- Oct 8, 2010
- 23
- 0
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Hello...
So I had just finished responding to a member's post about a head wound today, when I decided it was time to go outside and give everyone some treats. The afternoon is when I let them free range the property, and I never am far from my flock when they do. Anyway, I was feeding everyone grapes, and all of them seemed to be enjoying the ritual very much. I then noticed something red on the ground ---- and saw it was coming from one of my Buckeyes. I couldn't tell at first where the blood was coming from, but after picking her up, it was her toe. It appeared to be gushing. I immediately ran into the house, grabbed my box of corn starch and a bowl, and yelled for my husband. In a matter of minutes I figured that she had a large wound on her foot - and while she appeared to have a bloody head, it was just from her scratching her head with her wounded foot...
I called the vet - never got a call back.
Long story short, I have her in our little "chicken hospital" tonight - after cleansing the foot, bandaging it, and telling her man (the roo) that it would be o.k. And I really do think she will be o.k.
I used a saline wash to flush out her foot after the bleeding slowed significantly. The cornstarch really worked well. I then applied neosporin before bandaging it (and yes, I know that the bandage will be gone by the morning, no matter how well I think I applied it).
After years of dealing with different problems, I've made a little "first aid kit" that I keep in my downstairs bathroom. In it are all the basics for tending to an injured chicken. I think that everyone who has chickens needs to have something nearby in an emergency. And I wish that it hadn't taken me years to figure it out, or get all the supplies gathered.
So in the spirit of helping newbies and heck, even those of us who have had chickens for years - why not develop a list of "must haves" for a first aid kit? I think it would be so helpful.
I'll start with some of my list:
-paper towels
-gauze
-sterilized saline spray
-Blue Kote
-adhesive wrap
-rescue remedy
-a towel (to hold the chicken if they are too skittish)
-cornstarch
-antibiotic ointment
-tweezers
-flashlight
What else do you folks routinely use or think would be helpful?
Blessings,
Empathy
So I had just finished responding to a member's post about a head wound today, when I decided it was time to go outside and give everyone some treats. The afternoon is when I let them free range the property, and I never am far from my flock when they do. Anyway, I was feeding everyone grapes, and all of them seemed to be enjoying the ritual very much. I then noticed something red on the ground ---- and saw it was coming from one of my Buckeyes. I couldn't tell at first where the blood was coming from, but after picking her up, it was her toe. It appeared to be gushing. I immediately ran into the house, grabbed my box of corn starch and a bowl, and yelled for my husband. In a matter of minutes I figured that she had a large wound on her foot - and while she appeared to have a bloody head, it was just from her scratching her head with her wounded foot...
I called the vet - never got a call back.
Long story short, I have her in our little "chicken hospital" tonight - after cleansing the foot, bandaging it, and telling her man (the roo) that it would be o.k. And I really do think she will be o.k.
I used a saline wash to flush out her foot after the bleeding slowed significantly. The cornstarch really worked well. I then applied neosporin before bandaging it (and yes, I know that the bandage will be gone by the morning, no matter how well I think I applied it).
After years of dealing with different problems, I've made a little "first aid kit" that I keep in my downstairs bathroom. In it are all the basics for tending to an injured chicken. I think that everyone who has chickens needs to have something nearby in an emergency. And I wish that it hadn't taken me years to figure it out, or get all the supplies gathered.
So in the spirit of helping newbies and heck, even those of us who have had chickens for years - why not develop a list of "must haves" for a first aid kit? I think it would be so helpful.
I'll start with some of my list:
-paper towels
-gauze
-sterilized saline spray
-Blue Kote
-adhesive wrap
-rescue remedy
-a towel (to hold the chicken if they are too skittish)
-cornstarch
-antibiotic ointment
-tweezers
-flashlight
What else do you folks routinely use or think would be helpful?
Blessings,
Empathy