Scabby & raw sore near butt (warning: picture)

[rgolden1125]

My 9 month pullet has a sore to the right of her vent. I feel so bad for not noticing it earlier. She's acting normal but picking at it, hence how I noticed. Thoughts on where it came from? What it is? How to treat?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. That looks like a pecking injury. Is it hot where you live, or cold weather now? In hot weather when flies are out, flystrike is a big problem with those type of wounds. If it is cold now, then that is probably not something to look for. I would clean the wound twice a day with one of the following: saline, soap and water, Betadine, Hibiclens, or Vetericyn wound spray. Then coat the wound with plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment to keep it mosit. Trim any extra featehr or fluff that may get into the wound. Separate her in a wire dog crate with food and water, or bring her inside so she is not pecked.

 

[rgolden1125]

Thanks a bunch Eggcessive. I'm on the California coast and luckily it is cold here now. My husband applied blue kote this morning. Is that ok or should I switch to something you recommended instead? She's been separated from everyone.

I will have to see how it started, or rather who. Is it normal for the chicken who has the wound to peck at it herself? This is my first time dealing with something like this with our chickens.

Edited since my fat fingers pressed the post button too soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

BluKote is more for scrapes and minor cuts, rather than deep wounds. Since all of the layers of skin are missing, I would get some antibiotic ointment to put on twice a day. She could be pecking at it because it is sore. I would have a look around the wound, and look under her vent for any lice or mites. Does her lower abdomen appear normal or enlarged? Has she been laying eggs recently?

 

[rgolden1125]

Now the other side is pretty raw. She's definitely doing this to herself. Mites??? I don't see anything...

 

[rgolden1125]

I just used a light. It's freaking lice I think. Let me know what you think works. I'll look up stuff right now.

Edited to add: mites. Damnit. Everything nearby is closed so I'll have to get stuff tomorrow. Any thoughts how to keep her from chewing herself? I need one of those dog cones but for chickens also, how to handle powder application with an open wound.

 

[Eggcessive]

Permethrin spray or poultry dust is what is most effective and it needs to be applied at least twice at 10 day intervals to get the lice, and the newly hatched lice before they can lay eggs. Tractor supply sells 8 ounce concentrate for mixing with water in a spray bottle for $7 and up. The dust is usually called Poultry and Garden Dust or Prozap. The coop and roosts, and nest boxes need treating after removing old bedding and discarding. Yes, it is a pain to have lice.

 

[rgolden1125]

Eggcessive does that work on mites to? I looked up pictures and I'm wondering if it's mites

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes it is effective against mites, but needs to be used every 7 days.

 

[rgolden1125]

Hi again. I got the powder and treated everyone last Wednesday and treated again yesterday along with the coop etc. I checked on them today once I got home and she has picked at one of the wounds pretty bad again. I put on a tape barrier again and antibiotic ointment so hopefully she won't get at it more but thinking I need something a bit better. Any suggestions? Further insight?