Rough situation and need help!!

[Weeg]

I’m glad to see the chick pulled through. I’m just seeing this now several days later but I wanted to comment. I’m a certified wound nurse for people and have had chickens for years. Just for future reference, wound care tips-

1- don’t use hydrogen peroxide- it kills Healthy tissue
2-Tapwater and mild soap are sufficient for cleaning all wounds you would be treating at home. There’s always exceptions but don’t be afraid to use soap and water. It won’t hurt anything. Other acceptable solutions include saline, Wound cleanser. Sterile water, etc.

3-Wounds heal best when provided a moist environment. Plain antibiotic ointment without pain control in it Or Vaseline or honey or a bag balm are all good for open wounds to protect them from drying out and from germs from getting in.

4- most wounds aren’t sterile- you don’t need special gauze or wound care supplies to “do it right”

5- anything containing alcohol burns open wounds….

6- any intact skin should not stay wet and if it does, it is going to break down, develop fungal infection and cause bacterial infections if not treated properly.

7- any odor coming from a wound means a bad infection and will likely need oral antibiotics and further intervention from a dr.
*disclaimer- I am not a doctor. Just sharing my experiences and medical background to help out.

Just a few thoughts to help your future wounds… chickens will always find ways to get hurt despite your best efforts.

x2. OP, cover that wound in a thick layer of Neosporin, and don't use hydrogen peroxide in the future, as it kills healthy tissue, and hurts really bad for chickens.
The Neosporin will keep the wound moist, and clean. Dont cover the would as that traps bacteria. Keep us the good work! I'm so glad your little one is perking up.

 

[Amreid]

I've been researching nonstop and am reading about iodine and betadine and all sorts of things. Do I need to rinse it again with one of those, I just got back from the store to pick both up and triple antibiotic ointment while I was waiting for a response. Or do I just go with a good layer of triple antibiotic ointment on it and keep an eye on it?

 

[Weeg]

I've been researching nonstop and am reading about iodine and betadine and all sorts of things. Do I need to rinse it again with one of those, I just got back from the store to pick both up and triple antibiotic ointment while I was waiting for a response. Or do I just go with a good layer of triple antibiotic ointment on it and keep an eye on it?

I would just do a good layer of Antibiotic ointment. I think the issue right now is that the wound has dried out, and needs to be moistened.

 

[Amreid]

I'm going to take that as great news!!! Antibiotic ointment is going on as soon as I get my hands washed up!! Thank you so much!!! This precious baby means the world to me so your help is so greatly appreciated!!

 

[Weeg]

I'm going to take that as great news!!! Antibiotic ointment is going on as soon as I get my hands washed up!! Thank you so much!!! This precious baby means the world to me so your help is so greatly appreciated!!

I'm so happy we could help! That is so great that she's doing so good! Congratulations on your first chicken patient!

 

[Amreid]

Thanks!!! I've put the ointment on her! I'll keep a close eye! Thanks again for all of the advice!! We've only had chickens for a little over a year and in February, a pitbull dug under the chicken wire and got 5 of our sweet hens. We reinforced the run with stakes for our remaining 6 hens and our rooster. Then about 4 weeks ago, the dog came back and was able to get in again. This time, we were way more fortunate and most of the chickens scattered except for 2 broody hens (Nugget and Chicken) that remained in the coop on the eggs that were laid that morning. We made it to the coop in time to swing open the door and chase the dog away. All of them survived that time so we dug a 1 ft deep trench and put cattle wire along the chicken wire so its buried a foot deep and travels 3 ft up the run. We eliminated the problem of the dog getting back in and decided that since the girls protected their eggs so well, we would let them hang onto them. They've been broody for quite a while and got tired of us taking the eggs from under them in the nesting boxes so they laid on the coop floor. I read and researched and saw that a broody hen is a great way to incubate and hatch the eggs. We had 2 broodies and they both seemed to share the eggs, taking turns with them. Last Wednesday came and I checked on them before I went to bed around 8pm. By 6 am Thursday morning, we had two cute fuzzy baby chicks. We don't have a lot of commotion in our coop between the hens so I didn't think there would be any issues and kept the broodies in the coop with the rest of the flock. I checked them around 10am, then 1 pm. Still only 2 fuzzy balls running around. Then when I checked them at 5, Teriyaki (a non broody Rhode Island Red) was sitting where the nest was. Around her were 2 cracked eggs and 3 dead chicks. This little baby was in front of the 2 broody hens that were about 2 foot away from the nest and had the gash on her back. I moved the chick (Rocky, short for Rocky Road, because she's a fighter and it seems to tell her or his story so far) and Nugget to a large dog kennel. Nugget just pushed her to the side with her beak so I pulled her back out assuming that Nugget didn't think she would survive. I can't let that be the case! I love our chickens and I especially love this sweet baby!! She has such a great personality. I have to do all that I can for her to make it through this! We keep saying that she a fighter so we are fighting gor her too! Sorry for the long post, just trying to paint the whole picture of why I'm so determined to get her healthy and 100%. We are still pretty new to the chicken world but learning every day. Thanks again, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone!!

 

[Weeg]

Great job saving her! That is such a commitment to make. I know a lot of people would give up on her, or "let nature take its course."
I just realized that this little fuzz ball doesn't have any siblings does she? Chicks don't do good alone, and it will be best if you can get her a sibling soon. Great job saving her!

 

[Banana01]

I’m glad to see the chick pulled through. I’m just seeing this now several days later but I wanted to comment. I’m a certified wound nurse for people and have had chickens for years. Just for future reference, wound care tips-

1- don’t use hydrogen peroxide- it kills Healthy tissue
2-Tapwater and mild soap are sufficient for cleaning all wounds you would be treating at home. There’s always exceptions but don’t be afraid to use soap and water. It won’t hurt anything. Other acceptable solutions include saline, Wound cleanser. Sterile water, etc.

3-Wounds heal best when provided a moist environment. Plain antibiotic ointment without pain control in it Or Vaseline or honey or a bag balm are all good for open wounds to protect them from drying out and from germs from getting in.

4- most wounds aren’t sterile- you don’t need special gauze or wound care supplies to “do it right”

5- anything containing alcohol burns open wounds….

6- any intact skin should not stay wet and if it does, it is going to break down, develop fungal infection and cause bacterial infections if not treated properly.

7- any odor coming from a wound means a bad infection and will likely need oral antibiotics and further intervention from a dr.
*disclaimer- I am not a doctor. Just sharing my experiences and medical background to help out.

Just a few thoughts to help your future wounds… chickens will always find ways to get hurt despite your best efforts.

Hello, this is good advice. There are a lot of open wound questions, and it would be nice to see an article to link to with this information. I live outside the US and the medicines are different.

OP In hope your baby makes it. Lots of good advice in the thread so far and it's good to hear some is working.

 

[Amreid]

You are 100% correct. It has been a huge commitment, luckily I have 4 days off to tend to her 24/7. And also, yes she is the only chicky. I've checked the feed stores and the Tractor Supplies around our area and nobody has chicks. I was going to look on Facebook to see if anybody had some but I have never bought chicks before so I'm unsure of the dangers of mites, disease, etc. Any tips? I did put a mirror in her brooder and she seems to cuddle up to it and peck at it. I also put some little toys in there and she plays with them. Just trying to keep her occupied.

 

[Amreid]

@Banana01: I couldn't agree with you more!! I have followed all of the advice that I've found on this thread and other threads throughout this site and my sweet little baby is still with us!