injured chicken need help (cull or not too cull)

[jbowyer01]

I once again need help from my BYC members. An individual I know found a chicken on the road (possibly fell off a truck headed for a tyson plant) it is injured but seems to want to fight. She actually purred while I bathed her to clean out her wound and put antibiotic ointment on her. My DH and I dont want to make her suffer so I need advice after looking at these pics would you cull her or give her a fighting chance. It seems that the skin in her breast area is ripped pretty bad. Please help me make a decision.

 

[thecochincoop]

I would give her a chance as long as she is moving around and eating and drinking. I saw a chicken with it's neck half ripped off by a coon and it healed up fine just with an extra flap of skin there now.

 

[#1California Chick]

You might search for "chicken injuries" or "breast injury". I have seen lots of threads talking about cleaning and helping breast injuries. Most have been pretty successful!

Good Luck!!

 

[jbowyer01]

Thanks everyone, I will keep her in a quiet place and see how it goes. I'll also search for breast injuries. I just dont want her to suffer any more than necessary but when she purred I thought she really wants to live. Thank you very much!

 

[tonini3059]

I had two of my polish chickens rip their skin pretty badly. One's whole back was split open. Both survived. What we did was clean the area very thoroughly with peroxide and then super glued it shut.

 

[jbowyer01]

I'll have to remember the super glue tonini3059. I have her in a quiet place with food, water and soft scrambled egg. She seems to be resting right now but does lift her head and makes noises at me when I peek in. I soaked her in a warm bath and tried to clean her up and I put antibiotic ointment on her. She smells, not an infectious sick smell but a dirty kept in a nasty pen smell. I was so uncomfortable with her smell I had to change my clothes after handleing her. My chickens do not smell like that. Should I try an anitbiotic in her water? I'm not sure where to get the antibiotic though.

 

[justusnak]

I would definately give her a chance. Poor thing. Sounds like you are doing everything needed. if she is not bleeding, you might want to offer her aspirin in her water, for pain. If she is eating, and drinking...might want to get her some electrolytes as well.
Last year my neighbors daughter brought her hen to me, crying. Dog attack. I had to try to save this hen. I had a little 8 yr old blue eyed blond crying, begging me to save " her favorite chicken" Once I was able to look the hen over, I found her insides falling our from under her wing, HORRIBLE!! I cleaned her up, tucked her insides back where they belong...and put neosporin all over it, and bandaged her up. Put her in a dark small place where she could not move around too much...and just prayed she would make it. She is now a part of my flock...lays great eggs( RIR) and is pretty high in the pecking order. I sure hope your hens makes it. They seem so appreciative when you coddle them, and care for them.

 

[tonini3059]

I would get some Terramycin mixed in it's water. You should be able to find it at TSC or any feed store.

 

[silkiechicken]

Skin rips are usually pretty good to heal on birds. Just takes time. Since it is an open wound, an antibiotic is justified.

However... if this is a meat bird, I would think a bit if you really want to "save" it and perhaps look up info on them. They can live decent lives, but often their weight and condition can get the best of them if they did not grow up on a restricted diet.