Puncture injury- questions

[buckwheatthesilkie]

Hey y’all!

My hen who is about 5 months old recently started acting funny. She was a bit lethargic and hiding in the coop, she would also let me touch her and pick her up when I came into the coop (she usually zips away), and her crop was feeling very full. I checked on her the next day and she was pale, her crop was still full, and she was quite lethargic. So I took her and isolated her. Upon further examination, I found that she had a puncture wound and dead skin that was super crusty and gross. We ended up peeling/cutting off the dead skin, cleaning the wound, and putting healing ointment on it to help. We let her rest in her own kennel and gave her water and food. She happily drank water but refused the food.

I checked on her the next day and the wound was looking better, it’s starting to heal. She is still looking pale but drinking water and defacating normally. Her crop was definitely smaller than the previous day but still felt full towards the end of the day. She hadn’t eaten any of the food I left for her but again, drinking water normally.

Would the full-ish crop be from her sitting all day and recovering from a wound? Or should I be worried about an impacted crop?

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of the wound? Where is it located on the body?

I'd address the crop symptoms. See that she's has access to both food and water during waking hours. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[buckwheatthesilkie]

The wound is located on her back under her wing. This is what it looked like before we fixed it up. A coin sized piece of skin that was dry had already come off.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The wound is located on her back under her wing. This is what it looked like before we fixed it up. A coin sized piece of skin that was dry had already come off.

Do you have photos of what the wound looks like now?

Did she have any injuries to her crop? She may have some internal inflammation and bruising so soreness may be making it harder for her to process foods.
Is she pooping?
Any odors from the wound?

I'd work on hydration, offer wet feed. Bits of soft cooked egg may be enticing to her. Coconut oil twice a day and give the crop a little message. If you fear it's turning sour, then I'd start an anti-fungal in addition to the coconut oil. It takes days sometimes for you to detect a sour odor, so if her crop is not emptying, then you may want to opt to just go ahead and treat.

 

[buckwheatthesilkie]

This is what it looks like now. No injury to her crop. No smell coming from the wound. She is pooping like normal again today. Still drinking lots of water and alert. Still a little pale in her comb and waddle. But again, not eating much today. I will try the wet food!

I am doing the coconut oil treatment and will start to prevent sour crop, thanks for the advice!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is what it looks like now. No injury to her crop. No smell coming from the wound. She is pooping like normal again today. Still drinking lots of water and alert. Still a little pale in her comb and waddle. But again, not eating much today. I will try the wet food!

I am doing the coconut oil treatment and will start to prevent sour crop, thanks for the advice!

The wound looks to be healing. Very good that there's no odor.

Alert and drinking is good, but I'd keep checking that crop. A lot of times when the crop or digestive system if "off" they drink a lot. She may benefit from electrolytes for a couple of hours a day, then switch to plain water.

Keep me posted on how she's getting along.

 

[buckwheatthesilkie]

The wound looks to be healing. Very good that there's no odor.

Alert and drinking is good, but I'd keep checking that crop. A lot of times when the crop or digestive system if "off" they drink a lot. She may benefit from electrolytes for a couple of hours a day, then switch to plain water.

Keep me posted on how she's getting along.

Thank you for your help! I followed the guide and did the coconut oil treatments and found that after I tried the sodium docusate, the crop finally started to empty. After I gave the treatment, I withdrew food and monitored for 24 hours and I checked on her this morning, and the crop was finally completely empty. So I fed her and she was ravenous! So I think she is feeling much better.

Her wound has also healed beautifully. The area where the puncture was has completely sealed. There was a section of skin that looked like a flap and even that has partially attached again. She is pooping normally and definitely seems to be more active! I think in a couple days, she will be ready for the coop again!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your help! I followed the guide and did the coconut oil treatments and found that after I tried the sodium docusate, the crop finally started to empty. After I gave the treatment, I withdrew food and monitored for 24 hours and I checked on her this morning, and the crop was finally completely empty. So I fed her and she was ravenous! So I think she is feeling much better.

Her wound has also healed beautifully. The area where the puncture was has completely sealed. There was a section of skin that looked like a flap and even that has partially attached again. She is pooping normally and definitely seems to be more active! I think in a couple days, she will be ready for the coop again!

This is good news!
I'm glad to hear she is doing much better. Hoping she makes a full recovery and can rejoin her flock soon