Wound/sore on 15 week old SS pullet's face near eye

[Airyaman]

This Speckled Sussex flock seems to be the one with the most problems, not sure why. One pullet passed a week or so ago, another has weird growths on it's head, and this one has a wound/sore on it's face that keeps getting larger.

I have cleaned the spot several times with saline and hydrogen peroxide, and applied triple antibiotic cream at least 2-3 times daily, but I notice she often picks at it with her feet. None of the other chickens are messing with it, just her.

Any other suggestions other than the cleaning and antibiotic cream?

(she has her eye closed in the photos, but it is typically open most of the time)

 

[Eggcessive]

Is there an open crater on the sore? It looks swollen where sinuses typically swell on the face with a respiratory infection. She might have been pecked, or it could be something like a weevil or grub. Do you see anything down in the wound? Can you open her eye, and see if she has any bubbles, foam, or gunk in the eye, or any nasal drainage. I would put a few drops of saline or hydrogen peroxide into the crater, and press on it to clean it out with tissues. Then apply some neosporin twice a day. Keep a close eye on this, and don’t let her get pecked.

 

[Airyaman]

Is there an open crater on the sore? It looks swollen where sinuses typically swell on the face with a respiratory infection. She might have been pecked, or it could be something like a weevil or grub. Do you see anything down in the wound? Can you open her eye, and see if she has any bubbles, foam, or gunk in the eye, or any nasal drainage. I would put a few drops of saline or hydrogen peroxide into the crater, and press on it to clean it out with tissues. Then apply some neosporin twice a day. Keep a close eye on this, and don’t let her get pecked.

She is not getting pecked, I've observed her multiple times per day for the last several and the only one picking at it is herself with her feet. I look in the crater (which is larger than yesterday) and it is just scabby. I too thought of a grub or weevil (I had two kittens years ago with grubs in their neck! They were born outside under the neighbor's house), but nothing is moving in the crater or in the bump. I can even press on it and she doesn't really act like it bothers her when I do, but it obviously irritates her because she picks at it.

Her eye itself looks normal though a little squinty on that side, I imagine due to the pressure of the sore. No gunk, bubbles or otherwise. I do not see any nasal drainage.

Since I am cleaning with saline followed by peroxide, then covering the area with antibiotic cream (I fill the crater), will Veterycin Plus Wound Care be of benefit? I tried searching the site but it's not currently working for me.

 

[Eggcessive]

Vetericyn is expensive, and the saline and antibiotic cream are fine to replace that. I also would not repeat the hydrogen peroxide. It is used once to bubble out an abscess, but then it can prevent healing. I would tempted to use an antibiotic such as Tylosin in case this is a respiratory sinus infection. Or something like amoxicillin or bactrim/sulfa in case of a wound infection. I can help you to find one of those online if you don’t have any.

 

[Airyaman]

Vetericyn is expensive, and the saline and antibiotic cream are fine to replace that. I also would not repeat the hydrogen peroxide. It is used once to bubble out an abscess, but then it can prevent healing. I would tempted to use an antibiotic such as Tylosin in case this is a respiratory sinus infection. Or something like amoxicillin or bactrim/sulfa in case of a wound infection. I can help you to find one of those online if you don’t have any.

I actually have four Baytril 22.7 mg tablets that the vet gave for my ailing pullet (she passed a couple days after, but not unexpected). The dosage on that would be 1/2 tablet per day so that would get her 8 days of treatment.