Help! Injured hen!

[Tiffy316]

One of my chantecler hens has a sore on her back. It looks like something ripped part of the skin off. I'm not sure how long it's been like that, but I think it's been about a day or less. I put her in an XL dog crate and put a bunch of Neosporin and chicken bactine on her wound. I don't have any wraps at the moment, so I just cleaned it, globbed Neosporin on it, and put her where the other chickens couldn't bother her.

I dont know what caused this, but we did have a skunk hanging around for at least a week. I was just able to get rid of it tonight. She doesn't have any feathers on her back and the sore is just under the wing. It's on her back, on the right side, just under her wing.

What else can I do for her. She has food and water in the crate and she can see the other chickens clearly. She's been jumping like she wants to come out, but that might've been bc the roosters came down to aee what was going on. She seems to be healthy right now and she's eating and drinking. You almost wouldn't know anything was wrong except for the sore.

 

[Tazbeaux]

With the condition of her back, it looks like she is getting too much attention from a rooster. It could be a spur injury. I would suggest that you keep her separated from the other birds and keep the wound as clean as you can. If you can find a way to close the wound some, that would help too. You may also want to check those spurs on the roosters and dull them down a bit if needed. Good Luck.

 

[Tiffy316]

My roosters actually have pretty dull spurs. It's like those little things they put on walls to keep doorknobs from damaging them. I suppose it's a possibility, but none of my other hens has it. She has been trying to sit on some eggs recently though. IDK how to close the wound. I separated her from the others so she can heal and I intend to get more Neosporin and bandages for her. I'm going to try to cover it with gauze and wraps so it doesn't get too dirty.

 

[allebasi4]

One of my girls had something really similar, though it was more of a gash straight through the skin and some of the fat in the same spot. Hers was definitely caused by the rooster, even though he was less than a year old and his spurs were growing in, but still pretty short. She also had broken feathers on her back... she was his favorite. She healed up really well without me doing much besides keeping it clean (I used chlorohexadine wipes) and putting antibiotic ointment on. I also made her a “hen saddle” but we ended up rehoming the roo and she hasn’t had another problem!
keep it clean and it should heal up before you know it. Make sure that if you do wrap it, give it just as much time without the bandage on so it can “breathe” and scab up. Good luck

 

[Weeg]

My roosters actually have pretty dull spurs. It's like those little things they put on walls to keep doorknobs from damaging them. I suppose it's a possibility, but none of my other hens has it. She has been trying to sit on some eggs recently though. IDK how to close the wound. I separated her from the others so she can heal and I intend to get more Neosporin and bandages for her. I'm going to try to cover it with gauze and wraps so it doesn't get too dirty.

First thing first, Don't Wrap it. That will trap the bacteria in the wound and decrease circulation. You sounds like you are doing everything right, keep it moist with Neosporin, but I would also suggest wringing it really well with a Saline, Chloxehadine, diluted iodine, or soapy water, that ever you have on hand.
Then, apply with a thick coat of Neosporin.
Once again, Do not try to close it, this is for the same reasons as wrapping, except the affects are worse, and more likely to happen.

 

[Tiffy316]

One of my girls had something really similar, though it was more of a gash straight through the skin and some of the fat in the same spot. Hers was definitely caused by the rooster, even though he was less than a year old and his spurs were growing in, but still pretty short. She also had broken feathers on her back... she was his favorite. She healed up really well without me doing much besides keeping it clean (I used chlorohexadine wipes) and putting antibiotic ointment on. I also made her a “hen saddle” but we ended up rehoming the roo and she hasn’t had another problem!
keep it clean and it should heal up before you know it. Make sure that if you do wrap it, give it just as much time without the bandage on so it can “breathe” and scab up. Good luck

Yeah, it could be a spur wound.

 

[Tiffy316]

First thing first, Don't Wrap it. That will trap the bacteria in the wound and decrease circulation. You sounds like you are doing everything right, keep it moist with Neosporin, but I would also suggest wringing it really well with a Saline, Chloxehadine, diluted iodine, or soapy water, that ever you have on hand.
Then, apply with a thick coat of Neosporin.
Once again, Do not try to close it, this is for the same reasons as wrapping, except the affects are worse, and more likely to happen.

So don't put a bandage on it, even with tape and keep it clean and smothered with Neosporin? What about cleaning it with a wet rag, spraying it with bactine or a simular disinfectant, and smothering it with Neosporin?

 

[Weeg]

So don't put a bandage on it, even with tape and keep it clean and smothered with Neosporin? What about cleaning it with a wet rag, spraying it with bactine or a simular disinfectant, and smothering it with Neosporin?

Yes, don't cover it with anything at all other then Neosporin. I wouldn't use a rag, that will probably be rough on the wound can hurt her. Try a paper towel, or of you have syringe or bottle to squirt it with soapy water, that would be ideal. Then wipe with a tissue, antiseptic wipe like in first aid kits, or paper towel. Antiseptic wipe is ideal, but you may not have that on hand.
As for Bactine, I am not familiar with it, what are the active ingredients?
Neosporin coating the wound is the best way to go. You can also add Apple cider vinegar to her water to help with a boost, and keeping her separated in a calm, quite place were not flies can get to the wound.

 

[AprilsZoo]

Yes, don't cover it with anything at all other then Neosporin. I wouldn't use a rag, that will probably be rough on the wound can hurt her. Try a paper towel, or of you have syringe or bottle to squirt it with soapy water, that would be ideal. Then wipe with a tissue, antiseptic wipe like in first aid kits, or paper towel. Antiseptic wipe is ideal, but you may not have that on hand.
As for Bactine, I am not familiar with it, what are the active ingredients?
Neosporin coating the wound is the best way to go. You can also add Apple cider vinegar to her water to help with a boost, and keeping her separated in a calm, quite place were not flies can get to the wound.

A great bottle to use for irrigation is a condiment bottle like you get in the bbq or outdoors dep’t @ Walmart. Just one of the empty, easy-to-squeeze bottles. Fill it with whatever irrigation solution you’re using and you can direct the stream directly into the wound.

This is also my favorite tool to use for an eye-wash. Any time I’ve been working outside and end up with a speck of something in my eye, this type of bottle makes it easy-peasy to lean forward over the sink hold my eye open wide with the fingers of one hand and be able to flush using homemade saline solution (1/4 tsp pickling salt & a tiny pinch of baking soda in 8 oz of cooled, boiled water) with the other.

Bactine is benzalthonium chloride... well, at least the human version is. It’s just a weak/mild disinfectant.

 

[Tiffy316]

I have a squirt bottle I can fill with saline. I don't have antiseptic wipes, so I'll just use a paper towel. Thanks.