Answer please! need wound help turned black. Have searched no HELP.

[newbiechickenowner]

PLEASE READ: THANKS for your time! I have a hen that I found with a large gash on her back/side behind her wing attachment area. It is on her side and, the skin was torn WAY back. I had no idea how far down it went at first. The top was a giant open wound (Not bleeding, just oozing, and not infected). I pulled the skin and feathers to teh side and it actually goes several inches down her side and out to the sides that the skin will literally pull away from her body. It was in between skin layers and the muscle-type of wound. Anyway, I cleaned and disinfected and separated her for the past few days and she seemed to be doing great. It was healing. No signs of infection. No pus, smell, ooze, blood, no NOTHING. Eating, drinking, wanting to get OUT!

Anyway, tonight, I went to let her roost with the crew as I thought she was ready and I realized that when she flapped her wing, it pulled apart just a bit. I went to look and I could pull it all the way apart and it was just a black cavern of tarry looking GOO....and it stunk! It is not healing to itself and is now all completely black (and not the good healing type of black) and gooey. WHAT DO I DO? I cleaned it out and sprayed in some antiseptic for the night. It appears like it has no intention of healing back to itself, but, it can't stay "open" to the air to let it just dry out and die because of the way it falls back naturally onto itself. What do I do???? Hydrogen to dry it? I know that can make a dog throw up so how do you use that on a little ole chicken?

 

[Jkioneil]

hydrogen peroxide is a good idea for sure pour it on the wound. get her isolated again inside for awhile till it is really healed. Clean it regularly keep it dry and i would go to the feed store and get some antibiotic to put in her water. is she still eating and drinking?

 

[Jkioneil]

a good deep clean is needed and put antibiotic cream on it. make sure you seperate her so you can keep her clean and get her healthy

 

[noodleroo]

Colloidal silver is my wound wash of choice. If you have any you can flush the cavity out with it.

 

[newbiechickenowner]

I have a limited amount of things that I can get from teh TSC and our local co-op so if people could suggest a couple of good antibiotic creams/rinces choices as well as antibiotics to put in her water (I usually use the yellow pack mycin) Anyway as well as names of washes, that would be great. She is eating and drinking and it was going SO well that I hadn't even given her antibiotics in her water

I will run to the co-op in the AM and pick stuff up (if she hopefully makes it...I am assuming that this is some prelude to gangrene?) I really rubbed at the black stuff (without further trauma) and it was thick and almost impossible to remove so it appeared to be her skin and not just scab, etc. She is such a good girl! She is tolerating me quite well so far. How can I keep the wound open to dry? Or, will the hydrogen peroxide help with that?

 

[Jkioneil]

yes that is why i would use the hydrogen peroxide. There's an old addage "dry wound-wet dressing, wet wound-dry dressing" that applies. Especially with chickens, one normally has to be wary of using wet ointments because the birds can chill easily. Because of the nasty nature of chickens, most wounds are wet (weepy) so we do dry dressings like Furox spray (yellow powder, otherwise known as furoxazone) or blue lotions like Anti-Pick lotion, or other livestock lotions which dry to a blue film. Often when skin dies, the resulting dead (necrotic) skin has to be abrided (cleaned off) because there's really no need for it and it begins to break down. It is also common for there to be infection inside the wound that isn't obvious from the outside. If that is what is happening, you have a serious situation which can result in blood infection and death of the bird. So, you can see, that if you are dealing with an injury of that magnitute it would be best to get a vet or experienced stockman involved.

When a wound is open, you have the chance to be able to examine it more easily and less chance of anaerobic infection. Actually, you would be surprised just how large a wound can heal with feathers and all! My advice is to use ointment after it starts to scab over so that flies do not lay eggs in it that is the worst! Use aerosol furox so that it would get deep into the wound.
and put her in your house i a dog crate or what not so you can keep a good eye on her. hope this helps

also you could use a product called wonder dust for the open wound or like i said blue coat if you can not find the WD also some electrolytes in the water.

 

[newbiechickenowner]

thanks so much for the continued advice. We do not have anyone around that is even remotely! involved with poultry care. That is why I am so thankful for and basically dependent on this board and search engine when we have such a serious (and even not so serious) issues. I really appreciate when people take the time to help, it can mean the difference between a bird living or dying as it always seems to be something "new". I have been able to help others locally with the information that I have received through folks on this board and used trial and error with my own flock. When I just went out to use the peroxide, I could see a bit of pink flesh under the black from where I cleaned awhile ago. The side with the skin has small yellow bumps, but, I think it is just the underside of her skin that I am seeing and not "fly-related" yet. At least that is what I am hoping! I hated leaving her with wet peroxide on as it is a pretty cold night here tonight, but, I do not have a garage. She is in the big dog kennel inside the coop and I am just hoping she can keep herself warm. I will be off to the TSC and Co-op in the morning and hope that I can catch any bloodborne at this point too. Thanks again and keep posting

 

[Judy]

The black is probably what is called necrotic tissue, which means it is dead tissue. It will rot and smell, and cause further infection in the healthy tissue nearby. It really should be surgically removed if there is much of it. In addition, you need to secure the wing so she can't flap it, and isolate her in something like a dog carrier so she does not try to fly. I would probably wrap vet wrap all the way around the body to secure the wing.

You have a long road ahead of you to care for this wound. Good luck.

 

[Jkioneil]

no problem and i know what you mean it is a wonderful site and has helped me tremendously too!

that being said i highly recommend you bring her inside your house in the dog crate. It is imperative that she is warm and dry!!! especially if it is cold at night. laydown some paper or a board you can take out and clean tomorrow but put her indoors!!! it could make the differnce between living and dying. I can not stress that enough! my lady when she was injured sat in a big dog crate with newspaper in it and watched tv with me. she really seemed to like it. lol it is the best way to keep an eye on her keep her warm and keep her clean too. i would keep her in until she is a bit better. it is good that she is eating and drinking and since you are getting what you need tomorrow i think you may have caught it early enough. good job keeping an open eye!

 

[Jkioneil]

Quote:
that is exactly what it sounds like! vet wrap is a good idea i am glad you mentioned that.