Pullet wing ripped off but so far okay, any suggestions?

[Sylver Queen]

Hi, my chicken got almost exactly the same injury last night. I’m curious about the exposed bone situation. Did skin grow over it? Is it just…still exposed? Did your friend trim it back?

I'm sorry to hear that happened but glad you made it here! Hopefully it will be helpful. I was shocked she did so well, even though chickens surviving amazing things shouldn't surprise me, but in her instance the wing tip ripped off clean and the second wing bone was exposed and weeping for a few weeks, depending on her activity level. The skin was completely gone, muscle meat kind of sealed to the bone half an inch down, bone end is still completely exposed. My friend didn't do much of anything but it was a fairly clean rip-off, so we sprayed it with BluKote and gave her lots of tasty wet mash and scrambled eggs (she wasn't eating much) to stimulate appetite, and she's been back out with her crew for a few weeks now holding steady. Don't know what her long-term prognosis is but she's amazing!

If I had had her from the beginning I would probably have tried a cleaning with Vetericyn or another bird-safe cleanser and treating her for shock, in a warm, quiet, dark place to herself, electrolytes/vitamins in water until she got past the initial trauma. If there'd have been proud flesh I would have seen if I could clip off whatever needed to be clipped off without doing more damage to bone/healthy tissue.

I think it's different when bone is splintered (open access to infection inside?) versus a clean break off, but chickens can survive incredible things so I never count them out! I would feel very wary of trimming any bone, depending on the situation. For it to be a sanitary and clean process without causing more damage I think you'd need just the right tools, but like I said, if it's splintered and needs tending to then maybe someone holding her and another person using a dremel disc (or something sanitary ?? ) to cut through it cleanly, she'd probably go into "chicken shock" and let you do it. Hoping the best for your bird!

 

[BWScree]

Thank you so much for your fast response! This gives me hope. My girl’s injury seems to be a pretty clean break as well, her wing kind of just tore off at the joint. The bone doesn’t look broken, just exposed. Shockingly she’s not bleeding much, it’s obviously just scary and concerning to see bone. I’m going to do what you/your friend did and hope for the best.

 

[Bawkbok]

Thank you, and I so agree! I am an extremely doting, diligent, fastidious chicken farmer, and I feel like I've had everything under the sun happen to my chickens nonetheless. I've got one little lady now who was on death's door in the heat, but I had meds on hand to treat the multiple infections I suspect are getting her, and I can hardly believe she's up and eating scrambled eggs right now. Just awesome. Always glad to hear other people's experiences, thanks for sharing!

Hi, we also live in extreme heat and our consistent layer stopped laying immediately the day the furnace was turned up. I'm curious as to what meds you have on hand and treated with for heat stress..? Specifically, antibiotics? We do not have avian vet care in the county where we live so we fly by the seat of our pants as we learn about new issues, ailments and problems on the run. Thank you.

 

[Sylver Queen]

Thank you so much for your fast response! This gives me hope. My girl’s injury seems to be a pretty clean break as well, her wing kind of just tore off at the joint. The bone doesn’t look broken, just exposed. Shockingly she’s not bleeding much, it’s obviously just scary and concerning to see bone. I’m going to do what you/your friend did and hope for the best.

That is so encouraging! Sounds weird but it's always nice if it has to happen that it's a clean break. Feel free to keep me posted if you like or just need encouragement. My best to you and your little gal.

 

[Susan Skylark]

You’ll want to cut the bone back even with the skin (a pliers or kitchen shears would work). The bone shouldn’t be feeling anything after a couple days of exposure. You could also ‘freshen up the skin edges’ so it bleeds a bit, pull it over the trimmed bone, and superglue together or throw in a stitch with a needle and thread. Keep her on antibiotics for a week until the skin heals together.

 

[nkiernan1]

Thank you, and I so agree! I am an extremely doting, diligent, fastidious chicken farmer, and I feel like I've had everything under the sun happen to my chickens nonetheless. I've got one little lady now who was on death's door in the heat, but I had meds on hand to treat the multiple infections I suspect are getting her, and I can hardly believe she's up and eating scrambled eggs right now. Just awesome. Always glad to hear other people's experiences, thanks for sharing!

Did you get your antibiotics from a vet? I’d like to be able to have some on hand as well.