Wash sick chicken?

[sammymocha]

I've been nursing an injured chicken that was mauled by a dog six days ago. She is wrapped in a towel in the shower stall. Giving her sugar water mixed with orange juice and powdered greens, I think she is getting better.

But so stinky and dirty. Just noticed some tiny insects crawling onto me. Gawd!

They are smaller than fleas and translucent, ugh. What to do? UGH!!

Can I put her in the tub and pour small amounts of warm water over her to get off the gunk? Can I just wrap her in a towel afterwards, do I need a heat lamp?

Thanks in advance,
Anne

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post photos so we can see the extent of the injuries?
Is the "stinky" from the wounds, any sign of infection, pus?
Depending on the injuries, you may be better off flushing the wounds with betadine, vetericyn, or chlorhexidine instead of giving her a bath. A bath may cause more stress/shock. Once she is dried, you may want to apply some more vetericyn or plain neopsorin to the wounds. With not seeing it, she most likely does not need to be wrapped, the wound(s) most likely need to have some air on them to heal. Infection signs would be pus, odors, etc.
If the wounds are infected then you may have to resort to administering antibiotics to help her heal.
Keep her warm and dry, provide her with her normal poultry food, you can wet it if needed, also some hard boiled/scrambled egg or tuna can be offered if she won't eat her regular food. The sugar water can be helpful , but you may want to see if the local feed store has some poultry vitamins/electrolytes.

As far as the bugs you are most likely seeing poultry lice or mites. Poultry dust is generally the most effective treatment, again depending on where the wounds are, you may be able to apply small amounts to the vent and around the head, under the wings etc. I would be hesitant to get any in the wounds.





Mites/Lice information.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

 

[sammymocha]

Thanks very much. Sorry as not able to post photo. Her injury was only to the neck, she lost feathers and most of skin on part, but now healing and now scabbed over. Only odor is poop. So we dodged infection issue.

I gave her a bath in warm water with small amount of dish soap and tea tree oil. She did not seem to mind, wrapped her in towel to dry. She ate oatmeal today, tomorrow dry chicken feed for sure.

When to return to flock? I will be home tomorrow and could set her down there and keep an eye on how she does. She still seems weak, though.

I put out a big mortar pan with sand and diatomaceous earth, for the other chickens, and they had a blast out there. Had not realized how much they need that.

Again, thank you for advice!

Anne

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks very much. Sorry as not able to post photo. Her injury was only to the neck, she lost feathers and most of skin on part, but now healing and now scabbed over. Only odor is poop. So we dodged infection issue.

I gave her a bath in warm water with small amount of dish soap and tea tree oil. She did not seem to mind, wrapped her in towel to dry. She ate oatmeal today, tomorrow dry chicken feed for sure.

When to return to flock? I will be home tomorrow and could set her down there and keep an eye on how she does. She still seems weak, though.

I put out a big mortar pan with sand and diatomaceous earth, for the other chickens, and they had a blast out there. Had not realized how much they need that.

Again, thank you for advice!

Anne

The faster you can get her back to eating her regular food the better. While they like oatmeal (mine included) it isn't near as complete nutritionally as the poultry food. If you find that she won't eat it dry, offer it to her wet, mix it with some warm water - mine like wet food to the consistency (of all things) oatmeal

You may also want to add a little hard boiled/scrambled egg, tuna, salmon or meat to the feed as well for added protein. Vitamins/electrolytes in the water won't hurt.

As far as integrating her back into the flock if she is still weak, then you may encounter some problems, in my opinion. She has been separated for about a week and most likely be viewed as an intruder. You may want to place her in an area where there is a see-don't- touch area until she is strong enough to defend herself if necessary.There are many article/threads here on BYC about reintroducing an injured chicken back to the flock, hopefully you can find an idea that will help.

I'm glad you were able to make a dust bathing area for them. They do love to have a place for that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/974617/reintroducing-injured-chicken

 

[sammymocha]

Thanks for your help! She is back on regular food, and in an x-pen inside the run because as you mentioned, the others are being really mean. I've also lobbed her a few earthworms over to her, and the other chickens are outraged if they don't get them also.

Thanks again,

Anne

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for your help! She is back on regular food, and in an x-pen inside the run because as you mentioned, the others are being really mean. I've also lobbed her a few earthworms over to her, and the other chickens are outraged if they don't get them also.

Thanks again,

Anne

Sounds like she is improving.

Glad to hear she is eating.
Hopefully they will begin to accept her back soon. One thing I read that may help is when you give treats, put a little next to her cage (give her some too), that way they all seem to be eating treats "together".

 

[sammymocha]

That sounds like a really good idea! Thank you!