Open wound to bone on back, bully rooster?

[emeraldgreen]

This may sound gruesome and awful but you may need to remove some of that black stuff around the edge. You want to make sure it's not dead tissue. Soaking with a warm rag to soften anything that will come off and remove it. Then see how the tissue looks. It could be funny colored from bruising but black tissue is dead and no good.

Thanks flying nun. This was before I cleaned it, I got off a bit of the dark gunk off with salty water. It actually looked fairly good underneath (I was worried about maggots but no sign). I’ll give it a better go tomorrow, she started getting a bit stressed, and it’s obviously painful.

 

[emeraldgreen]

I had a rooster (Douglas)who was mean to a certain hen (Nalla). One day I found my hen Nalla with a big hole in her back that was about to her spine and a hole in her neck that left a good lot of skin just hanging. I thought it was the hens doing it to Nalla and separated her rate away. She had a big bald spot on her back for she was a rooster's favorite. I cleaned her up the best I could an put her in a dark coop. This caused her to molt. Within a month or two new feathers grew in and she was healed. I still didn't realize that Douglas was mean for I never heard of a rooster mean to hens. I put Nalla back in with Douglas and discovered that she was scared to death of Douglas. Douglas was able to get to Nalla and he went after her neck and pecked at her neck until he drew blood. That was the last time Nalla ever saw Douglas or Douglas saw that flock of hens.His son José was better with the hens, but was not good with people. I now got a New Hampshire rooster, Duke, who I hope does better than Douglas or his son José.

I don't know if roosters attacking their hens is common or not, but I have had my experiences with one. Once he has gone after one hen he will go after another. Douglas went after my hen Mia after Nalla was removed from the flock.

I do know now that if you find some abandoned rooster somewhere that just because he does not have a disease doesn't mean that something is wrong with him.

Douglas' daughters was the only the only good thing that came from that EE cross rooster.

I hope your hen feels better soon. You should put her in a dark coop so she stops laying and goes into a molt. New feathers will cover up any bold spots. Your hen may even peck at her own wounds. A dark coop will cause her also not to see her wounds as much. Bag balm should work on her. It has worked on plenty of my hens. Try to bandage her up a little so she doesn't get anything in her wounds. She may try to take a dust bath. That may cause her wounds to get infected. Bag balm will help get infection out and help prevent infection.

Good thing you're getting rid of that rooster! And good luck with your hen.

Thanks lacy. She is free ranging at the mo, happy to be on her own. She did peck at the wound when I was cleaning it and this worried me, but I managed to distract her with food. She’s also dustbathing so I am concerned about that too. I thought bandaging her up would be a good idea but how would I do that?

 

[emeraldgreen]

I definitely think wound spray like veterycin is in order. I think you will need to keep it a bit moist while it heals, possibly with a bandage and/or antibiotic ointment. I think she can recover from this, but you will need to be diligent with watching for infection. Good luck and keep us posted!

Any ideas on how to bandage it up? We are in the middle of a long weekend here so will need to wait a couple of days before I can get an ointment, hoping the balm I made will suffice for now

 

[emeraldgreen]

I cleaned her wound before she went to bed. She is in obvious pain and put a bandage on. She didn’t seem to worried by the bandage and hasn’t pecked at it so fingers crossed it works

 

[NevilChick]

Do keep a close watch on her. My rooster is very big and apparently hurt my hen in the same way when mating. I'm sad to say I thought I had her healed, but she did die. I since learned that sometimes big roosters have to be removed some of the time to give the hen a break, especially if only one. I agree with what everyone else has said about treatment. I keep antibiotic ointment in the hatching house for any injuries I may have in my birds. I hope that your hen will not develop an infection. You may be able to use an ointment with pain reliever to help her a little. I think your bandage is great and if she didn't bother it already maybe she will let it stay on overnight and keep the area clean. Hope she feels much better tomorrow!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I can't say enough about the healing benefits of honey. Since you're already onboard with herbal treatments, raw local honey would be an affordable way to carry this wound all the way through to complete healing.

I knew nothing about deadened black skin when I treated my rooster who was attacked by a coyote five weeks ago and only trimmed torn flaps of gummed up skin to tidy the wound, not because of any harm it could bring him. I coated his numerous deep wounds, including a body cavity puncture, with honey, and by the end of the next day I could see signs of healing.

The wounds widened as the skin began to heal. The pulling back was alarming, but the honey prevented infection, and gradually scabbing began to form and new tissue started filling in and closing the wounds. The skin discoloration was alarming, but I was assured it was probably just bruising, and sure enough that's exactly what it was.

You mentioned a saline solution. Do you have epsom salts? A warm bath or flooding the wound with an epsom salt solution daily will partner well with the honey. I didn't do any bandaging and left the wounds exposed, and no stitching. Honey is sticky and not so fun with feathers, but it's water soluble and easily washes off in a bath.

I've documented my experience in a discussion here if you'd like to learn more. I used Manuka honey, but I've seen research and other healing successes where raw honey was used, which is much more affordable.

 

[OG Anomaly]

I cleaned her wound before she went to bed. She is in obvious pain and put a bandage on. She didn’t seem to worried by the bandage and hasn’t pecked at it so fingers crossed it works View attachment 1189540View attachment 1189541

I'm sorry your hen is hurt & that you have to get rid of your roo.

Nice job on the bandaging though
Sounds like you're doing fine, keeping an eye out for infection and flies.
I would also agree that she should kept out of the dustbath, until she heals up more.
A small dog cage/kennel is great for keeping an injured bird separate and at hand for care.
I've also seen people use diluted aspirin water, but you can only do this for three days. I did it once for an injured chicken, but some people don't recommend it, so that's up to you. Maybe you could make some and only give it to her when you work on her wound?
Good luck!

 

[emeraldgreen]

I can't say enough about the healing benefits of honey. Since you're already onboard with herbal treatments, raw local honey would be an affordable way to carry this wound all the way through to complete healing.

I knew nothing about deadened black skin when I treated my rooster who was attacked by a coyote five weeks ago and only trimmed torn flaps of gummed up skin to tidy the wound, not because of any harm it could bring him. I coated his numerous deep wounds, including a body cavity puncture, with honey, and by the end of the next day I could see signs of healing.

The wounds widened as the skin began to heal. The pulling back was alarming, but the honey prevented infection, and gradually scabbing began to form and new tissue started filling in and closing the wounds. The skin discoloration was alarming, but I was assured it was probably just bruising, and sure enough that's exactly what it was.

You mentioned a saline solution. Do you have epsom salts? A warm bath or flooding the wound with an epsom salt solution daily will partner well with the honey. I didn't do any bandaging and left the wounds exposed, and no stitching. Honey is sticky and not so fun with feathers, but it's water soluble and easily washes off in a bath.

I've documented my experience in a discussion here if you'd like to learn more. I used Manuka honey, but I've seen research and other healing successes where raw honey was used, which is much more affordable.

Thank you! Very useful info! I might try honey then. I do have Epsom salts also, I never thought to use those.
I’m glad your roo was ok

 

[emeraldgreen]

I'm sorry your hen is hurt & that you have to get rid of your roo.

Nice job on the bandaging though
Sounds like you're doing fine, keeping an eye out for infection and flies.
I would also agree that she should kept out of the dustbath, until she heals up more.
A small dog cage/kennel is great for keeping an injured bird separate and at hand for care.
I've also seen people use diluted aspirin water, but you can only do this for three days. I did it once for an injured chicken, but some people don't recommend it, so that's up to you. Maybe you could make some and only give it to her when you work on her wound?
Good luck!

I feel bad keeping her confined she’s out in the shed for the night, and comes when called for treatment. Aspirin seems a good idea. The balm I use is an analgesic but the salt washes hurt so I will keep it in mind. Thanks heaps

 

[emeraldgreen]

Do keep a close watch on her. My rooster is very big and apparently hurt my hen in the same way when mating. I'm sad to say I thought I had her healed, but she did die. I since learned that sometimes big roosters have to be removed some of the time to give the hen a break, especially if only one. I agree with what everyone else has said about treatment. I keep antibiotic ointment in the hatching house for any injuries I may have in my birds. I hope that your hen will not develop an infection. You may be able to use an ointment with pain reliever to help her a little. I think your bandage is great and if she didn't bother it already maybe she will let it stay on overnight and keep the area clean. Hope she feels much better tomorrow!

That’s sad, I’m sorry to hear that