Top of Chicken's head is ripped off

[Piopio1234]

So my next door neighbor had a chicken and they recently moved away, but as I soon find out, left their chicken behind. I discovered it in my backyard one day after hearing it screaming and saw it was being attacked by a cat and luckily, I was able to stop it from hurting the chicken further. I took it inside my home but I don't know how to treat it, as the top of it's head is ripped off. I also do not have access to a vet near me due to the covid-19 situation. Is there anyway I can help this chicken myself?? I tried giving it some water but by the looks of it, it can't physically drink it.

 

[Liam G]

That does sound good, is the top of its head still bleeding? maybe apply some pressure to stop blood loss and possibly try bandaging it if you can. however, I never done this before just bandaged legs so might be quite difficult.

 

[Mablethechicken]

I had a severe head injury happen to one of my chickens. We think a raccoon or some other predator reached through the run and clawed her. The skin was basically ripped and pulled forward so it was a bloody mess. I couldn’t see either of her eyes. I was sure she was blinded and or her eyes were just gone. Long story short I quarantined her in a plastic tub and spoon fed her water and mushed up feed for about 2 weeks. The tub was inside my garage so she could stay warm while recovering. She pulled through! After the skin scabbed up and eventually fell off her left eye was revealed (and working!) and then later the other one. She was blinded in her right eye but made a full recovery and even her badly damaged comb healed.
When it first happened I put a ton of antiseptic cream on her head. Like covered it! I think I only had neosporin so that’s what I used. And then I wrapped her whole head in a bandage. She looked like she’d been wounded in war.

main thing is to disinfect and then definitely made sure you are manually giving her water If she can’t drink on her own. You would be surprised what they can survive!

 

[Mablethechicken]

Here’s a pick about halfway through her recovery after it started to dry up and scab. She was so sad and lethargic. She just kind of laid there all the time hanging her head.

 

[Eggcessive]

Vetericyn wound spray is a very good disinfectant to use on head wounds twice a day, and followed by Triple Antibiotic Ointment to keep the wound from drying out until the skin heals.

 

[Piopio1234]

Would using warm water with a warm towel also help disinfect the wound? Also, is it safe to use a disinfected spray or cream with a big open wound? It literally ripped off its comb.

 

[Eggcessive]

The Vetericyn and Triple Antibiotic Ointment are fine for an open wound.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can also use saline or chlorhexidene (hibiclens) diluted with water. The ointment will keep the healthy tissue from drying out.

 

[Piopio1234]

 

[Piopio1234]

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Here are some pictures of the chicken. Sorry if I'm posting to much, but I'm new and hope to get as much advice as possible. Also, would it be smart to wrap its head up? I'm scared of accidentally blocking it from breathing.