Injured Chicken (Big Bertha)

[Mlovato23]

What’s wrong with my chicken? She’s the biggest female all my bird, but today when I let my chickens out she was like this. How can I help her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

How is she doing?
Is she alert at all or moving?

She has a wound. Not sure what cause it - a predator maybe?

General care is to clean the wound really well. You can use Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), Betadine, Saline or if you don't have those, use warm soapy water and rinse well.
Pat dry the area and apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wound.

Keep her in a relatively warm place that is clean, where the other chickens won't bother her and where flies can't get into the wound.
Give her some warmed sugar water. Once she drinking, then see if she will eat some food.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You say she was like this when you went to let them out this morning? Can rats get into your coop? Have you looked her over real good? Lift up her wings on both sides and check to see if she has any other injuries. Clip any feathers you need to, so you can clearly see and treat her wounds. @Wyorp Rock will give you very good advice on treating her. Keeping her wounds clean, free from flies, and moist with antibiotic ointment is very important.

 

[Mlovato23]

Welcome To BYC

How is she doing?
Is she alert at all or moving?

She has a wound. Not sure what cause it - a predator maybe?

General care is to clean the wound really well. You can use Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), Betadine, Saline or if you don't have those, use warm soapy water and rinse well.
Pat dry the area and apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wound.

Keep her in a relatively warm place that is clean, where the other chickens won't bother her and where flies can't get into the wound.
Give her some warmed sugar water. Once she drinking, then see if she will eat some food.

 

[Mlovato23]

Welcome To BYC

How is she doing?
Is she alert at all or moving?

She has a wound. Not sure what cause it - a predator maybe?

General care is to clean the wound really well. You can use Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), Betadine, Saline or if you don't have those, use warm soapy water and rinse well.
Pat dry the area and apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wound.

Keep her in a relatively warm place that is clean, where the other chickens won't bother her and where flies can't get into the wound.
Give her some warmed sugar water. Once she drinking, then see if she will eat some food.

She’s pretty normal, ran around all day. She ate and drank too. Nothing is able to get in at all no cracks in my coop, no cats or dogs allowed in the backyard where they are. Thank you for your help!

 

[Mlovato23]

You say she was like this when you went to let them out this morning? Can rats get into your coop? Have you looked her over real good? Lift up her wings on both sides and check to see if she has any other injuries. Clip any feathers you need to, so you can clearly see and treat her wounds. @Wyorp Rock will give you very good advice on treating her. Keeping her wounds clean, free from flies, and moist with antibiotic ointment is very important.

Yes, I watched her all day. She was normal, she ate, drank and ran around. There is no way anything can get in the coop. She is like this on both sides but this side in the picture is way worse. Thank you so much for advice!

 

[Aunt Angus]

On both sides? Do you have a rooster? Wondering if spurs caused these, and pecking flockmates made it worse.

Whatever the cause, she needs to be cleaned up and treated asap.

Poor Bertha....

 

[Shezadandy]

However the injury began - it can start as something very small and especially on light colored birds, that bright red blood will attract attention and the flock will keep going at it. How are your roosts arranged? If it's predator proof and she went in the night before with no problems and came out looking like that, you may need to rearrange your roosts so that nobody can reach another bird from behind.

Anywhichway - chickens are vampires and LOVE blood, only second to scabs (blood cookies!!!) - she needs to be separated while this heals. If you have a way to keep her near the flock but where they can't touch her during the day, do that. But I would NOT leave her in the coop overnight with them. They can literally kill each other.

p.s. - in terms of evolution, chickens will eliminate injured birds because the blood attracts predators. And they are carnivores!

 

[Mlovato23]

On both sides? Do you have a rooster? Wondering if spurs caused these, and pecking flockmates made it worse.

Whatever the cause, she needs to be cleaned up and treated asap.

Poor Bertha....

I do have a rooster just as big as her. Should I separate her from the rooster and buy her a vest?

 

[Mlovato23]

However the injury began - it can start as something very small and especially on light colored birds, that bright red blood will attract attention and the flock will keep going at it. How are your roosts arranged? If it's predator proof and she went in the night before with no problems and came out looking like that, you may need to rearrange your roosts so that nobody can reach another bird from behind.

Anywhichway - chickens are vampires and LOVE blood, only second to scabs (blood cookies!!!) - she needs to be separated while this heals. If you have a way to keep her near the flock but where they can't touch her during the day, do that. But I would NOT leave her in the coop overnight with them. They can literally kill each other.

I have 5 gallon buckets side by side in my coop. Will a dog kennel work, then tomorrow while the other are out I can let her run around in cage?