operation: SAVE A CHICKEN! *HELP*

[rehric00]

Meet Medusa. She is one of the higher hens on the pecking order and my husband found her injured today. I'm not sure if she was attacked today or yesterday (I'm assuming it was the neighbors cats or dogs). Yesterday the neigh bors dogs were running loose but I didn't hear any squaking during the time they were out...

Either way we found her lying down not moving much inside the coop with a 2x3inch gash under her left wing. She was breathing fine so I decided to spare her life and attepmt to heal her.... here is what I've done...

Took a plastic tote and put some clean leaves in it (going to pick up some fresh shavings on my way to work tonight)
Covered the leaves w a clean towel
Used a mild soap and water combo to try and get as much blood off as I could (still pretty bloody tho, she was hurting and I wanted to give her a break)

I cut away some feathers for easier access to the area

I used some clean gauze and betadine to clean it out

Put aanother clean gauze with antibiotic ointment on the area (her wing holds it down nicely)


I have her in the house (smelly!) But she has been drinking a lot. Not sire if she's eaten the food I just have her or not.

Anything else I should be doing? What do u think her chance of survival is? She's my only buff and I'd hate to loose her

 

[GoldenChicks16]

You should rinse it out and attempt to stitch her up.. I know it sounds painful but I just guided someone else through how to do it and the gash is much bigger than this one. This line to that post is below:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/840628/anyone-ever-sew-a-chicken-back-together
Is the wound smelling at all? That could indicate infection.. You would also want to start her on an antibiotic to get rid of any infection that could start growing and living inside of her.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not try stitching together a dirty bite wound. It would do better to heal from the inside out even though it is deep. Apply antibiotic ointment such as neosporin or polysporin daily to keep it moist.

 

[rehric00]

Just a long overdue update- my hen lived

I placed a gauze dressing with antibiotic cream on it and changed it frequently for a few days... then if got pusey and gross- i thought she was done for. so then i just took the dressing off for good and sprayed bactine on it several times a day. The other hens did not want to accept her and were picking on her.. i thought "oh great- they know shes dying"... but i exposed her to them a little more each day until one day i just left her out... she healed up just fine. i even saw her in a nesting box the yesterday... i wonder if she started laying again?? I hope so- she was one of my best layers!