I found a rooster in bad shape in the side of the road! Graphic images. Please help!

[andreamcantu]

Ok I am new here and I have no experience with chickens. I found a rooster or chicken in the middle of the road. The wound looks weird not even looks like he was hit by a car. I checked his legs and they don't seem to be broken. I cleaned the wound with some preoxide and I added some vetericyn. When he/she tries to walk his left leg is completely limb. What do I do? Do I have to kill him. Can he be saved? Please help me out.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I am not 100 percent sure, but it looks like a hen. It doesn't have the long neck feathers like a rooster generally has. Unless it is just the pic and the neck feathers are long?
It will take a lot of TLC to get this chicken into shape. You will want to try either neosporin or even honey (or a sugar wrap).
This will be a huge undertaking. I am sure others will reply, but there are lots of threads on severe wound care.
Good luck.

 

[andreamcantu]

I am not 100 percent sure, but it looks like a hen. It doesn't have the long neck feathers like a rooster generally has. Unless it is just the pic and the neck feathers are long?
It will take a lot of TLC to get this chicken into shape. You will want to try either neosporin or even honey (or a sugar wrap).
This will be a huge undertaking. I am sure others will reply, but there are lots of threads on severe wound care.
Good luck.

Well that goes to say how much I don't know about chickens and roosters that I can't tell them apart. Thank you so much for the reply.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Here is the first thread I read about using honey: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ote-using-manuka-honey.1202992/#post-19065175

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

One using sugar: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/yikes-large-wound-on-hen.1141144/

 

[diamondsilkies]

I would agree that it looks like a hen, and that it will take a lot of care to get her back into shape, but there is lots of research here. I also think that you're right, it doesn't look much like she was hit by a car. She may have gotten lost or fallen off a truck, and then later got attacked by some sort of predator. Wishing good luck to both you and her!

 

[sylviethecochin]

One: Shock is probably your worst enemy at this point. Get her warm and keep her warm. Provide drinking water with electrolytes (2 qt water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp honey/corn syrup/sugar, 1 pinch salt) as it will help hydrate her.

Two: Vetricyn is good. It looks like you rinsed thoroughly. Honey's supposed to be good. I don't keep it in the house, so I never have it available. What I have used is vaseline or triple antibiotic ointment, and blue-kote. You want to keep that wound moist and disinfected.

Three: Aspirin is okay for chickens. If you have it, 1/4 of a 325 mg (standard) pill ground up in the drinking water may help relieve pain.

Four:
@casportpony?
@micstrachan?
@dawg53?

And I can't think of anyone else, though I know there are many. Drawing a blank.

Good luck, and Welcome to BYC.

EDT: And while it looks as though something chewed her up and spat her out, I once had a duck recover from worse. Chickens are hardy little creatures. Seriously, she has hope.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

@FlyingNunFarm - they did the sugar application and maybe can offer some advice.

 

[BirdGal]

Looks like a hen. If she wants to eat and can defecate, she has a chance . Will be a lot of tlc but if the hen wants to eat,possibly can be saved. This would be a good case for Arnica homeopathic remedy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor little hen.

Do you have any other chickens?
I also agree it will take a lot of care to get her back into shape. She is completely skinned on the one side. She looks alert, so I would try to see how it goes.
You will need to keep her inside until she heals -can you do that?

The wounds look clean so you did a good job on those. Peroxide was o.k. for the initial cleaning, but in the future use saline or diluted betadine, those are much more gentle and less damaging to exposed tissue.

Apply triple antibiotic ointment or Vetericyn Spray to the wounds. I would also treat her with antibiotics - if you have vet care that is best. Otherwise you can find Procaine Penicillin G at Tractor Supply.

See if she will drink water for you. You want to get her hydrated first, then offer her something to eat. If you have no chicken feed, offer her scrambled or hard boiled egg until you can get some feed.

Hopefully the leg is just sore and over time she will be able to walk. She does have quite a bit of damage along her spine so she may have a spinal injury that she cannot overcome. If she starts to decline, then prepare yourself that she may not make it.

Keep us posted.