Injured chicken what else can we do to save her and help her to heal has an opening in her chest.

[CMV]

Nice work on the stitching. It takes some fortitude to do, but it is her best chance of surviving this adventure. I would still recommend swapping out the antibiotics she is currently on for PenG. Penicillin is the most appropriate antibiotic to use in this instance.

Sorry for your tough year. If it's any consolation I had such a tough year last year that I nearly threw in the towel. It's slowly getting better, but it's still been trying. That happens sometimes, I guess. Can't have the good without the bad.

 

[CMV]

How is she doing today?

 

[Karen Phelps]

Sure hope we have turned the corner. Last night my daughter left her out of the dog cage and free to roam in the closed and secure barn, the other chickens and "guard pig" are in another part of the barn. When we checked her dressing tonight, the wound looked better, the stitches seem to be holding. She seems to be trying to eat. Will keep a close eye on her and see how she does..We still don't know what got to the chickens. There is 6' fence around the pen and electric wire outside of that. Whatever it was tried to dig under the fence. Nothing has been caught in the live trap. The last time, it was racoons.
My very special daughter wants to be a vet and at 36 is going to school. She has a long ways to go, but I was so proud of the way she took a deep breath and did the stitching. I know it was killing her to think that she might be hurting an animal. We have had so many animal problems this past 6 months. She sure has had practice watching the vet...mainly with 3 of the horses. She has a feel for animals and senses when there is a slight change. She has done such a fantastic job with saving the life of my elderly horse. He is 30 but has been eating again and regained his strength. He could still stand to put on weight. We usually call the vet right away but this time we just couldn't afford it. Wish she could hurry up and get through school...we need her. She is still working on her undergrad work. She has the type of 6th sense that I have seen in very special ICU and OB nurses. Some people just have that sense and she is one of the lucky ones.

 

[PoultryPedia]

So glad your daughter was able to help you get the stitches done!
It sounds like she's got a good direction planned for her skills & is getting some useful practice, albeit because of difficulties with the animals.
Good to hear you have been able to help your older horse--It's hard to keep one healthy at that age.
I'm glad your hen seems to be mending.

 

[Karen Phelps]

Thank You.

 

[Karen Phelps]

About 2 months ago I asked for help for our chicken who had been attacked by something. Her crop was opened about the size of a quarter. We tried steri strips and butterflies and nothing would hold. We couldn't afford $100 to $150 for a vet. My daughter is in school to learn to become a vet (many years to go yet). She stitched the opening closed with clear thread and a curved needle, we didn't have suture to use. We dressed the wound every day. The large scab fell off and just a small pink nub remains. Her feathers have almost grown back. I cannot believe that this hen survived. She is back with the other chickens and seems to be eating ok. We can't tell whether she is laying any eggs yet. It is just amazing that she survived that trauma!! Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. I think that my daughter is really meant to be a vet!!!! I am so proud of her care of all the animals. Yesterday she spent time with a neighbor's sick horse. She wasn't able to help the horse and the vet had to put it down.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Karen

 

[PoultryPedia]

Hooray!! So good to hear your hen pulled through well! That's wonderful you were able to figure out & give her helpful care.