pecked turken has hole in throat

[JHaller]

Oops, I put on a little pain-relief neosporin, but only on the upper wound. I wiped off as much as I could and found the regular neosporin. I appreciate the warning and I'll NOT use any more peroxide!

I shrank the photos in photoshop, and yes, they are uploading faster.

The neosporin seems to have softened the lower wound, so that I can move her skin. I was starting to fear adhesions that might impair neck movement; but she seems able to move her head. I cannot tell where there might have been a cut through the trachea. I definitely can say that I am not seeing anything as frightening as the inside her throat any more.

I hope this is ok: I made some crude butterfly bandages from adhesive tape and pulled the edges of the skin together. I put more regular neosporin on both wounds. Maybe her cute/funny little naked neck won't be seriously scarred.

Her head is on the left; the top wound, just behind her cap, is the less serious one. The wound on the lower right is the more serious one. The purple bruising looks much the same as 7 hours ago. Both wounds were diamond-shaped, like a beak munching into the skin.

I'll find out about treatment options to prevent respiratory infections as well as wound infections. She'll be kept away from the flock until the scabs are gone, even if it takes a while.

Thank you, silkiechicken and everyone, for all your great advice and help.

Judith

 

[silkiechicken]

Looks good! They do heal amaizingly quick if they can keep an appetite and hydrated. Boiled egg yolk would be a good healthy treat full of nutrients for the little guy if she's not eating well.

Best of luck.

 

[nnbreeder]

We once had something grab one of our Naked Necks through the fence and rip all of the skin off of her neck. Well it tore loose at the base of the neck and was rolled up to the base of her skull. The wife just rolled it back down and took a few stitches with plain cotton thread. Survived to live to a ripe old age, laid a lot of eggs and raised a lot of chicks too.

Just keep a watch for infections but I doubt there will be any trouble, let it scab over and then do not disturb it and I promise it will be a nasty looking scab too, thick and black but let it come off on it's own. As with our own scabs it may crack and bleed a little but don't worry. It's all part of the healing process.

 

[JHaller]

The little Turken is drinking, eating, moving in her laundry-basket sick bed and even preening her feathers, which were sticky around her breast.

I was wondering about stitching the wounds. After hearing your story, nnbreeder, I think I could do this. Last night I was in fear of doing all the wrong things. Is it too late to stitch?

Some boiled egg sounds good, she deserves a treat. The courage and resilience of these birds really is amazing. They willingly accept help and protection from their "flock".

Luck seems to be on her side!

 

[nnbreeder]

Usually want to do the stitching within the first hour or two, before the edges have time to dry. Those butterflys should work just fine.

Chickens are tough critters.

 

[silkiechicken]

I agree, probably bit late to stich. I sliced open the side of my pinky pretty bad once. Didn't stop bleeding... so eventually went to student health services. They told me had I come in right after it happened, they could have put a stich in it. But since I had waited till the end of the day, they just buterfly taped it back together.