skinned alive -update 18/4/2011 the update we didnt want :(

[cochinGurl]

ive seen chickens come back from some pretty horible things like this and live happy lives afterward. personaly, i think you should try to save her. it is going to take a LOT of time and care, but its quite possible for her to pull thru. for the pain, baby asprin. i would cut the skin off now, while shes still in shock cuz if u try to do it later, she may freak out, this will raise her blood preasure, and it would bleed more. verry stressfull. make sure she has somthing soft and CLEAN to lie on. but try to lay her head on something solid, because if a cloth or towel sticks to her wound, it would hurt a lot to peal it off. make sure the wound is clean, this is a critical time to prevent infection, soon after the incident. if you see any specks of dirt, try to gently clean them out with a cloth soaked in warm water. is she shivering? keep her in a dark place. keep us posted.

 

[emvickrey]

When I introduced mine back into the flock it was while free ranging. That way if they do go after her she can get away instead of being pinned up. That will be a while down the road though.

 

[spish]

well Holly is doing well...shes not liking the being caged again but its for her own good. the wound is *clean* and beginning to scab over again....today she had a hearty breakfast of scrambled egg and cat food....ooh my she loved it!

 

[MSDeb]

That is good to hear.

 

[Earthologie]

Here are 2 ideas that might help.

My friend had a dog that was attacked by another dog. It's neck skin was ripped off VERY similar to your birds. It was very bad! She didnt act fast so th neck got infected. Then she figured it out: I cannot for the life of me remember what the medicine was called, but she bought it at TSC. It is about $15 a tube but was MARVELOUS stuff! It regenerated new skin growth FAST. Now the dog BARELY has a scar. She never took this dog to the vet and it never had stitches either.

Also, at health food stores, or online, they sometimes sell B & W salve. It stands for "Burns and wounds." It was made by Amish people in Ohio where I live to treat SEVERE wounds. The man who invented it wrote a book called "Comfort for the burned and wounded," and I highly reccomend it. I wount get into the science of it, but people and animals who are burned apply it. Since it is made with PURE lanolin, it is super thick and doesnt melt off. It helps keep their air off, which GREATLY stops pain from even the most deep of burns and wounds. It regenerates skin growth FAST

My brother had melted plastic tossed in his face at a factory. I brought him some. NO SCARRING, just like the books said. His wounds had been deep and painful. but since we did not have to put on gauze like they do in a hospital (and then ***painfully*** peel it off) taking all new skin growth with the old, he did not scar & was no longer in pain.

Personally I prefer the original B&W salve. People have copied it and sold it onine with other ingrediants as well. These would still work however.

I'm definitly getting more to have on hand for my chickens!

 

[JerseyHen]

how is Holly doing? I just read through and am rooting for her all the way. I hope she is on the road to recovery again.

 

[schellie69]

For all you are doing for Holly I hope she is on the mend and doing well. She is a fighter. I hope you are both doing okay. Please keep us posted on Holly's progress.

 

[Country4ever]

I wish I'd seen this post sooner. I'm glad you didn't cull her. Chickens are capable of incredible healing. I had an easter-egger who had a large area of her back skin torn off from a coon attack. I brought her into the house and kept her in a dog crate in my bathroom. I cleaned the wound well with diluted betadine and kept it covered with antibiotic ointment for about a week. Then I just let it heal on its own. She grew back feathers and looked totally normal within a short amount of time.
Good luck with yours. The important thing is to keep her in a clean environment and away from the others while she is healing. Also....be very careful when you do put her back with the others, in case they feel the need the attack her for awhile (which they always do).

 

[WriterofWords]

How is she doing? Do you have updated photos yet? I finally posted updates on Show Off, and I'm ready to strangle her! Right after I took her pictures she pecked one of her scabs off on her leg! Is Holly pecking her scabs?

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
She can't peck at her neck and head.

Do update us please. We're all hoping for her to recover . I may not post much but i'm watching