Injured chicken found days after fox attack

[MykaMom]

I dont think it's ever too late to wash a wound. If it reopens, it needs to drain. Fresh, bright red blood is actually a good sign for healing. I would absolutely flush it with chlorhexidine or something similar, it's not painful. Dawn dish soap is safe to bathe her with. Then topical antibiotic. I dont know what otc is safe for pain management, you should check with a vet for that. Poor girl!

 

[Chickassan]

I'd be very gentle with the wash as it seems to be a large gash that is very much on the mend.
No pus or odd coloring right? If not is isn't necessary to be too invasive with the wound.

 

[starri33]

It's safe to wash? Right now, she is in our living room. No flies, no other chickens. We're going to set her up with a pen in the house.

We tried Vertericyn and Bluekote yeserday, but I think my husband just sprayed it on. We haven't been brave enough to try cleaning it yet, as I said, worried about reopening it after so long (My husband thinks it was earlier in the week, so more like a week since she was injured). Maybe we'll try gently rinsing it...

She is able to stand and walk around, but seems to be in pain and certainly not enthusiastic to move a great deal.

Yes, gently, maybe put her in the sink with warm water and uses a wash cloth to wash her, I had to do that with Sir Poops a Lot, he's the one in the picture, your little girl was out long enough and attacked by a animal that there is a chance of dirt and who knows what in the wounds, gently washing will also loosen up dried blood off her feathers and stuff and give you the opportunity to see if there are other wounds. With her condition, I am not surprised she's in pain, I'd not be expecting her to run full out. Please keep us posted as to how she's doing, after I washed Sir Poops a Lot I wrapped him in a towel and cuddled him against my chest and he fell asleep..lol.

 

[cottagecheese]

She is in your living room, so I'm relieved to know that she's away from flies and the other chickens, but this also tells me that you are monitoring her very closely, in fact as closely as humanly possible. She seems to have a state of the art immune system. Does the wound smell infected? The chicken is eating with reasonably good appetite? I feel that your instincts to not fuss with the wound are correct.
Constantly watching and intervening if there is suspicion of trouble.
Also, she needs high protein foods like a piece of hamburger or boiled egg, scrambled eggs are quicker for us to prepare but they are a stress to the liver, especially now. Earthworms if it just rained . A little fresh garlic, minced, added to her regular feed and my best best wishes.

 

[ewerbos]

R&R in the human coop. We decided not to mess with it (it is still not looking infected).

We are indeed monitoring closely. We gave her scrambled eggs but will try for boiled or something later. It is definitely not raining.

 

[cottagecheese]

Yes, but what if it had actually been raining, hmmm?
Not criticizing the scrambled egg, (nor the shortcut it affords us), just mentioning an often overlooked fact, in the rush to help them.
Not humanly possible to know if it makes a difference, it's just a nice little insurance policy.