Silkie with large growth under leg feathers

[Bekajune]

Ingrown feathers are called feather cysts, and they look like a pimple. If you look hard, you can see the trapped pin feather doubled over just under the skin. A little nick with a razor blade frees it and it pops up. Usually feather-footed chickens get them on their feet.

If you are up to it, I suggest keeping on with a ten minute soak each evening. Epsom salts can improve blood circulation, encouraging healing.

Definitely keeping up the soaks. Thanks again!

 

[Bekajune]

I know it is really hard to know what could have done this but, her lump hardened and started coming off almost like a scab. And when it did, the wound was all the way to her bone. I sprayed some blu-kote on it right now. I have attached what “scabbed” off. It’s a little squimish of a pic but I had to share just in case there was anything that stuck out.

 

[azygous]

Can you get a photo of the wound? If it's missing feathers, perhaps it will be easier to see what it looks like.

Was there a bad smell to the mass that came off? If so, the wound is likely infected, and you need to treat it with more than blu-kote, which is really for tiny abrasions.

If there is tissue missing over the bone, flushing daily with saline and keeping it covered in between with antibiotic ointment would be the best way to treat it. Stay away from peroxide.

 

[Bekajune]

I know it is really hard to know what could have done this but, her lump hardened and started coming off almost like a scan. And when it did, she wound was all the way to her bone. I prayed some blu-kote on it right now. I have attached what “scabbed” off. It’s a little squimish of a pic but I had to share just in case there was anything that stuck out.

Can you get a photo of the wound? If it's missing feathers, perhaps it will be easier to see what it looks like.

Was there a bad smell to the mass that came off? If so, the wound is likely infected, and you need to treat it with more than blu-kote, which is really for tiny abrasions.

If there is tissue missing over the bone, flushing daily with saline and keeping it covered in between with antibiotic ointment would be the best way to treat it. Stay away from peroxide.

I didn’t notice any odor. The open wound looked clean. Would doing the epsom soaks still be a good thing to do? I was doing a soak earlier this evening when it was loose but still attached and then I guess it softened up enough that it finished coming off. She is in a pretty clean environment right now. So that should help too, I hope.
mad far a a saline treatment, what does that consist of. I’m really fairly new to chickens and have only raised a couple through this last year. Now I have a few more. But this is so new to me. It’s so weird. Thanks again for any help and info you can give. She seems normal otherwise. Happy and eating and drinking and wanting to walk around.

 

[azygous]

You're doing great! Be confident that you're doing the right things and this little gal will heal just fine.

The goal of wound care is to prevent infection while you encourage new tissue growth over the wound. By all means, continue the Epsom soaks. It encourages blood flow which will nourish new tissue growth. An alternative, if you are strapped for time one day, is to use saline wash to clean the wound each day to remove bacteria that will inevitably accumulate. You can make your own or buy it in the aisle where the bandaids are sold. Saline will wash away bacteria while preserving the PH of the tissue.

Then finish by smoothing on a generous layer of topical wound ointment to keep the wound moist so tissue will grow in more quickly. You can get some non-stick gauze pads to place over the wound and then wrap it snugly, but not too tightly, with Vetrap to keep the wound clean and to keep the flock from picking at it.

She can go back with the flock this way and heal even faster with her mates. Slowly, you will see new tissue form at the outer edges of the wound and slowly march toward the center, forming a ridge like a volcano called granulation. This is normal. When the new tissue meets at the center and finally closes, she's healed!

 

[Bekajune]

You're doing great! Be confident that you're doing the right things and this little gal will heal just fine.

The goal of wound care is to prevent infection while you encourage new tissue growth over the wound. By all means, continue the Epsom soaks. It encourages blood flow which will nourish new tissue growth. An alternative, if you are strapped for time one day, is to use saline wash to clean the wound each day to remove bacteria that will inevitably accumulate. You can make your own or buy it in the aisle where the bandaids are sold. Saline will wash away bacteria while preserving the PH of the tissue.

Then finish by smoothing on a generous layer of topical wound ointment to keep the wound moist so tissue will grow in more quickly. You can get some non-stick gauze pads to place over the wound and then wrap it snugly, but not too tightly, with Vetrap to keep the wound clean and to keep the flock from picking at it.

She can go back with the flock this way and heal even faster with her mates. Slowly, you will see new tissue form at the outer edges of the wound and slowly march toward the center, forming a ridge like a volcano called granulation. This is normal. When the new tissue meets at the center and finally closes, she's healed!

Thank you so so much! My little boy loves this girl so much. I hate she’s the one always struggling one way or another. I will definitely do those tips! Thanks again!

 

[Bekajune]

You're doing great! Be confident that you're doing the right things and this little gal will heal just fine.

The goal of wound care is to prevent infection while you encourage new tissue growth over the wound. By all means, continue the Epsom soaks. It encourages blood flow which will nourish new tissue growth. An alternative, if you are strapped for time one day, is to use saline wash to clean the wound each day to remove bacteria that will inevitably accumulate. You can make your own or buy it in the aisle where the bandaids are sold. Saline will wash away bacteria while preserving the PH of the tissue.

Then finish by smoothing on a generous layer of topical wound ointment to keep the wound moist so tissue will grow in more quickly. You can get some non-stick gauze pads to place over the wound and then wrap it snugly, but not too tightly, with Vetrap to keep the wound clean and to keep the flock from picking at it.

She can go back with the flock this way and heal even faster with her mates. Slowly, you will see new tissue form at the outer edges of the wound and slowly march toward the center, forming a ridge like a volcano called granulation. This is normal. When the new tissue meets at the center and finally closes, she's healed!

Will this work?

 

[azygous]

That's it! Perfect!

 

[Bekajune]

That's it! Perfect!

Yay! I sprayed her little leg and wrapped it! She wasn’t bothered by it! And! It already looked like it was better than yesterday! Was looking pretty good. Whew!

 

[azygous]

I hope you remembered the topical wound ointment. That's crucial.