Rooster Went Nuts...Brutally Attacked Hen (MORE PHOTOS ADDED)

[Davian]

Thanks...tomorrow will be her final shot then. Which is good honestly because I feel bad giving them. She flinches the moment she realizes where I've taking her at this point...and I've never even let her see the needle. She's been awesome about holding still though...despite her definitely feeling the injection. She could be making it far harder to do even with me holding her down on her side for the injection.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
I wonder if lightly covering it would be possible, just to help maintain her body temp and fluid balance?

No, that might be a mistake, as covering wounds can promote bacterial growth. But maybe keeping her in a warmer room, with moisture in the air, could help keep her from evaporating and cooling so her wound can heal really quick? She could spend less energy on maintaining temp/fluid, and more of her good nutrition and rest you're giving her into wound bed growth.

Sorry to be thinking out loud here. I think you're brave and golden for trying your best for this hen's head, looks like your good work is going to win!

 

[Davian]

She's in my sunroom which is heated to around 63-65 at this point. Its a 4 season sunroom. Its about 45 degrees outside right now. Its still fairly warm for upstate VT even this late into Fall.

 

[Ksane]

I'm rooting for the poor girl! She's been through so much. She's lucky she belongs to someone who cares like you do.

 

[M.sue]

I think the sun room is a perfect spot for her! Fingers & toes still crossed and I've got a feeling that she'll pull through with all the special care & advice your getting. Awesome Team Work BYCers!!

 

[Davian]

M.sue :

I think the sun room is a perfect spot for her! Fingers & toes still crossed and I've got a feeling that she'll pull through with all the special care & advice your getting. Awesome Team Work BYCers!!

The advice, support and insight has been invaluable...I really do appreciate everyone's help on this.​

 

[Chicky-dees]

Had to deal with some awful wounds on my geese after coons tried to pull them through their cage wire. Had to destroy the ones who lost their feet and legs, but others who had missing toes/torn webbing, etc recovered fine with a little TLC like you are doing, but I focused on cleanliness and keeping the wound dry and clean, the last two words being a REALLY big deal. I would at some point, once the danger of infection is passed, stop putting neosporin on it and allow the tissue to heal. From your pics, I see muscle where the skin used to be, but other than the gore of the blood and torn tissue, the wound is actually a very simple one, anatomically speaking. You will want to encourage granulation of the skin in order for it to heal, so make sure you aren't keeping the wound from healing faster by not allowing it to dry out every other day.

Letting it dry out every now and then will start a granulation layer over the muscle, then you can go back to the neosporin, or any type of triple antibiotic cream, but then let it dry out again a few days later. It is a careful balancing act to get the skin to grow back without hampering the actual growth. Too dried out, it gets itchy and can tear. Too wet for too long and you can ruin the cellular surface and slow down new growth by weeks. Avoid any type of cleaning agent that can hamper new tissue growth like Hydrogen Peroxide.

Penicillin was a good idea, but continue to keep an eye out for any type of sepsis which could occur if the rooster actually punctured the skin deep with a dirty talon (chicken feet are pretty nasty, just like cat toenails). Sudden listlessness, sudden loss of appetite and droopy or wobbly stance is a sure sign. At that point veterinary intervention is necessary since it will have become a full-blown bacterial blood infection and can shut down the organs in a matter of hours. She will be immuno-suppressed for awhile, so make sure folks who have colds or other types of respiratory illness keep away.

You should look into adding a probiotic to her water/feed in addition to the yogurt. The administration of antibiotics will have messed with her gut flora and due to such an injury, can increase her chances of developing an internal E.coli infection. The probiotics will also get her poops back to normal and will make her feel better in general. I'd take her off of a laying ration (if she is on one) which would decrease her calcium intake and put her back on a poultry starter feed (baby chick food) for 6 weeks.

Hope some of this can info can be useful!!!

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

I think she looks great. You are doing a great job, Davian!!

I also agree with Chicky-Dees.... you should be allowing this to start to dry out. She gave you some great advice.

 

[Spinster_Sister]

 

[tinydancer87]

You can also administer small amounts of sterile IV fluids subcutaneously. Perhaps a local vet will let you purchase a bag, line, and some needles? I am not sure on how much, but it is pretty easy to do.