Owl Attack -Missing large patch of skin (size of quarter) on head. Help.

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the support and the help. I picked up some betadine - going to try and locate the puncture under the wing and spray it along with the head.
Edit: found the wound under the wing - very small on the wing muscle /bone.

Going to keep her inside until we get some healing and then by then I hope to have that blue spray which will hopefully let her go out with her buddies. Luckily she’s the dominant hen so no one really bugs her - just don’t like the idea of an open wound in a dusty coop with potential mosquitos etc.

Worse than mosquitos are flies.

I would not put her out full time until she is healed.

Is there a way you can make her a safe shady spot in the run so she will still be part of the flock?
By shady I mean fully shaded.

 

[Eggcessive]

Wrong thread maybe?

Yes, wrong thread, LOL. Thanks.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yes, wrong thread, LOL. Thanks.

Thought maybe I was losing my mind.

 

[cliffoco]

Worse than mosquitos are flies.

I would not put her out full time until she is healed.

Is there a way you can make her a safe shady spot in the run so she will still be part of the flock?
By shady I mean fully shaded.

Her flock mainly consist of 2 other hens - I will probably just bring the others inside for a bit to let them socialize. I have 5 other newer chickens but she’s still in the hate them all phase.

Good point on the sun - that would be pretty bad on new skin / raw skin I guess. Thanks!!

 

[azygous]

Your hen's head wound is identical to my hen's. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bad-roo-poor-hen-lightening-strikes-twice.1308349/ The important thing is to keep the wound moist with topical ointment until it heals.

I left my hen in her run, safe from the rooster, and her wound healed very nicely. This was in spite of her insisting on taking a dirt bath right after I would clean her wound and put fresh ointment on it each day. After a while, I just ignored it when she would cake dirt on it, and it healed up well in spite of the dirt.

One thing I learned was to leave any stray skin flaps instead of trimming them. I laid the flap over the raw wound, "gluing" it down with an extra glop of antibiotic ointment. This was in effect a skin graft, and it helped heal the wound in half the time.

 

[cliffoco]

Your hen's head wound is identical to my hen's. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bad-roo-poor-hen-lightening-strikes-twice.1308349/ The important thing is to keep the wound moist with topical ointment until it heals.

I left my hen in her run, safe from the rooster, and her wound healed very nicely. This was in spite of her insisting on taking a dirt bath right after I would clean her wound and put fresh ointment on it each day. After a while, I just ignored it when she would cake dirt on it, and it healed up well in spite of the dirt.

One thing I learned was to leave any stray skin flaps instead of trimming them. I laid the flap over the raw wound, "gluing" it down with an extra glop of antibiotic ointment. This was in effect a skin graft, and it helped heal the wound in half the time.

When you say keep it moist - would this be above and beyond the antiseptic spray?
I am thinking spray then try to put some polysporn on it (to keep it moist) based on this comment?
thanks!

 

[azygous]

Yes, precisely that. The ointment keeps bacteria from getting to the healing tissue, of course, but it also seals it from the air drying the wound. Tissue must be kept hydrated as it grows new cells.

I was lax when I cared for my wounded hen when she was a small chick and had a similar head wound. I let it dry out when it was around two-thirds healed. It stopped growing new tissue and remained the same size until I noticed my mistake and started daily wound care again. Then the wound picked up speed again and closed all the way up.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Please keep us posted on her recovery

 

[cliffoco]

Update:
It’s been about 48 hours - she is still eating and drinking and laying an egg each morning.

Her head wound has not changed, maybe a little more yellow. I have been applying a lot of polysporn to keep it hydrated it seems to dry out pretty fast.

Her wing skin has turned blue - similar to a bruise, I haven’t applied any polysporn there but have been spraying with betadine. I will have to keep it monitored to ensure it’s not infected.

I called the vet who said if I were to bring her in within a few hours of the attack they could have likely stitched the wound to something but that “second intention” healing will start and in a couple weeks she will look kinda back to normal. Apparently they would have to cut the wound again which is riskier then just leaving it.
He advised to use soap and water to clean the wound but that betadine is also quite good - you just want to keep the bacteria count down.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[azygous]

You're doing very well. Keep up the good work. It will pay off, and you will be very pleased with the results. You understand the basics of wound care, and as the vet indicated, in a couple weeks, she will be as good as new.