Mama Hen Badly Hurt

[MelaniaD12]

Peroxide may be OK for the first initial cleaning only as it can destroy heatlhy tissue too.
Other cleansers are safer.....

I used the vertimicin from TS. It’s been great and I have her in the garage secluded and I sprinkled coffee grounds around her bin to help ward off ants. She’s doing a good job keeping the flies away. The wound has a layer of dried skin. So hopefully healing can begin. She’s not putting much pressure on her foot but she’s trying.

 

[MelaniaD12]

Is she eating and drinking and pooping ok?
Doesn't really matter what did it.
Is the skin gone or just all the feathers?

The skin was gone. It’s like something grabbed her from the back and yanked. All her feathers and a layer of skin is gone. It looks pretty bad. Worried about the feathers coming back. We have a LGD but she’s only 6 months old so not protecting yet. More worried the rooster may have got her but seems unlikely since the other girls are okay.

 

[Mr Beaks]

So sorry this happened to you! For what it's worth it seems she's in good hands. I'm not sure what animal did this but I am confident that is wasn't your rooster. Roosters can cause balding when they overmate a hen but nothing like what we see here.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you use some plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment on her wounds after spraying the Vetricyn twice a day. The skin may heal better if it is kept moist with the ointment. Current pictures are welcome. Glad that she is alive and doing okay.

 

[MrsTad]

we locked the girls up last night and assumed Bennie Sue was in the back. She wasn’t. Went out this morning to let them out and she’s laying by a tree with half her back missing. I took her in the garage and rinsed the wound with warm water and covered the entire area with neosporin. I’ve secluded her with water and food. Pretty sure she’s in shock. What else can I do to ease her pain? I have no idea what got her . Will she make it? She’s breathing fine but as you can see she’s in pretty bad shape. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrsTad]

Had a similar event about 2 months ago. Actually had to do some sutures , as my hens entire tail end was drooping and back was flapped open . Not an expert by any means. Cleaned wound thoroughly with saline irrigation and peroxide. Applied Microcyn antimicriobial spray several times a day, kept her segregated ( in the house in a dog kennel) for about 3 days. First day very quiet not eating drinking much...pretty well in shock, but about half way through second day doing better, gave some lytes in her water and extra protein in her feed. I think i repeated irrigation and peroxide day 2. (Just to make sure clean). Kept her clean and used the antimicrobrial spray several times per day. She was raring to go by day 4 and I let her out in gen. pop. ( I sprayed all open areas with Blukote, so the other girls wouldnt peck at her). I tried one of those hen capes, but the one i had was too big on her. After a few days, she was starting to scab over along incision line (could have used a few more sutures), so I'd rinse off entire back with warm water and check for infection/flies etc. Almost daily for about a week and then cut back after that. She really did great. Feathers are now filling in. Wish I would have got a pic when she was flapped open before my nurse skills took over. She was a trooper, didn't miss a beat laying when I had her segregated. I took the opportunity to give the flock a little extra protein and added some electrolytes to the water. Good luck! Chickens are super resilient! Still not sure what got mine, it was as if something tried to lift her up by the tail feathers or back.... we live in rural north Texas, so there is no telling.

 

[MelaniaD12]

Had a similar event about 2 months ago. Actually had to do some sutures , as my hens entire tail end was drooping and back was flapped open . Not an expert by any means. Cleaned wound thoroughly with saline irrigation and peroxide. Applied Microcyn antimicriobial spray several times a day, kept her segregated ( in the house in a dog kennel) for about 3 days. First day very quiet not eating drinking much...pretty well in shock, but about half way through second day doing better, gave some lytes in her water and extra protein in her feed. I think i repeated irrigation and peroxide day 2. (Just to make sure clean). Kept her clean and used the antimicrobrial spray several times per day. She was raring to go by day 4 and I let her out in gen. pop. ( I sprayed all open areas with Blukote, so the other girls wouldnt peck at her). I tried one of those hen capes, but the one i had was too big on her. After a few days, she was starting to scab over along incision line (could have used a few more sutures), so I'd rinse off entire back with warm water and check for infection/flies etc. Almost daily for about a week and then cut back after that. She really did great. Feathers are now filling in. Wish I would have got a pic when she was flapped open before my nurse skills took over. She was a trooper, didn't miss a beat laying when I had her segregated. I took the opportunity to give the flock a little extra protein and added some electrolytes to the water. Good luck! Chickens are super resilient! Still not sure what got mine, it was as if something tried to lift her up by the tail feathers or back.... we live in rural north Texas, so there is no telling.

Oh wow! That looks exactly like my Bennie Sues wound! It’s awesome to know she has a chance of feathers coming back! This is a pic of my girl this morning. She’s on the mend! Thank you for sharing!

 

[MelaniaD12]

Can you use some plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment on her wounds after spraying the Vetricyn twice a day. The skin may heal better if it is kept moist with the ointment. Current pictures are welcome. Glad that she is alive and doing okay.

This is her wounds as of this morning. I’ve been spraying the vetricyn 2-3 times per day. She seems to be on the mend. She can’t fully walk yet. Not sure if it’s bc she’s missing her feathers or if her leg is injured. It’s like something grabbed her and tried to pull her up or away

 

[Eggcessive]

That is looking much improved. Her wound should completely heal over, but it may take some time. Hopefully, her leg will get better. She may benefit from seeing her other flock members for some supervised visits, since that can help them to stay familiar with her. Sometimes when they are out of the flock for more than a week, they may get attacked or pecked by the others. But her wound would need to be covered if she is with them. Or she could spend time with them inside a wire dog crate.

I have made some polarfleece hen saddles out of one piece of material that slip over the wings and is held on. A 7x9 inch piece of stretchy material with a couple of 2 inch wing slits is all that is needed. Here is someone’s link that has a similar design:
http://www.linnacresfarm.com/2014/04/how-to-make-simple-hen-saddleapron.html

 

[aart]

She can’t fully walk yet.

Have you checked her legs for wounds?

Or she could spend time with them inside a wire dog crate.

This^^^