Severe neck wound

[rusty acres]

Today I noticed one of my Speckled Sussex was lagging behind the others off by herself. Usually she is with the other SS. She kept her distance from the others on the several occasions I observed this afternoon, so I was concerned she might be sick. Tonight I went to check on them after they'd gone to bed for the night, and I found her huddled in the corner on the floor instead of up on the roost bar. I set up the separate coop with food and water for her in case she was ill, but when I picked her up to move her, I observed a very deep wound on the back of her neck. I'm pretty sure it's not survivable. It's cold tonight and I didn't want to get her wet by cleaning it, so I just glopped on some antibiotic ointment. My husband suggested I should put her out of her misery, but I didn't have the heart/stomach. I've never had to kill an animal before. The injury could've been from my cat, but I think he would've finished the job. So I'm thinking this was from persistent pecking from other chickens. She's the low bird on the totem pole and I've observed her getting pecked on several occasions by one of my ISA browns. I just can't believe I didn't notice the wound sooner. I was just handling her yesterday to do a follow up inspection after a lice infestation earlier this month. She seemed fine up until today.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

I've got a hen in my living room right now that's recovering from a severe gash to the abdomen. It has been almost two weeks now and she is looking fantastic.

Keep her in a warm quiet place and make sure she's eating and drinking. I put a vitamin and mineral powder blend in my hen's water, and since she didn't want to eat at first, only drink, I soaked some pellets in warm water to make a mash.
I applied Vetericyn to the wound once a day until I saw signs that it was beginning to heal.

 

[Eggcessive]

Does the wound look fresh? Is she alert? Can you take any pictures of the wound? Do you have a rooster who may have cut her with a spur while mating? Do you have hawks or other predators? Even a sharp nail or piece of fencing could cut skin. I would spray Vetericyn wound spray on the wound, or you can clean it with betadine, chlorhexidene, or saline. Then continue the plain neosporin ointment on it twice a day. Seee if she will eat and drink, but water is really important. Most wounds will fill in gradually and heal, but it depends on whether she has suffered other injuries.

 

[Deggie]

We had a turken with a very bad head wound and she survived. My suggestion is to keep it as clean as possible and keep the other chickens from pecking at it with some no peck remedy. We used Neosporin on our chicken and the no peck remedy. If she doesn't seem to be suffering don't give up on her. We didn't think our turken would survive yet she healed amazingly well and made a full recovery.

 

[lazy gardener]

Photo of wound in the morning? Keep her warm so she doesn't use vital reserves trying to keep her temperature up. Poultry Nutri-Drench if you have it. Mix up some home made electrolytes.

A gash type of wound says predator, not flock harassment.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes if possible for early care, you can bring them inside in a crate to a cooler room or basement. If she eats, drinks, can stand and walk, hopefully she should recover. You can do searches on BYC for wounds, and will find many threads and pictures of cases of amazing recoveries.

 

[rusty acres]

The more I think about it, I would say it isn't a fresh wound. There was no blood, just a big open deep area. She was out foraging today, but kept her distance from the other girls. I'll check on her in the morning, clean the wound, and apply more antibiotic ointment. I hope she makes it, my poor girl.

 

[AllenK RGV]

The more I think about it, I would say it isn't a fresh wound. There was no blood, just a big open deep area. She was out foraging today, but kept her distance from the other girls. I'll check on her in the morning, clean the wound, and apply more antibiotic ointment. I hope she makes it, my poor girl.

It sounds like your instincts to treat this hen are right on, keep up the good work and post us nosey folk a picture if you find time for that! I'm glad your hen has found herself a good observant keeper.

Also before introducing her back into the flock you will need blue kote or the purple stuff as the other hens will try to peck at her wounds.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think that you can clean the newest wound with some chlorhexidene or betadine, and then continue with t neopsorin. If she is up and running around, I would say that she will eventually heal. You would be amazed at how a gaping wound with exposed muscle and fat, or even down to the bone can heal eventually. I would not use BluKote until her tissue heals. Blukote is more for scratches and minor wounds. Vetericyn wound spray is also good. But for a major wound at first you cannot beat chorhexidene (hibiclens,) which can be found at Walmart or drug stores in the first aid aisle. Follow directions on label. You can make her a teeshirt out of some old clothes or a baby shirt. That might keep her from picking at her back.

 

[happyhens1972]

I wasn't planning on using the Blu Kote until I saw her continuing to pick. I like the t shirt idea! Thanks! I googled chicken cones and you can guess what came up!

You can buy saddles for chickens which are designed to prevent damage when being mated by cockerels but might it be the right sort of thing to cover the wound while its healing? If not, you might use the 'pattern' to design something yourself?