Wounds - Pictures of how they heal.

[casportpony]

Two days later
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-has-bad-infection-emergency.1325616/#post-21630448

 

[casportpony]

Now
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ection-emergency.1325616/page-2#post-21642474

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

Now
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ection-emergency.1325616/page-2#post-21642474
View attachment 1871697

I had no idea they could survive such a devastating injury. Thanks for sharing.

 

[casportpony]

I had no idea they could survive such a devastating injury. Thanks for sharing.

It is amazing, isn't it?

 

[webbysmeme]

I hate to but in, but , my old blind girl had one just like that. It took 5 weeks inside the house in a crate.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

I hate to but in, but , my old blind girl had one just like that. It took 5 weeks inside the house in a crate.

You didn't butt in You answered a previous question. Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

I hate to but in, but , my old blind girl had one just like that. It took 5 weeks inside the house in a crate.

You aren't butting in, this is exactly the type of post this thread needs, thanks for sharing!

You didn't butt in You answered a previous question. Thanks!

Exactly!

 

[casportpony]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post, though I have been learning a lot from all of you for the last few years. Thank you.

Last Tuesday evening we had a strange dog attack. One pullet dead and one adult chicken with a huge patch of skin missing from her back and puncture wounds (see photos). The missing skin patch is about 2"x6". I can see fat, muscle, blood vessels, etc. I wasn't sure she would survive.






Next day she is eating, drinking and pooping. So amazing. Not sure I'd be in that good of shape.

From what I've read, she should be able to healing completely!?! What do you think?

For the first two days we washed the area with diluted hydrogen peroxide, coated it with antibiotic ointment and covered with bandage once a day. I did some research that suggested switching to watered down iodine. We did that yesterday. Today (Friday evening) when we took the bandage off there was this strange green-blue color in her flesh (see photo).

Does anyone know what this is? Looks scary. Is this the iodine? or Is something very wrong?









Also, we have kept her separate from the other chickens. I keep her in a dim-lit, quite room so she can rest and heal. Last evening she seemed a bit ready to get out of the bin so let her outside, fenced in and supervised. She didn't seem to want to go very far. Today I had her in the kitchen with me and outside a little bit.
Once she is a bit stronger I may put her in the run with the others but in her own cage. So they can remember her. Then bring her in the house or separate her in the coop at night.

Anyone have any more suggestion how I can care for her and help her heal? Anything else I should know?

Thank you

Yes, she is alive and well.

Below are pictures of her at one week after the attack. The area is starting to dry and enclose.

On Tuesday it will be two weeks. I will post more pictures.

We are still cleaning the area with diluted iodine and coating with antibacterial ointment once a day.
In the last couple days she has been wanting to be with the others. I have her next to them but fenced off during the day.
Two nights ago she jumped out of her bin in the house and started walking around the living room looking for a place to roost. All good signs.

This evening I let her out with the others and watched. She went into the coop and got on the roost. They all got on there with her.

But I brought her in for the night. I could separate her with in the coop but, I don't want to chance flies or picking up any infection from the coop.


Also, a note on the blue-green that I was afraid of, but thought might be bruising. The next time I took off the bandage there was blue-green on the bandage too. So not sure it was bruising. It only lasted 3-4 days. Not sure what it was, maybe a mix of iodine, antibiotic and something from her body. It never smelled bad.

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would post more pictures of her healing process. She is doing great.


Here are pictures at two weeks.









Her feathers are growing back so fast. You can see she is finding places to dust and get dirty. She is no longer white.



Today is three weeks since dog attack. Here are pictures from this morning.






It's harder to get in to take pictures...that's a good thing

So amazing to see the skin growing in!!

We have been rinsing with diluted iodine and applying antibiotic ointment once a day. She is starting to get annoyed with us. All looks good so we haven't done the cleaning ritual for a couple days. The scab is dark partly from dirt which doesn't rinse off even under the kitchen faucet.

She still sleeps inside the house at night, not only for cleanliness but I don't want her laying. So she stays in dim-light in the morning till I bring her out in her own fenced off section next to the others.

I'm not sure when I'll put her back in coop. Maybe once scab falls off and I know she is sealed up I'll let her in at night in her own section. She will start laying again, but that should be ok by then.
I do have a rooster, I don't what him jumping on her back any time soon (even though he is a pretty gentle guy), so will need her separated.

I've learned a lot and been impressed with this big girl.

Just an up date and for those that are finding the pictures helpful for tending to their injured chickens.

I was away for week 4 after the attack so I don't have any pictures.

Here is a picture at 5 weeks.





I'm not sure why the feathers that were growing back are now gone. It happened while I was away. I'm not sure if they broke off and/or where 'compromised' from damage done in the attack so broke of easily. It's not pecking and it's in the middle of the back, so don't think it is rooster wear.

Any way, looking good. The skin/scab is dry. I think I'll put some vitamin E oil on it.

She has been happily back in the coop and integrated for about 5 days. Probably could have put her back earlier, but thought it was easiest for the chicken sitter to not have to deal with possible issues that might come up with integrating her back in.