My hen is dying!

[BauerWFarm]

I found my Wyandotte, Lucille this morning laying on her side in the run….. she is dying….. and I don’t understand what really happened… she had been broody, her first time, and it was cute broody, unlike my others lol….. but I noticed this weekend her isolating herself…. And resting in odd places… I

I ALWAYS am very thorough with checking my hens…. Idk how this got by me, but I found her with a lot of poop on her… I immediately did a warm soak and clean her so I could see what the issue was…. As I was cleaning I also found a huge ulcer, but I think it’s a result of skin irritation from the feces…. She is sleeping now, lethargic, lost weight… idk if she is able to saved…. I need advice!!! Please!!

I have added a photo of the ulceration

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Spray it with Vetericyn and treat for shock with sugar water if she is drinking. @Eggcessive @azygous @Wyorp Rock

 

[BauerWFarm]

Spray it with Vetericyn and treat for shock with sugar water if she is drinking. @Eggcessive @azygous @Wyorp Rock

I can try… she isn’t really drinking at the moment but I think the bath and blow dry helped her feel a little better… prior to this she has been broody… her first time actually, but I was able to break it… that could also be the result of weight loss… but I just don’t know about this… if it’s gangrene or able to heal…. She is just over two years old

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Okay, I'll tag a few more people who know a lot more than me. @Jenbirdee @SmiYa0126 @luckycluk

 

[MarlaMac]

If she is not drinking, offer some of the sugar water to her beak in an eye dropper (cup water, tsp sugar, pinch of salt, pinch of baking soda is the recipe I see on here often - you can search for more information on this in the search bar). Just place a drop or two on her beak. Since it is sweet, it might entice her to drink more of the fluid. Your first goal must be to get her taking in fluids. If she doesn't readily take it, offer it to her beak often.

You can also try a little watermelon. It is almost all water and has an array of electrolytes (which the sugar water imitates).

Check the wound thoroughly to make sure the flies have not laid eggs which have hatched in the wound. They will continue to work their way into the hen's tissues and eventually kill her if they are not removed. Use a turkey baster to flush the wound thoroughly. If you have clorhexidine, use that otherwise, use a salt water mixture. Once you are convinced there are not maggot in the wound, pat dry and apply non-pain reliever triple antibiotic ointment to the wound. Keep the wound clean and moist with the antibiotic ointment. A moist wound will heal, a dry wound will have troubles.

Once she is drinking, offer her food. Regular feed wetted down into a mush is usually very appealing to chickens. If she won't eat that, try a poached or hard cooked egg.

Does the wound smell? If so, you have an infection and might want to seek antibiotics for her. I am not sure what antibiotics would be best, so I will tag someone who might. @Wyorp Rock any suggestions? Thank you.

Keep her separated in a darkened, quiet spot so she can rest and recover.