Open, Infected Sore on Breastbone

[arast]

Hi there – yesterday one of my hens, Delores, started limping. I picked her up and looked at her feet and noticed that she had two perfect examples of bumble foot - one on the center of each foot pad. Then I examined all of my other chickens and found one more, Ladybug/LB, who had three spots of bumble foot on both feet. Two on one toe and the other, less progressed than D’s, on the pad of the other foot. I applied PRID and wrapped all four feet and isolated the girls so they could be quiet and heal. Today while changing the dressing on LB, I noticed that she had matted feathers on her chest. I trimmed them away and exposed a hole about the size of a dime, full of pus and infection and crusted over. I cleaned it as best I could, sprayed it with peroxide a couple of times, and filled the hole with Neosporin. I tried to bandage it to no avail, so it remains open. I moved her to a separate enclosure so she is by herself. I don’t really know what to do with all of this. I will post a picture, but I’m just so discouraged. I am fastidious about keeping my chicken’s living area clean, cleaning about three times a day on most days. The bedding is dry shavings, the run, which houses four chickens, is 16 x 16 and is filled with sand as footing. They get good food, fresh water, and get free range time regularly.

First, what on earth am I doing wrong? Second, what can I do for this poor bird to help her heal that chest wound? Thank you so much for any advice you can give me.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Separate her from the flock first off if you haven't already. Make a Saline rinse (Boil salt and water for ten minutes, let completely cool, then use.) and gently poor it on the wound 1-2 times a day. Apply either Neosporin with pain reliver or Bag Balm after you use the Saline rinse. Keep her separated in an always clean kennel until she heals, keeping a close eye on it.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I read your post and it sounds like you're doing everything right. Things like chest injuries and other injuries are just a part of chicken keeping. If you have drained all the puss, just follow my instructions above. Peroxide is good, but not to be overused. Use the Saline rinse for further cleaning. Too much Peroxide will eat away the skin cells. Clean it 1-2 times a day reapplying the Neosporin after every cleaning. She should be fine once she's healed. Good thing you caught this when you did, I had a really bad case of a chest injury on one of my birds once. It wasn't pretty.

 

[arast]

Separate her from the flock first off if you haven't already. Make a Saline rinse (Boil salt and water for ten minutes, let completely cool, then use.) and gently poor it on the wound 1-2 times a day. Apply either Neosporin with pain reliver or Bag Balm after you use the Saline rinse. Keep her separated in an always clean kennel until she heals, keeping a close eye on it.

Thank you. How much salt to how much water? I appreciate the advice. Have you seen chickens heal from wounds like this before? Also, is there a way to nutritionally support her while she heals?

 

[arast]

I read your post and it sounds like you're doing everything right. Things like chest injuries and other injuries are just a part of chicken keeping. If you have drained all the puss, just follow my instructions above. Peroxide is good, but not to be overused. Use the Saline rinse for further cleaning. Too much Peroxide will eat away the skin cells. Clean it 1-2 times a day reapplying the Neosporin after every cleaning. She should be fine once she's healed. Good thing you caught this when you did, I had a really bad case of a chest injury on one of my birds once. It wasn't pretty.

okay- that’s good news. What a relief- thank you! Re:”really bad case”, does that mean it can be worse than that?!? It was alarming... not pretty, indeed . I’m torn between thinking it’s gross and thinking it’s fascinating. Fascinating won out today. Than you so much for weighing in. It’s nice to have a community to bounce things off of.

 

[bgmathteach]

okay- that’s good news. What a relief- thank you! Re:”really bad case”, does that mean it can be worse than that?!? It was alarming... not pretty, indeed . I’m torn between thinking it’s gross and thinking it’s fascinating. Fascinating won out today. Than you so much for weighing in. It’s nice to have a community to bounce things off of.

Chickens are AMAZING healers if you give them the chance. I am always amazed as how quickly they heal (sooo fast compared to us, but then, in the wild, it is either heal or die.)

And, yes, it can be way worse than that if not caught in time. I've unfortunately seen a couple of neglected animals - including hens - that I couldn't believe were still alive. With good treatment/care, they healed and thrived

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Thank you. How much salt to how much water? I appreciate the advice. Have you seen chickens heal from wounds like this before? Also, is there a way to nutritionally support her while she heals?

I, actually don't know.... I think I usually sprinkle it over the pot. Maybe I should look into that... . Looked it up, 2 teaspoons to one quart of water. Yes. My hen healed up well considering. I didn't give her anything extra. Didn't know I was supposed to. When I dealed with it on my hen, I didn't know about BYC yet, and was getting advice from my aunt who dealt with things like that on her cats.

okay- that’s good news. What a relief- thank you! Re:”really bad case”, does that mean it can be worse than that?!? It was alarming... not pretty, indeed . I’m torn between thinking it’s gross and thinking it’s fascinating. Fascinating won out today. Than you so much for weighing in. It’s nice to have a community to bounce things off of.

Yes. I didn't catch my hen's injury when it first happened, I found out about it later. Her whole chest was painfully swollen. Me and my Mom worked together to get it drained, and boy, puke city! It was DISGUSTING! I wasn't calling it fascinating at all, but very, very gross. The hen healed up well, thankfully.

 

[arast]

I, actually don't know.... I think I usually sprinkle it over the pot. Maybe I should look into that... . Looked it up, 2 teaspoons to one quart of water. Yes. My hen healed up well considering. I didn't give her anything extra. Didn't know I was supposed to. When I dealed with it on my hen, I didn't know about BYC yet, and was getting advice from my aunt who dealt with things like that on her cats.

Yes. I didn't catch my hen's injury when it first happened, I found out about it later. Her whole chest was painfully swollen. Me and my Mom worked together to get it drained, and boy, puke city! It was DISGUSTING! I wasn't calling it fascinating at all, but very, very gross. The hen healed up well, thankfully.

Wow! Well I’m glad I caught it when I did. And I am SO grateful for the BYC community. And also much more appreciative of the farmers who’s living depends on animals staying healthy. I can’t even begin to imagine doing this on a large scale. Thank you for the saline recipe, too. I would have gone overboard on the salt. Speaking of salt, I’m off to the salt mines shortly so better run! Thank you again! Have an awesome day!

 

[arast]

Chickens are AMAZING healers if you give them the chance. I am always amazed as how quickly they heal (sooo fast compared to us, but then, in the wild, it is either heal or die.)

And, yes, it can be way worse than that if not caught in time. I've unfortunately seen a couple of neglected animals - including hens - that I couldn't believe were still alive. With good treatment/care, they healed and thrived

Thank you

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Great advice! Just curious what kind of roosts do you have?