I need help fast!!!

[birdiewatcher]

I am new at this and I just got home from a 12 hour shift, neighbor checked on the girls and doing fine, I got home and one is really bad. Back of the neck has been pecked so the skull is exposed and the skin is down about 1 inch, can I save her.

I just introduced 3 new girls to the 6 I have 2 days ago and they were doing well, what happen?

Please help me, I love my girls. I have her in the house is drinking and eating. The other new girls were protecting it outside of the coop in the snow, we are having a snow storm here.

Oh please help me

Birdiewatcher of NH

 

[Southernbelle]

I've had one injured that badly before - young pullet savaged by one of the older hens. She healed very well. She had been laid open from the top of her head to the shoulders, no skin, neck muscles showing, bones exposed. I ran a search on here for "open wound" to see what to do.

I made a sterile saline solution (boil a quart of water and add 1/4 tsp salt) and flush the wound with saline to cleanse it. Add liberal amounts of Neosporin to help it heal. Keep her in isolation away from the others.

I chose not to give pain meds or antibiotics. I didn't have any on hand at the time and I seriously thought she was going to die. It took about 8 weeks until the scabs were completely healed. I chose not to try to sew the skin together because I was afraid I might do more damage than good. She healed beautifully on her own - all I did was try to keep it clean.

 

[Jena]

I really hope someone can halp you out with this,

How sad. Imagine the others protecting her? That is really good.

What are you going to do with the others? Do you think it could have been the older girls that did this or an external predator?

Usually for a trauma like this injury I know they advise you to keep them in a warm dark place and of course deal with the injury. Sounds like there is hope if she is eating and drinking.

Best of luck.

Jena.

 

[MandyH]

Rinse thouroughly with a sterile saline solution, then apply betadine if you have it. After that, cover the area with antibiotic ointment ONE time. Put her in a CLEAN, DRY place away from the others and it will heal. THere is no need for meds in her water and all that if she is kept clean and away from the others. I had a young guinea get all the meat stripped off his head from the crownof his head dang near to his shoulders one time and you can't tell him from the others now. The wound will need to be dry to heal quickly, so don't keep applying ointment. Aldo, don't pour peroxide on it unless you HAVE too.

 

[birdiewatcher]

I have taken the other 2 girls out of the play area that we have and put them back in where they were in the the garage in a nice pen, they are fine.

I gave the older ones a good scolding from mommy. Geees I know it was the older ones because my husband built me FORT KNOX for them and I mean fort knox, nothing getting in there.

Thanks for the luck.

Jen

 

[birdiewatcher]

OK I have bagbalm for ointment, I know farmers use that and I grew up on it as well, any issues using it on her.

Jen

Boiling water now, husband has called home, knows I am freaking out, be home after storm. Plowing the state roads.

 

[birdiewatcher]

MORE QUESTIONS. the solution should be a room temp correct before appling, and can I use a turkey baster to but it on her, or what else? Also how many times a day should I do this and the ointment?


I really do appreciate this help, you have no idea.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Jen

 

[PortageGirl]

Yes, room temp, turkey baster is fine, prolly should disassemble it and boil it too, you can get large disposable syringes from a vet or vet supply place too (no needle, just the big syringe), but if I was in you're shoes, I'd use the baster now!

Put her in a dog crate with old towels, no shavings... if the garage is warm enough, she can be out there with her friends, but seperate from them by the dog crate so they don't peck her too... even drape other towels over it so she's nice and dark and quiet for a time.

 

[birdiewatcher]

Well I have done my first treatment, that was hard for me to do, but I did it. With my eyes closed though.

She is resting comfortably and eating, so we will see, will let you know the status of her again.

Again thank you for the help and the quick response.

Birdiewatcher in NH
Jen

 

[Nif]

Jen
I know just from taking care of horses with big open wounds that it is important to let it dry out and heal naturally.
If you do wash it again you may want to dab with a clean, dry towel, or paper towels to avoid fuzz...but just make sure it isn't too wet or it won't heal.
Bacitracin ointment is good, or neosporin, but just enough so it doesn't get so dry that the scab cracks open.
I think antibacterial ointment would be better than bag balm...which I think might have lanolin and I wouldn't suggest lanolin in an open wound.
Saline is definitely a good natural wash.
Good luck!
Jennifer