Lauras010
In the Brooder
- Feb 24, 2021
- 15
- 40
- 44
I apologize in advance as this will be long. I have a polish hen for Meyer hatchery that has been scratching herself to death since August of 2020. She has been living indoors mostly and has her own personal coop outside. Zero interaction with the other birds from her hatch group as they are 4 times her size. She’s been to two different veterinarians and a local chicken rescue. She will not stop scratching at her neck. In august, it was thought that maybe it was a slight infection in a scratch by the first vet. Antibiotic cream was administered as prescribed. (Fecal matter was checked, clean as a whistle, and no mites what so ever.) Fast forward to October the scratch/cut itself healed but she didn’t stop scratching. Local chicken rescue checked over her, still no mites, but it appeared she had a double ear infection. Ears were cleaned, and she got a second shot of antibiotics. Cream was to be applied to the ears per the next Vet. Fast forward 6 weeks later, ears were healed but she was still scratching. She has been wearing gauze shoes to prevent herself from “gutting” herself with her claws. When she has a scratching fit, she will flail her self all over as if she’s having a seizure. She’s eating and drinking fine, poop is fine, and gets special treats like yogurt, applesauce, and cooked eggs. Chicken rescue discovered the “cut/scratch” looked infected. It was cleaned thoroughly, she got another round of shots, and another pair of gauze shoes. We continued to apply medicated cream to cut, AND since her skin was now dry/flaky- we put a special kind of lotion to her neck where her missing feathers were. We live in the Panhandle of Fl, and This has been one of the coldest winters In the 12 years that I’ve lived here. She’s been inside a cage in my daughters room all winter, taken outside to her coop for some sunlight only in the afternoons and brought back inside. She seemed to be getting better, still scratching but not as bad to where she was causing herself to bleed until yesterday. She managed to open a giant gash on the side of her neck again. Blood everywhere. I’ve wrapped her feet back in gauze shoes, and wrapper her neck lightly with gauze to stop the bleeding. I will be cleaning the sore tonight but didn’t want to traumatize her any further right now. Help!! I’m at my wits end as to what to do!? We have dispatched I’ll birds in the past, but this dang polish is like family now. (She came inside originally bc of Hurricane Sally, and we’re just smitten with her.) I’m letting her hang out in living room/kitchen with me while I clean to monitor her and she’s walking around quietly. She’s not showing much interest in eating or drinking right now, but did drink a bit of water after dipping her beak. What could possibly be going on with her? (Oh also- we’ve crushed vitamin D3 and B2 to put on her food as well.) I’ve included a photo to show her dry skin and can post a photo of the wound as well after I clean it. (Her beak has been trimmed multiple times, too) Once again, I apologize for the rambling- I’m stressed out and losing my mind with this bird.
