Wounded Chicken

[PeterB94]

Yeh it's healing well.

When should I stop doing the Epsom salts bath and spraying with Leucillin?

Also iv made a little run for her to get back outside, when do you think is best to start doing this ?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Once her wound is mostly scabbed and you cant see any oozing or anything that would attract flies or hens.

 

[PeterB94]

Thats great thank you.

I won't be putting her back with the other hens for some time.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would continue with the wound care just like you are doing.

Her not laying eggs may be due to the injury or she may be having some reproductive issues. Hard to know.

A hen would need to be in total darkness for 16 hours a day to stop her laying by limiting light.

 

[PeterB94]

I would continue with the wound care just like you are doing.

Her not laying eggs may be due to the injury or she may be having some reproductive issues. Hard to know.

A hen would need to be in total darkness for 16 hours a day to stop her laying by limiting light.

Thank you for the further guidance.

She is darkness still as I'd read that's best after trauma, do you think I should I change this now and make it more light or keep it as it is for a while?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the further guidance.

She is darkness still as I'd read that's best after trauma, do you think I should I change this now and make it more light or keep it as it is for a while?

Is she getting any light?
I'd try getting her outside (monitored) for a few hours each day to have some fresh air and sunshine.

 

[PeterB94]

Is she getting any light?
I'd try getting her outside (monitored) for a few hours each day to have some fresh air and sunshine.

For an hour or so a day when I go down there to visit and bathe her etc.

I have the temporary run I've made her ready now so I can start doing that if you think she's ready for it. I can't imagine how bored and lonely she must be in there bless her!

Once she's ready would you suggest the playpen method of reintroduction and if so do you have any tips on such please? Also on the topic of the other chickens I've identified one who is quite a bully and was the one who was pursuing her wound the most, I don't think she's top of the pecking order though and the place I got her from suggested removing her once I reintroduce Elsa? Potentially getting rid of Bluey (Blue Orpy) all together.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd try placing her in the temporary run and see how it goes.

Likely the first thing she'll do is take a dust bath, so it's important you determine if the wound is scabbed/healed over well enough to withstand all that movement.
Yes. I have experience with wounds and dust bathing, it can be a mess

I would try playpen/look don't touch re-integration. You do want that wound healed and hopefully she will feather back in too. It takes time and patience for large wounds like that to heal.
Hard to know if the other hen was pursuing her so vigilantly because of the wound, maggots...I still really think that looks like a Flystrike wound, so the other hen may have actually been after the maggots and that's why you didn't find any, but it's just a guess on my part.

You never know how things will work out with introductions, sometimes things go smoothly, other times you don't. I'm not necessarily one that can give great integration suggestions @azygous may be better at that! Most all my hens seem to be brawlers and always have been. One breed I keep, I have to monitor hens closely since they are prone to get really testy, so I tend to let them fight it out more than what most would I suppose. Of course, I monitor closely and separate/break up things if it's going too far south, but hens can be quite brutal to one another.

 

[PeterB94]

I'd try placing her in the temporary run and see how it goes.

Likely the first thing she'll do is take a dust bath, so it's important you determine if the wound is scabbed/healed over well enough to withstand all that movement.
Yes. I have experience with wounds and dust bathing, it can be a mess

I would try playpen/look don't touch re-integration. You do want that wound healed and hopefully she will feather back in too. It takes time and patience for large wounds like that to heal.
Hard to know if the other hen was pursuing her so vigilantly because of the wound, maggots...I still really think that looks like a Flystrike wound, so the other hen may have actually been after the maggots and that's why you didn't find any, but it's just a guess on my part.

You never know how things will work out with introductions, sometimes things go smoothly, other times you don't. I'm not necessarily one that can give great integration suggestions @azygous may be better at that! Most all my hens seem to be brawlers and always have been. One breed I keep, I have to monitor hens closely since they are prone to get really testy, so I tend to let them fight it out more than what most would I suppose. Of course, I monitor closely and separate/break up things if it's going too far south, but hens can be quite brutal to one another.

Ok that's all really useful info about the dust bath, I didn't even think about that. I'll hold off a few more days then although I'll let more light into her isolation pen and maybe open it up a bit more.

Yes as soon as you said it the other day I googled it and it does look like so many of the images of flystrike. Either way I can't complain at not having maggots to contend with. I've set some home made fly traps I saw on YouTube around so hopefully that reduces fly numbers.


I've read so many posts before and it's a bit surreal getting replies of people like yourself, you're a bit like BYC celebrities haha. I really appreciate the help I've had so far!

 

[azygous]

Is that bulge that @Wyorp Rock encircled in red above or below the vent? That could be an old wound that has been trying to heal without proper wound care. It may have infection under it. Look for redness and swelling.

Yes, the feathers should grow back. The only place where they wouldn't would be where the tissue has been excised, removing feather follicles with it.

A reminder to supply her with grit in her confinement or you'll be facing a crop issue when she can't digest her food.

She would do much better in a normal setting with a barrier to protect her. Isolation, especially being kept in the dark, is not conducive to general health and well being. Can your run accommodate a small, sectioned off portion where she could remain protected while still being kept with her friends?