DIY suturing

[natemoore1986]

One of my hens got her neck caught in the Pullet Shut automatic chicken door. In her struggle to get free, she ripped open the skin on the back of her neck. It took me a day or two to come up with a plan of action, but yesterday I got down to business.

I initially just put triple antibiotic ointment in and on the wound. That prevented infection from setting in until I found the time to get to it.

 

[natemoore1986]

My daughter, who wants to be a vet tech, helped me with the suturing. None of the vets I called would give me or let me buy real sutures (jerks) and Tractor Supply doesn't carry them (this is why I do most of my shopping on Amazon).

I used the smallest circle needle I could find in my upholstery kit and some nylon thread, both of which I sterilized with alcohol. I trimmed away a little of the dead skin at the top. I know it looks bad, but the skin under the dried black blood on the bottom looks pink and alive when you flip it over, and the yellowish crust wasn't puss-like, it was hard like a scab. I tried to peel it off but it wasn't going anywhere.

The hen was a trooper throughout all this. I want to save her because she lays pink eggs which are kind of cool.

Here I've trimmed away some of the hackle feathers, cleaned the wound, and applied triple antibiotic ointment.

 

[natemoore1986]

She jumped a little when I pierced through her skin. The needle is pretty dull compared to a suture needle. Two down, one more to go.

 

[natemoore1986]

Three! I hope this holds. I'm ordering sutures tonight, so if they come loose I'll do more stitches.

 

[natemoore1986]

Here's my assistant. She wants to be a vet tech, but was worried about being squeamish. She did fine. This was my first procedure of this type. I'm usually gutting and processing dead animals (deer and feral hog).

 

[natemoore1986]

Finally, I sprayed the wound with Blu Kote. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

 

[natemoore1986]

I started her on liquid antibiotics yesterday, too. This morning the wound looks good, and she's acting fine. I've got her separated in a cage inside my workshop, along with another hen in a separate cage. The other one has a vent wound that the other chickens have been pecking at. I cleaned that wound with soap and water and covered with Blu Kote. I figure in a few days that one will be ready to go back with the flock.

 

[Spartan22]

Here's my assistant. She wants to be a vet tech, but was worried about being squeamish. She did fine. This was my first procedure of this type. I'm usually gutting and processing dead animals (deer and feral hog).

Amazing guys! Good job!

 

[ryanhodapp]

Awesome job. I'm always afraid I will do more harm than good.

 

[natemoore1986]

She's healed up. Just waiting for the feathers to grow out and cover the scar. I've got proper surgical sutures now, so if anything like this happens again, I'll be ready.