UK Member Please Say HI

[CiceroXY]

Hi guys,

Just joined, from UK here also!

Hi and welcome!

 

[timon]

Hi everyone,
Welcome to all the new people - I'm greatful to have this forum as a support group !

I'm sure you'll feel the same too if anything surprising happens.

Army at 16

TV always glamourises the good and bad points-otherwise it wouldn't make compelling viewing. Hope it helps whichever way you're leaning.

In your experience, is there ever a week that goes by without problems occurring? Or am I reaping the rewards for getting bald rescue hens?

I'm hoping that I'll be less 'needy' as I get more experienced, but it's a steep learning curve sometimes....

This weeks problem is that one of the girls that hasn't grown feathers on her back had a gaping wound down her side about 3 inches long...

Was under her wing too, so I hadn't spotted it when I fed them in the morning, but noticed she didn't stay outside very long, and went back in the coup to hide(rest).

I've read a couple of threads on here about people stitching their chicken back together with no anaesthetic just a towel over their head !!

The chickens head... not their owner...

Have you had injuries with your girls, and how did you fix it?

Timon

 

[Rudies Roost]

Hi everyone,
Welcome to all the new people - I'm greatful to have this forum as a support group !

I'm sure you'll feel the same too if anything surprising happens.

Army at 16

TV always glamourises the good and bad points-otherwise it wouldn't make compelling viewing. Hope it helps whichever way you're leaning.

In your experience, is there ever a week that goes by without problems occurring? Or am I reaping the rewards for getting bald rescue hens?

I'm hoping that I'll be less 'needy' as I get more experienced, but it's a steep learning curve sometimes....

This weeks problem is that one of the girls that hasn't grown feathers on her back had a gaping wound down her side about 3 inches long...

Was under her wing too, so I hadn't spotted it when I fed them in the morning, but noticed she didn't stay outside very long, and went back in the coup to hide(rest).

I've read a couple of threads on here about people stitching their chicken back together with no anaesthetic just a towel over their head !!

The chickens head... not their owner...

Have you had injuries with your girls, and how did you fix it?

Timon

Hi @timon

I know how you feel.....I seem to only have a few "problem free" days in a row and then something happens to one of mine! I personally wouldn't dream of trying to stitch any of my birds. My Salmon Faverolle was injured by the fox on her back 6 months ago (7 were killed), she had a large bite wound on her back (along with a broken leg). I just cleaned it up with warm water and saline, sprayed with Iodine and gave her some Baytril I had spare, to curb any nasty infections she may have got off that vile creature's mouth (you have to get this from the vet though). I did this once a day for a week and after 10 days she sprang out of her isolation cage and she has'nt looked back since. They are remarkably resilient animals and seem to bounce back well. If in doubt, I always go to the vets for assistance but I do appreciate that when you have quite a few birds, this is not always a cost effective exercise...and not everyone has a good avian vet locally - I'm very lucky that I do. Good luck with your hen and well done on the progress of the ex-bats....

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi @timon

Army at 16 for you then? Personally I don't want him to go in at that age but I don't want to stand in his way. Maybe I'm just being selfish but it's not the route I would have hoped for. I don't think he would be emotionally strong enough for it but what will be will be I guess with his decision. He's only 14 now so it may just be a fad and I'm sure there will be lots of mind changes.

It's seems with the more chickens you get the more problems arise and you really are not alone with something seeming to happen every week. Yes rescue hens are that bit more work but not bald hens can cause stress too. That seems quite a gash on your hen, have the others been pecking at it do you know?
Depending how long the wound has been present there maybe no viable skin to stitch I'm afraid. Does it look fleshy? Does it look old? Infection present?
I've not stiched my own chickens up but would not fancy sealing any infection in there.
You could try banging her up, clean the wound antiseptic cream/ointment on, a padding of some kind and maybe vet wrap (self adhesive bandage) her up.
Could you post a pic of the wound?
Oh and take that towel of your head!

 

[timon]

Hi @timon

Army at 16 for you then?

No, No !
I meant that tv will probably glamorise the whole experience, and I hope it doesn't give him the wrong ideas or false impressions.

 

[timon]

I'll share a picture, but if you don't like seeing animals with problems or in pain .... look away now. I was quite shocked when I saw it, but want to do my best for her, and not have her suffer more than is needed.

She is still eating, drinking and pooping ... but walks gingerly and prefers sitting down on straw in the nest box.

 

[Athaid]

Hey

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I'll share a picture, but if you don't like seeing animals with problems or in pain .... look away now. I was quite shocked when I saw it, but want to do my best for her, and not have her suffer more than is needed.

She is still eating, drinking and pooping ... but walks gingerly and prefers sitting down on straw in the nest box.

Mmmmmm that's quite a large wound :/ I'm guessing she has caught herself on something. With no feathers to protect her skin this can happen. It's not gushing blood though which is a good sign. As Sasha said above I think time and keeping it as clean as possible is going to be the option here with her. Unless you take her to the vets so they can take a look. The skin should eventually grow back but will take some time.
I just had a thought, do you think you could pull the skin enough to use those steri strips on her? At least then it's not stiching but the wound would be a tad more covered.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hey

Hello there

 

[Rudies Roost]

I'll share a picture, but if you don't like seeing animals with problems or in pain .... look away now. I was quite shocked when I saw it, but want to do my best for her, and not have her suffer more than is needed.

She is still eating, drinking and pooping ... but walks gingerly and prefers sitting down on straw in the nest box.

Oooohhhh @timon

Thats looks naassttyy!! I'd get her to a vet asap personally...it looks a tad infected as it's such a dark wound. A course of antibiotics are prob in order. A good clean will help but even my Conchita's bite wound didn't look that bad. Fingers crossed & good luck xx