Injured hen

[ndjili]

Something came into my yard and killed 2 of my 4 chickens and injured another. My 4th hen was new and in a separate run and was unharmed.
My Orpington has several puncture marks on her back. We cleaned then out with saline solution and put Neosporin on her wounds (hence her shiny skin in the picture). She is eating and drinking and walking around but has been put into her own little henhouse. What else can I do to help her heal?

 

[MrsBrooke]

So sorry to hear of your losses.

Looks like you're doing everything just right.

If you wanted to go the extra mile, you could pour some chlorhexadine (available at Walgreens near the hydro perox)... That nukes any nasties that might infect her.

Just keep her clean, hydrated, and fed. Watch for any changes in behavior or going off food and water.

Keep us posted!

MrsB

 

[ndjili]

I like the extra mile.. I'll try any and everything to save her. Her favorite treat is rice so I've given her some which she loved and added some electrolytes to her water.

 

[ndjili]

Cupcake still acts good today. Cleaned her wound and then gave her a treat. She's still eating and drinking and actually laid an egg today. One thing I have notice is that she now has green diarrhea. Not sure what that means. I did start her on an antibiotic, as the injury occurred while I was out of town and it didn't get cleaned or tended to right away. But the diarrhea was happening before I started her on the antibiotic.

 

[MrsBrooke]

If it's dark green, that's a sign that she's not eating enough.

Offer some crushed boiled eggs and see if that'll help her appetite. The extra protein will help rebuild tissue, too!

MrsB

 

[ndjili]

I have weird chickens that hate eggs. Lol. I have been giving her rice.. As she loves it and some meal worms and added vitamins to her water. Today her poo it now a light green and looking a little better. Tho she's still sore she's been up and around a bit more. Stretching and digging for bugs. She even laid an egg yesterday. But it's good to know what the dark green poo means so I can help her.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Good, good. Even cooked hamburger meat with the fat drained off can be helpful. Anything to get protein in her!

Stress can make chickens poop funny, since they can go off food until the shock wears off.

I'm happy to hear she's recovering.

MrsB

 

[ndjili]

Cupcake is healing so well. Now my problem is coccidiosis in new chicks. They are in their own little house/run but i let my older hens out to free range and they walk up to the coop and sniff around. Of course this morning I found bloody diarrhea coming from my Easter Egger chick. I have Corid on had and have begun treating the chicks (they're around 8-9 weeks old). My new question is, do I also need to go ahead and treat my older hens and Cupcake is still on antibiotics from her attack last week. is it ok to treat her with both medications. When it rains it pours. The lady I got the chicks from is horrible. Filthy conditions. No one really had coop ready pullets and i was desperate. She had given me a chick that I'm convinced was a cockerel. It was also much older than the other chicks I had and had pecked them pretty good so I'm dealing with minor injuries to their beaks and combs. Luckily she let me trade that one for another Orpington pullet and the chicks seem much quieter. None of the chicks are acting sick yet and are all eating and drinking so hopefully the round of Corrid and then after 5 days doing the ACV in their water will clear things all up.

 

[MrsBrooke]

You should treat ALL the birds with Corid.

Coccidiosis can be carried by hair, skin, clothing, equipment, and good intentions.

Sorry for all your troubles.

MrsB

 

[ndjili]

So I began Corid treatments. Sadly the chicks were on deaths door 24 hours after I began Corid. Started giving the plain yogurt as well and it's been 24 hours since I started giving them yogurt to eat (still on Corid). Today the chicks look do much better. They're up and around and not puffed up and eating well. I'm hoping that with a lot of good care they'll continue to get better. I started the hens on Corid yesterday. Hopefully they'll stay safe. My Orpington Cupcake is healing miraculously well. Her feathers are already starting to grow back and she's her old self.. And is even laying eggs (can't eat them due to the meds but at least they're laying). Crossing my fingers. Been so stressful all around.