My girl was attacked help!!!

[UltimateElektra]

Hi found one of my girls this morning out of her coop, she was clearly attacked while I was not home. Im wondering what is best to treat these wounds with. I have already cleaned out with wound flush ans she had a soak in epsom salt. She also has a large gash on her neck. I couldn't get a photo.

 

[LoveMyPeepers]

those wounds look pretty bad, we don't usually treat our chickens , so advice from others would probably help, but you should put some Neosporin on at least

 

[CabritaChicks]

I am looking at the amount of pin feathers- to actual feather ratio- seems a bit strange, is threre some crazy molt? (could be a underlying condition that made the bird suspetible).

For chickens with wounds, the safest and easiest option is diluted Betadine (povidone-iodine) or a hypochlorous-acid spray like Vetericyn. Both disinfect gently without stinging or harming tissue, and they help prevent infection while allowing the wound to breathe. Start by flushing the area with clean water or saline to remove dirt, then dab or spray with diluted Betadine (tea-colored, not dark brown) or Vetericyn, and let it air dry. Personally I avoid chlorhexidine —it can irritate some birds’ skin profoundly and definitely not good for open wounds on chickens (mammals is questionable per amount and weight). Harsh products like hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or anything with “-caine” pain relievers (like neosporin with pain relief), as those can burn tissue or poison birds.

Apply, once or twice a day until the wound heals, and separate the bird if others might peck at the injury. I am concerned wiht the images however, something seems amiss- especially around the vent.

What do you think the attack was?
(feline requires antibiotics).

 

[azygous]

She's a lucky one to have survived, even with a large wound. My guess is a hawk missed its target of her neck, usually breaking it, and strafed her back instead. I had a pullet once survive such a near miss.

You've gotten right on the wound treatment. Good job. Now, you must clean the wounds each day and keep them covered in an antibacterial ointment or manuka honey to keep them from drying out as new tissue grows inward from the edges. This will nourish the new cell growth and keep the bacteria from growing.

Large wounds can take up to six weeks to close over and complete healing. She should be good as new again.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Honey has only mild antiseptic properties, can actually encourage feather or wound picking, and may carry pathogens—so I generally discourage its use on chickens.

 

[azygous]

"According to research, Manuka honey contains more potent antibacterial activity than regular honey due to the presence of methylglyoxal. This antibacterial activity contributes to the medicinal properties that make it great for healing wounds, burns, coughs, colds, and other applications". https://www.beesandtrees.com/blogs/...GgFT2VZ6Vv6uLo3Vd1jk2mEtWSFKh17N2TIfsACxXEd_n

 

[McChooky]

By the amount of pin feathers she has it looks like she lost a lot of feathers recently.Was she attacked before?

 

[CabritaChicks]

"According to research, Manuka honey contains more potent antibacterial activity than regular honey due to the presence of methylglyoxal. This antibacterial activity contributes to the medicinal properties that make it great for healing wounds, burns, coughs, colds, and other applications". https://www.beesandtrees.com/blogs/...GgFT2VZ6Vv6uLo3Vd1jk2mEtWSFKh17N2TIfsACxXEd_n

I wanna be gentle when I answer this. But any site that sells a product and selectively chooses very specific general articles (and debunked studies out of context) to promote a product – I stay away from. Because for one of their anecdotal reporters that I can show you 100 more that are against it.

I studied eastern medicine in Asia and work with people in Australia and even they can say that compared to a normal antiseptic honey will promote feather plucking because it taste delicious so it’s gonna open up a wound. And the antiseptic wall that qualities are low-medium level at very best but still can carry bacteria. OK.

Furthermore, any site that has pop-ups that says ‘take our three minute quiz and get 15% off your purchase’ – I automatically don’t care what they say. So if you love it and you use it – then that’s fine. I just don’t recommend it to any clients in clinic or otherwise.

 

[UltimateElektra]

Thanks everyone. She is going through a hard molt. Thats why so many pin feathers. She is literally covered in them i feel terrible for having to even handle her right now. I found more wounds on her side. Looks more like a dog bite from the spacing of them. Her vent was also ripped at one side.

I am picking up more wound spray and povidone-iodine right now, there is no Vetericyn at any local TSC right now.

I also only have doxy for antibiotics. Should i start her on that.

She seems totally fine. Eating and drinking and talking to me.

 

[coach723]

I do think those are survivable wounds (pictures of the neck wound would be good) as long as you prevent infection. Is she going through a hard molt? If she's molting then less likely she's laying, which would be a good thing right now since the vent does look like it has some damage. I would keep an eye on that area as it heals, and then a close eye on her when she starts laying to make sure that there are not issues with that when she resumes laying.
You can get chlorhexidine at any pharmacy or Walmart etc. as Hibiclens, which is very good for cleaning wounds. I would cover the wounds with ointment, neosporin, polysporin, plain triple antibiotic oiintment, etc after cleaning, and reapply as needed. If you want to start an oral antibiotic, amoxicillin would be better. You can get that as a fish antibiotic online without prescription as Fish Mox or Aqua Mox. Dose for that is 57 mg per pound of body weight twice a day for 5 days. It's good that she's eating and drinking and acting well. I would also watch the vent for droppings sticking and clean that up as needed since there is a wound there.