Scar or something else?

[distincthead]

Hi there guys,

Sorry my first post has to be in this section... Anyhow, I just acquired an australorp along with 7 other hens (different breeds) on Saturday. She had what appeared to be a scar over her right eye, but she's the most fearful of the whole bunch so I couldn't get her to hold still enough to let me examine closely. It appeared just like skin (yellowish white) and didn't have any weird marks on it or anything. I noticed today that her eye seems to have a pus sac covering it and that the wound (if that's what it is) has become "interesting" looking. Two days prior to my getting these girls, there was a racoon attack at the folks home and two of them died. I am assuming that this one was injured. I have attached a pic, feel free to give me any ideas. My gut tells me it's probably vet time. I can do injections and all of that, but I'm obviously not capable of removing necrotic tissue, draining the wound and otherwise treating it in a clean environment. Hopefully I'm over-reacting and it is in fact just a mildly infected "scabby" area. She's just as active as the others, who are all in the peak of health, and is eating. The eye appears to function also.

Thanks a ton,
Eric

 

[CarriBrown]

I haven't seen anything like that before... If you're willing to take her to the vet, you probably should. I'm sure the vet can give you an idea of what it is and how to treat it. She may have to be doctored by you for a while, but I've always found that chickens become your best friend after you help them through a situation like that.
Good luck with her, and let us know how she does!
BTW, Welcome to the forum.

 

[distincthead]

Thanks for your advice. I'll find a cat crate or box or whatever and drive her down to the doc's first thing. I guess this is how we all learn.

- Eric

 

[hencackle]

That looks horrible! Please let us know what the vet says. I agree with Carri about chickens becoming friendlier after receiving treatment.

Stephanie

 

[distincthead]

Turned out to be a pretty bad infection like I thought. Must have been the filthy raccoon that did it, and it's unfortunate the prior owners didn't realize and/or care about it. Vet said that she's so active and alert that she'll likely recover. The skin in the picture is necrotic and should fall off once the infection is handled, we didn't want to risk removing it as it seems pretty deep.

I only had a small amount of cash to my name and so he cut his fee a bit and gave me, of all things, ciprofloxacin to cut up and give orally twice daily because it's all I could afford. I may only literally have a couple bucks left to my name until payday, but I have a happy bird and that's all that matters!!

*happy dance*

I'll be taking special care of her for a while. She's isolated but "in contact" and direct line of site with the others. I still can't tell her eggs apart from the others so I don't want to risk trying. I'm building a huge 8x8 coop (well, moving one from the other side of the property) so she can have the entire old one to herself come this weekend. You guys were right, she's really warming up to me and isn't as fearful. It's easier to give pills orally to birds than my dogs, that's for sure!

Thanks all,
Eric

 

[hencackle]

That is great, that's for the update! I'm glad you found a caring vet, one willing to give a discount too.

Stephanie

 

[MTchick]

Cipro is a pretty powerful antibiotic. If you haven't already, you should probably ask the vet or someone else how long *after* your hen is done taking the drugs that the drugs will stop showing up as a residual in her eggs (I think that is called the withdrawl period, but I'm not 100% sure). You wouldn't want to dose yourself accidentally with that stuff.

Glad to hear the hen will get better soon!

-MTchick

 

[distincthead]

I think I have two weeks worth, and he said I couldn't eat them for one month. I'm adding a week to that just to be sure.

Thanks for all the replies guys, means a lot!