Injured hen (approx. 10months)

[humblehillsfarm]

It looks to me like her feathers were ripped out but the skin is largely intact? Poor thing. My barred rock is my sweetest hen so I'm feeling particularly empathetic with this one. I had a baby sustain an injury which filleted the skin off of her neck entirely and she slept for a few days and just enjoying resting on my shoulder or lap. She made a great recover! Chickens are so resilient. I have high hopes that she will make it! I do agree, you should focus on hydration for now. Remember though, a broody can go four days, sometimes five days without leaving the nest in the days leading up to hatch day!

 

[Jespinojr]

the Black part at the top of her head is the wound where the rooster ripped her skin off and her skull was showing. He also pecked into the sides of her face but with the medicine I’ve been spraying it’s been healing up nicely. Just waiting to see her other eye open up and her feathers to grow back lol

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad she's improving.

Apply your spray or triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds and leave them unwrapped.

 

[sharon rides]

Is there any recipe that’s proven to work. Do I even need to worry?

I hear people talking about yogurt and other things mixed but I also read about how you’re not supposed to give them dairy and other people saying yogurt makes them sick....

I have fed plain yogurt to my chickens for years - they love it. I've also ground up cat food and mixed with yogurt for a high protein hit, or canned no salt tuna or salmon.

 

[sharon rides]

I want to add I cleaned the wound and placed a medicine that was recommended to me called “Vetericyn plus” and wrapped her head up with gauze and already did a change in the gauze. She stopped bleeding on the first day as well

just concerned since her crop seems flat and she rather sleep all day than eat food or drink water that’s in her mouth. She’s fully capable of eating and drinking. Just.... she rather sleep.

I saw a post to use Vetericyn also, but I asked my vet about it when I wasn't able to source it and she said there was nothing in it except a form of bleach....and not to use it near the head since breathing it was not good. Triple antibiotic is the way to go.

 

[Jespinojr]

I smelled it after spraying it on my hand. It does have a light odor but it’s nothing as strong as bleach also it’s safe for animals to consume in case they lick it off. Which is probably why it has electrolyzed water in it

 

[Jespinojr]

I want to say thank you to everyone who’s contributed and helped me

my hen is making a strong recovery. She’s able to eat and drink on her own now, I fear she might be blind in one eye now since she hasn’t seemed to open it since the attack and it’s not swelled anymore. However her appetite shows her improvements. (She won’t stop eating )

I was also curious as to how to safely introduce Her back?... I had her with the other chickens/roosters she grew up with. I originally moved her to my lonely rooster which ima either have to get rid of or cull since he almost killed her

I would like to get more chicks and hopefully with her still healing she won’t be aggressive towards them and make a smooth transition to where I can get my two roos safely with them as well
(The two roos which my hen is used to and they don’t fight with each other cuz they were raised together and like to cuddle together at night)

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Awww I am so happy to hear she is improving. You’ve done a good job taking care of her. Thanks for the update!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I want to say thank you to everyone who’s contributed and helped me

my hen is making a strong recovery. She’s able to eat and drink on her own now, I fear she might be blind in one eye now since she hasn’t seemed to open it since the attack and it’s not swelled anymore. However her appetite shows her improvements. (She won’t stop eating )

I was also curious as to how to safely introduce Her back?... I had her with the other chickens/roosters she grew up with. I originally moved her to my lonely rooster which ima either have to get rid of or cull since he almost killed her

I would like to get more chicks and hopefully with her still healing she won’t be aggressive towards them and make a smooth transition to where I can get my two roos safely with them as well
(The two roos which my hen is used to and they don’t fight with each other cuz they were raised together and like to cuddle together at night)

I'm glad to hear she is getting better!

Have you tried to open her eye to see if it's still there and healed over?

If she has lost one eye, it may be difficult for her to integrate with the others - so have a plan for her - separate housing/coop, etc. I wouldn't count on a hen to be kind to chicks. As chicks get older, they may take advantage of a weaker bird that can't see well. That whole pecking order/dominance thing ya know. Sometimes things work out o.k. - you don't know until you try.
Introduction back into the hen flock, I would use a see-but-don't-touch approach. Once let out with the others, she does need to be well/fit enough to get away from the others if need be. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-a-single-hen-to-an-existing-flock.71997/

 

[Abigail Joanna]

Really? Can you find that information for us?

Even if a bird could go without water for a day or two - why would you want them to?

Hydration is extremely important when dealing with an injured bird.

If she's not eating or drinking, it's not a problem until it's been too long