Rooster ripped hen's skin right off (Graphic imagery)

[EllaTheQueen6]

Hi, I went out to check on my chickens today and I noticed my hen bleeding from her neck, I isolated her and got a closer look at her, my rooster ripped the skin off her neck, she's still alive and walking around shockingly, she's eating and drinking but I don't even know what to do. Is it kinder to just put her down after this? I don't even know if I should clean it because it just looked like it would hurt just to be blew on. I'm not going to provide pictures as it's extremely graphic. Any help is appreciated.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

If you put her in a clean, warm hospital and spray the area with a wound healer of your choice (like Blu Kote, and triple antibiotic,) then it should scab and heal. Make sure she has plenty of food and water, some nutrient boost in water would be good too. While she's separated (the best separation hospitals are located where she can still hear and see the flock,) consider your overall situation. What is your ratio rooster to hens, how much room do they have? Is the rooster the problem? If so consider putting him down, not her. I think she'll heal up just fine if you're willing to treat it.

 

[FrostRanger]

Even if it's graphic, pictures would be really helpful for us to help you treat her.
For the time being, put some neosporin triple antibiotic ointment on the wound twice a day and keep the wound clean and uncovered (and of course keep her separated)

Are you sure it was the rooster who did this? It could have been a predator who managed to briefly get ahold of her

 

[Triangle Nostril]

I take it this is from the back of the neck, like it's a mating injury? If she's eating and drinking I don't think putting her down is the right course of action, but treating the wound to prevent infection is probably the first thing you should do. It may look nastier than it actually is. Is it like a deep chomp into the flesh, like a chunk of her neck meat is missing? Or just the top skin layer got stripped off? Is she continually bleeding without any sign of it stopping, or does it seem to be subsiding?

Cover it with gentle pressure and a clean gauze/cloth. Cleaning the wound is important even if it stings, because at this point infection is probably the largest threat. Plain Neosporin (without any additives) is safe if you have that around.

Keep her isolated until it heals so nobody picks at it and definitely so the rooster can give her some space. Also keep an eye on him, is he very aggressive? It may be worth it to consider saving others from him if he's hurting them. Whether that be rehoming or other means.

 

[EllaTheQueen6]

I take it this is from the back of the neck, like it's a mating injury? If she's eating and drinking I don't think putting her down is the right course of action, but treating the wound to prevent infection is probably the first thing you should do. It may look nastier than it actually is. Is it like a deep chomp into the flesh, like a chunk of her neck meat is missing? Or just the top skin layer got stripped off? Is she continually bleeding without any sign of it stopping, or does it seem to be subsiding?

Cover it with gentle pressure and a clean gauze/cloth. Cleaning the wound is important even if it stings, because at this point infection is probably the largest threat. Plain Neosporin (without any additives) is safe if you have that around.

Keep her isolated until it heals so nobody picks at it and definitely so the rooster can give her some space. Also keep an eye on him, is he very aggressive? It may be worth it to consider saving others from him if he's hurting them. Whether that be rehoming or other means.

The bleeding seems to have stopped, I have a picture of it now, I'm sorry I'm just still shaking
I'll see what I have but any antibiotics I've found in my house have painkiller in them, so I'll see what I can do with some soap and water

 

[FrostRanger]

The bleeding seems to have stopped, I have a picture of it now, I'm sorry I'm just still shaking
I'll see what I have but any antibiotics I've found in my house have painkiller in them, so I'll see what I can do with some soap and water

That is indeed a scalping injury. Soap and water will be fine for now but do get some ointment later. As long as you keep it clean she has a good chance of healing.

Have any of the other birds been bullying her before this happened? It certainly could have been the rooster who did this but it's still possible that another bird or a predator did this

 

[tripletfeb]

That happened to one of my hens awhile ago. The other hens were picking on her and I have no doubt they would have killed her if we hadn't been there to stop it. Your best course of action is to clean the wound with soap and water or a saline spray. Then put triple antibiotic oint on it twice a day, at least. You don't want it to dry out. Do not wrap it, as it's on the head. Keep her separated and give food and water. You could try some Nutridrench, of you have it. It took about two weeks or so for my girl to heal

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Weasels and Minks go for that area. What is your set up like? Predator proof? Sorry, I know it's stressful but it really should heal if you provide good care.

 

[coach723]

I had a hen scalped similarly, by flock mates. Her skull was visible. I flushed it out well, and kept it covered in plain triple antibiotic ointment (even generic from Walmart is fine), reapplied 2-3 times a day. She healed up, and once it feathered back out you could not tell it had happened. As long as there is no infection, she has a very good chance to recover. I kept her in a crate in the run so she was safe but less stressed by isolation, until it was healed up enough for it not to get pecked by others. It will likely form a very thick scab, which will slowly come off on it's own from the edges in. I kept ointment on it even after it had scabbed in order to help prevent that thick scab from cracking. Picture below was about 5 weeks in, feathers just starting to grow back.

 

[My1stChickens]

I had a hen scalped similarly, by flock mates. Her skull was visible. I flushed it out well, and kept it covered in plain triple antibiotic ointment (even generic from Walmart is fine), reapplied 2-3 times a day. She healed up, and once it feathered back out you could not tell it had happened. As long as there is no infection, she has a very good chance to recover. I kept her in a crate in the run so she was safe but less stressed by isolation, until it was healed up enough for it not to get pecked by others. It will likely form a very thick scab, which will slowly come off on it's own from the edges in. I kept ointment on it even after it had scabbed in order to help prevent that thick scab from cracking. Picture below was about 5 weeks in, feathers just starting to grow back.
View attachment 4221243

so you used antibiotic ointment til it scabbed and beyond? Did you to use BluCote or Pick No More when you put her back with other hens? Or was the dark scab okay/did not inspire pecking?