serious head injury!!! What can I do?

[lonnaj]

Oh boy, I've got trouble. After about 2 weeks apart but visual to each other, I picked last night to introduce 2 young chickens (14 weeks) to by 2 existing hen (1.5 yrs). Under the cover of darkness, I put the new birds onto the roost in the coop with the door open to minimize any "encounters". I checked them at 6AM to discover 3 of them out roaming in the run and the 4 standing very still at the chicken wire fence, so still I was sure she was dead on her feet. She's not but what a mess. Her head/comb pretty much looks like it has been scalped. I can see her skull. It's bloody but not bleeding. She can walk but is a bit unsteady. I DO NOT want to prolong her suffering if this is beyond help. I just don't know what to do - please, any advise!!! PS I have reseperated the chickens!

 

[beachchickie]

wash her wound asses the damage and put some neosporin on it and feed her some soft boiled egg and some yogurt. Keep a watch for knats getting in the wound. Someone else can offer suggestions on that, I am not sure. I am so sorry sounds like you did everything right. Hens are so mean.

 

[RedRoosterFarm]

poor thing. Good luck

 

[lonnaj]

UPDATE! I took some photos and headed to my vet's office. Here's what he told me (maybe the advice will help someone else down the road)... Chickens have a very high metabolic temperature so they seldom suffer from surface bacterial infections. Use a non-sting spray-on bandage to cover the area. No need for polysporin or the like. Picking of the wound from the others is a primary concern. She need isolation and some TLC for a few day (which she is now getting!). Based on the photos, he says it's worth a try for recovery. She will have some significant scar tissue on her head...but that will give her more character!

I've got my fingers crossed.

 

[wsdareme]

Wow, I've been worried about my young 'uns that are now in with my older pullets. They'll "hide" in the corner of the run with their heads buried and think they're totally hidden.

So far the older girls haven't picked on them to the point of drawing blood -- they'll just go over and peck them a couple of times. I have a safe haven in the coop for them, but they want to come outside. All they would have to do is make a bee line for the hiding spot, but they choose to freeze and hide their heads.

Your girl is a special one. I just know she's going to be alright.

 

[meme9697]

hi I am not sure when this was posted but I had almost the same thing happen and my hens head looks almost identical the only difference is she doesn't stand up all the way and she will not eat she has drank if I give it to her but she has laid an egg. did you have any problem in getting yours to eat or stand very well thanks

 

[nerd0geekboyz]

I had a similar problem after two months of introducing new hens to my current group of hens. My Rhode Island was the most aggressive and I recall that she would pick on my Delaware (has a thing about white feathered hens) who is now dead.

Anyhow, two weeks of keeping my Leghorn isolated from the others her head began to heal. I also killed the three year old Rhode Island.

All is peaceful now.

 

[LA_C]

I’ve got one- skull showing. Tomorrow makes 3 weeks as a bathtub chicken. Can still see the skull. She’ll eat yogurt and a little bit of chick starter crumbles. She’s drinking. Tail is lowered. Definitely lethargic. We were working on a bad case of bumble when the massacre happened. Lost 8 hens and daddy rooster. 5 left all day, including her. Am I just prolonging her pain? I have a hard time culling as she’s eating ( a little) and drinking. I know she’s in pain and the wound hasn’t changed much. Been using natural honey, veterycin, and manna hen healer.

 

[alinas2010]

I’ve got one- skull showing. Tomorrow makes 3 weeks as a bathtub chicken. Can still see the skull. She’ll eat yogurt and a little bit of chick starter crumbles. She’s drinking. Tail is lowered. Definitely lethargic. We were working on a bad case of bumble when the massacre happened. Lost 8 hens and daddy rooster. 5 left all day, including her. Am I just prolonging her pain? I have a hard time culling as she’s eating ( a little) and drinking. I know she’s in pain and the wound hasn’t changed much. Been using natural honey, veterycin, and manna hen healer.

Hi welcome to BYC. Terribly sorry about your hen and your flock. This is a really old thread, which is probably why no one had commented to help you. You will have a lot more replies if you post a new thread of your own under the emergencies/diseases/injuries and cures section.

It can be normal for them to not be interested in food for a while when they’re in pain, you can always try to feed scrambled eggs or wet their regular feed down with water and turn it into a mash consistency - a lot go for that. What happened to your flock, an attack of some sort, I assume? Did you treat the injured for shock right away? That can help drastically. It’s done by offering electrolyte solution with sugar mixed in (Gatorade at room temp will also do), then keeping the injured somewhere warm, dim and quiet to recover for a bit. You may have to dip the beak in to get them interested in the electrolyte solution.

I can try to start you with some help here, too until you post your own threat. First off, do you have an antibiotic you can start? Since it’s been this long and you’ve seen no change, it would not be a bad idea. Left over from a human or other pet will do. Get us the kind you have and we can give you dosage instructions. Pics of the wound can help, too.

Next be sure you’re rinsing the wound with something like Vetericyn or hibiclense every day twice a day then slathering in triple antibiotic ointment, like neosporin (without pain relief). You’ll want to keep the wound covered at all times in the ointment so it never dries out. The healing will take many weeks.

If vet care is an option that is always best, of course. If you think she is suffering, you are the best person to make the call on euthanization. I always say if they’re eating and drinking and trying to fight, they have a chance.

 

[LA_C]

Thank you so much for your response! Didn’t think about not getting a response on an old thread. Duh lol.

I’ve been treating with vetercyn and natural honey. Doing electrolytes and probiotics for the her and the rest of the flock. She’s eating a bit better now and has been quarantined since the incident. Rest of the flock is doing well. Took a few days but they’re almost back to normal.

Again, thanks for the response and I’m doing all I can for her. Here’s a pic of the wound and also some meds I’ve been using between the honey and vetercyn.