh was enough to wash away bacteria and debris and stimulate the blood flow for healing without damaging tissue by scrubbing. It also makes wound irrigation so easy. I have a little finger pump spray that I use for small wounds and a trigger spray for larger ones. The solution in the bottle stays sterile for several days, so you don't need to prepare fresh each day. I also use diluted Hibiscrub (chlorohexidine) in spray bottles in the same way for irrigating wounds.

 

[Fluffbutts84]

I just make my own saline by dissolving sea salt in boiling water and letting it cool. My horse vet once recommended irrigating wounds with a hand operated trigger sprayer because the pressure of the spray hitting the flesh was enough to wash away bacteria and debris and stimulate the blood flow for healing without damaging tissue by scrubbing. It also makes wound irrigation so easy. I have a little finger pump spray that I use for small wounds and a trigger spray for larger ones. The solution in the bottle stays sterile for several days, so you don't need to prepare fresh each day. I also use diluted Hibiscrub (chlorohexidine) in spray bottles in the same way for irrigating wounds.

Thanks for your info. I was going to make my own saline solution, I was also thinking of applying some triple antibiotic solution as well after flushing.

 

[Eggcessive]

Great idea for the bottle sprayers. I always keep a few around for various solutions. You can make a normal saline solution by adding 1 teaspoonful (5 grams) of table salt to a liter or quart of water, and stir. To make it sterile, bring to a boil in a saucepan, then reduce to a simmer and cover for 15 minutes. Place it in a clean canning jar with a lid after cooling, or place in the sprayer.

 

[micstrachan]

Sounds like you have this covered! Great job! By any chance did you take a photo of the golf ball size abscess?