Oh boy – Rooster with an open wound... (Now with pics *Gruesome*)

[wordgirl]

Okay, here we go. Sorry I didn't get these on sooner – I got a little sidetracked while waiting for the laptop to charge so I could take it downstairs.

What do you think? I never washed it – my Mom thought it might be best to just leave it. Should we try to wash it now, or does it look okay?

Thank you everyone for all your help, and thanks, nature nut, for finding all that information for me. That was very nice of you.

 

[chick818]

Clean it up for sure with something that can help fight/prevent infection. Infections can set in so easily and I do think I see some puss in there. My hen had a gash in her (not sure from what) any how it took a couple of days before it started to turn a blackish color. Definetly keep it clean and apply some regular neosporin, not the one with pain releif just plain average neosporin. Try to keep the flies away from the wound too if possible. If you don't have anything to clean, just some warm water and gauze or cotton balls and gently wipe or maybe irrigate it a bit.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Also, take a whif of it every day. you know, sniff it. Infection has a distinct odor.

I would consider getting injectable penicilin from your feed store (usually about $10) to help him fight off infection.

And yes, i would still clean that wound, and DEFINITELY put antibiotic ointment on it.

 

[Serrin]

I am by no means an expert on this, so take this snippet of free advice for what it's worth.

First, the suggestion of making your own sterile saline solution is an excellent one. You need something to irrigate the wound. A further suggestion on that score would be to sterilize (boil for a few minutes in water) whatever container you intend to use. A dish soap bottle will work just fine for this purpose.

Neosporin is also a very good move. The easiest way to apply the topical cream is with cotton tipped swabs. This is of course, after you have fully and thoroughly irrigated the wound site. You'll want to flush out as much of the wound as you can.

I'd suggest using every bit of that quart recipe on this wound. There's no such thing as getting it too clean. You can dry the whole area with sterile gauze pads (available at any pharmacy or drug store) after you've flushed the wound with the saline solution.

Once the wound is dry and clean, apply the Neosporin generously. Try to keep from applying this to the surrounding area as it will prevent a successful completion of the next step.

Finally, once you have the wound clean and treated with the Neosporin, cover this whole bit of nastiness with a sterile gauze pad and bandage tape. You can aquire both at the same time you purchase the sterile gauze pads. Tape the gauze pad down just around the edges of the pad. You don't need to wrap the entire bird.

If you cannot obtain the bandage tape, use a series of regular band-aide strips to secure the gauze pad.

If it were me, I'd keep the roo isolated until such time as the wound has closed up or scabbed over. This will help prevent the other birds in your flock from pecking at it and thus further stressing your roo. He has enough on his plate right now without becoming "hen pecked"

If you've already lost one bird to this predator and have wounds on a second, you might really want to put together a good first aid kit for yourself. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. And let's face it, accidents and injuries don't always wait for convenient hours to happen.

I think I'd be looking around real hard for what caused this whole incident, because that wound absolutely looks like some kind of predatory attack to me! Have you any ideas?

 

[Danigirl3]

Hope he's doing better. You always want to make sure you clean out a wound. I would do it at least once a day if it's uncovered until it starts to heal over. Ditto on the neo.

 

[M@M@2four]

First off, I am SO sorry for your loss!!!

Now onto your wonded little guy--believe me, I've seen worse! Clean it with a salt saline or peroxide and then LATHER the area with Neosporin, so flies stay out of it. Clean and re-apply the Neosporin daily till it is gone! Most likely he will be fine!!

 

[M@M@2four]

meant to add---I would leave the wound uncovered so it has a chance to breathe and dry out as it's healing!

 

[Serrin]

M@M@2four :

meant to add---I would leave the wound uncovered so it has a chance to breathe and dry out as it's healing!

Which is why I recommended the use of gauze.

It will allow the wound to breathe while at the same time keep out dirt, debris and maggot flies! None of which anyone wants in an open wound!

I'm not disparaging your remark. Just trying to convey my reasoning for covering the wound. As they say, a wound heals better if it's covered longer.....​

 

[nature nut]

your welcome word girl. Keep us posted on his progress. And that idea on using a dish liquid bottle as an irrigation device...priceless! I'm going to have to save one for that.

 

[wordgirl]

Okay – almost 48 hours since I first found him hurt. He seems to be doing well – still eating and crowing. I washed his wound yesterday with a saline solution and then put neosporin on it. When I went to look at it this morning, some of the bruised places had some greenish parts. I'm hoping this is just bruising and not infection?

I put him in with the girls for a bit – I stayed in there to make sure they didn't gang up on him and hurt him. They picked at it a little, but he moved if they got annoying. He mounted one of the girls and danced for a few of them before I put him back in the kennel. Just a few minutes ago I let the girls out of the coop to go outside and he seemed VERY annoyed that HE had to stay inside. Poor guy. Do you think he's doing well?