Skin on neck and back ripped off! URGENT

[TheBirdLady2001]

One of my female quail was severely beaten up by my other quail. I have no clue what to do. She is shaking, but I think the bleeding is pretty much stopped.
It looks like she is missing hunks of skin on her neck. When I found her she was lethargic and her eyes droopy.

 

[wvchics]

If you can't afford a vet I would clean my really well and try to bandage the skin so as to hold it in place. Try to keep her warm in case of shock. Idk that's what I would do hope this helps

 

[Sagey_7878]

If you can't afford a vet I would clean my really well and try to bandage the skin so as to hold it in place. Try to keep her warm in case of shock. Idk that's what I would do hope this helps

X2 or put her down. Those wounds are pretty bad and deep.

 

[BobDBirdDog]

Thats a pretty tuff bump. If ya just have to keep the bird and dont mind seeing it suffer, pull the skin back into place and try to superglue if if you can. Just super glue at the edges not under the skin. Then spray it with some antibiotic spray/sealer (some of the others can tell you about that spray, I never use it). But the superglue, they use to use that in army medical many years ago. But its a big IF'er on that wound. If ya have the heart and a good ax, it might be time for chicken and dumplings otherwise. corn starch is another old trick I use on cuts but not applicable in this case (helps stop bleeeding).

I had a pheasant that got into the other side of the pen and got his tail feathers whooped pretty bad by the older roo, bald head down to the muscle, took out an eye and he looked grave yard rough.....birds are a lot tougher than they look, still got the one eye and his head has about healed and growing feathers again. Just keep him in ICU for a few days and wrap it after playing docor. dont know your temps in your area but remeber its getting spring warm so keep away any flies.

Still, its friday and chicken is always on the menu...so if you can handle it and spare the bird theres nothig like fresh chicken for dinner.

 

[sylviethecochin]

If you're planning to keep her, the following is what I would do in your situation:

Cut the closest feathers away from the wound for sterility,

Saline rinse (2 tsp salt, one quart pre-boiled or distilled water) the wound until all of the dirt is gone.

Pat dry with a clean cloth (if you have some of those pre-packaged towels in your first-aid, that's good)

Use a topical antibiotic treatment. I use blu-kote but have been (loudly) informed that it's animal torture to use that on a large wound. Red-kote is a similar product but stings less. Both are available at any half-decent feed store. But almost any topical antibiotic wound care can help.

If she's "shocky" (which is unresponsive and limp), then you'll have to keep her hydrated, warm, and in a dark place until she feels better. An electrolyte mix will hydrate her better than plain water will and also give her energy. (recipe is 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp sugar or corn syrup, two quarts water, one pinch of salt.)

Socks full of microwaved rice make great heaters if she's cold.

Good luck.

 

[TheBirdLady2001]

I’ve put her in the house and have a heat lamp on one side, some food, and I am going to make the electrolyte mix that @sylviethecochin suggested. She pecked at some of the food, and is standing under the heat lamp. She looks pretty alert, and was walking and looking around fine.

 

[sylviethecochin]

If she's alert, that's great!

Hope she recovers well.

Incidentally, do you have antibiotics in the house? Some penicillin could really help if she gets infected.

 

[TheBirdLady2001]

I don’t think we have any penicillin... but we have polysporn. Will that work?

 

[sylviethecochin]

I wouldn't know. @casportpony might, though.

EDT: I just did some research. I would put that on the wound now, but note that the packaging specifies for minor wounds and keep an eye out for infection. If I were you, I'd also see about getting a stronger antibiotic into my first aid kit in case something like this happens again.

Again, good luck.

 

[Alaskan]

I’ve put her in the house and have a heat lamp on one side, some food, and I am going to make the electrolyte mix that @sylviethecochin suggested. She pecked at some of the food, and is standing under the heat lamp. She looks pretty alert, and was walking and looking around fine.

That wound actually doesn't look that bad.

I have treated much worse with excellent success.

Rinse the wound well. A bottle of saline is usually easiest.

Pat the skin back into position. Make sure there are no feathers underneath, and no feathers too close to the wound edges.

If needed super glue the edges, or sew closed with clean cotton thread. You don't have to seal ALL of the wound. Some gaps are fine and can help the wound drain.

I have never used or needed antibiotics for wounds.

She will need to be kept alone until it is completely healed. Keeping her inside is best since then it is easy to keep her fly free. If you have flies inside..make sure you coat the wound.