Please Help Treat my little D'uccle! Puncture wound from Hawk!

[purpletiger]

Any other opinions? Please? It would be very helpful? Does it look infected? Should I start her on antibiotics? It feels firm to the touch around the puncture wound. What antibiotics should I use for this type of wound? Penicillin, amoxicillin, Baytril or Clavamox, others?

The yellow is pus. Chickens pus is the strangest substance ever. Judy had that too. It was thick and hard. Not like like what you think of when it comes to like squeezing a zit or a abscess. Truthfully I would not do anything with it. You actually have to cut it out, yikes! I just left it and applied full strength betadine on it topically to help dry it out. There was no way I was going to cut it out of Judy it would of been a huge opening!
It’s how chickens heal. That’s why her (Judy’s) tissue still looked blue. Cause it was deep. You might think about giving her antibiotics. I did not but that’s just me. I think she’s looking good. Sounds like she’s eating and drinking and gaining her strength. Chickens are amazing what they can overcome with a little TLC.

Thanks Judy for replying and helping me and my little Leeloo through this. You've been so thoughtful and supportive. I'm so grateful for your help! She's still eating and drinking very well. Around the wound is firm to the touch. I thought I was doing well cleaning it out. I'm been flushing one to twice a day with saline and spraying Vetericyn 3-4 times daily and packing it with triple antibiotic. Maybe i'll try flushing it again with some diluted betadine? What type of antibiotic would you use for a wound like this? Penicillin, amoxicillin, Baytril or Clavamox etc?

 

[Eggcessive]

I think it looks fine, and I think it is just healing. I would not do anything more to it besides what you are doing. I think your collar photo is great.

 

[purpletiger]

I think it looks fine, and I think it is just healing. I would not do anything more to it besides what you are doing. I think your collar photo is great.

Thanks! So it being firm to the touch around the wound isn't a concern?

 

[MissChick@dee]

I would just wipe with betadine topically. Your girl looks good. Sometimes you just have to let her body heal and not fuss too much. You can just let it crust over. In humans we get scabs that protect the wound and healing tissue underneath. Chickens are a bit different but the protection the yellow gives is important to healing if that makes sense.

 

[purpletiger]

Thanks both of you for your opinions! I just don't want it to turn into an abscess. They don't sound fun. I did wipe it topically with the betadine as a precaution. I'll keep doing what i'm doing. I did wire off a little section for her in the run so she can be with the others during the day. At night I bring her back inside because it can get cold and I like to spoil her. I'll keep you guys updated as she hopefully heals.

 

[purpletiger]

I just wanted to give everyone an update on how Leeloo is doing. She is doing great! Her wound finally closed up yesterday and she's growing back her lost feathers. She did pluck a few of the cut feathers around her wound. Not sure if that's a concern.

She's not completely back with her flock yet. She's now climbed up in the pecking order! One of her sisters used to pick on her all the time, but now Leeloo puts her in her place! She spends the whole day with her flock and at night she comes back inside. I think I'll have to wait until she completely regrows her feathers and re-acclimate her to the cold. Nights are just too cold around here for her right now and she lost a lot of feathers. It wasn't apparent until they started growing back.

I also gave her a bath today because her feathers were sooo greasy from the triple antibiotic. I guess a put little too much on! She's now sitting with me in front of the wood stove to dry off. She's been such a good girl! I'm tempted to make her a house chicken, but I know she belongs with her flock. Maybe she can come inside for visits! Hehe!

I just wanted to thank all of you for your help and support! She wouldn't have made it without you! I'm so blessed that she's ok! I will continue to keep you updated with her progress. I will keep a better lookout for hawks as well!

Pictures!

 

[Eggcessive]

Very good to hear that Leeloo is fully recovered and doing well. She is a beauty. My little 8 year old hen like her is getting more white feathers with every molt. Mille fleurs are so sweet, aren’t they?

 

[purpletiger]

Very good to hear that Leeloo is fully recovered and doing well. She is a beauty. My little 8 year old hen like her is getting more white feathers with every molt. Mille fleurs are so sweet, aren’t they?

Thanks Eggcessive! Oh yes! Mille fleurs are the sweetest little things! Boy they can fly too! She flew all the way to our second story window last summer! I can't wait to see what she looks like next molt. She's only about 9 months old right now. Hopefully she gains more white as she ages. Your Millie is eight years old? Wow! Didn't think chickens could live so long!