To Dub or not to Dub, THAT is the question...

[ILoveJoe]

I have been looking through alot of the posts on frostbite and dubbing.

My rooster Hoss first damaged his wattles fighting through the fence with another young roo (who has been thoroughly digested since).

But the cold hasn't helped the healing.

Here he is today in the tub getting some triple antibiotic ointment treatment. Both wattles are warm to the touch and one was pretty sensitive when I attempted to squeeze in case any pus would come out. They aren't swollen, but are enlarged at the edges where it is black and yellowish.

He also has some frostbite issues going on the comb and apparantly around his beak area.

I am not sure how old this guy is, but he is at least 2 years old maybe older. I read that dubbing can be stressful to older birds and I would like to avoid that if possible, but I don't want to lose my bird to a systemic infection.


I would appreciate ANY advice on a course of action for him.

 

[Teach97]

I would dub...read the advice on how to do it...sharp scissors!

 

[moduckman]

No, not right now. It may look bad, but I've seen far worse and they've survived. The frozen parts will eventually die and fall off. While it may hurt some, I think you should should use the wait and see method.

 

[ILoveJoe]

Should I be giving him some antibiotic orally?

Tonight when I came home from work and went out to check on them, I noticed a few of the hens giving his wattles the evil eye. I don't know if I should put him by himself yet.

 

[moduckman]

There's a powder antibiotic you can add to their water or mix it their feed. Most feed/farm stores have something like this.

 

[ILoveJoe]

Quote:
I do have the electrolytes with vitamins I bought when the girls were chicks. I would have to separate him from the girls though right? Since they are laying eggs I eat, I can't give them an antibiotic, right?

 

[ILoveJoe]

Oh I just realized that was a stupid question. Electrolytes and vitamins doesn't = antibiotic.

 

[moduckman]

That is correct about seperating for the eggs, but the electrolytes are not the antibiotic I am talking about. A believe it is terrecycin, or something similar to that.

 

[Chicken Woman]

I would not. My hen looked like this:

I used neosporin with out pain relief (that stuff is toxic) and then I put bag balm on top of it.
I treated everyday and put terrimyicin in water for 2 days. Now at 2 weeks it has fallen off and she is fine.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Try some A&D Ointment on them as well when the infection is out. It does wonders to help heal skin. I get mine in the Baby Section at Walmart.
I'd sure wait and see how they heal up first.

The rest of his comb looks good.