Mystery injury / infection on chicken face

[cheide]

thank you so much for supporting me through this!!

here’s a couple pics I took this morning before flushing and slathering with ointment.

she seems slightly better? the wound looks less bloody and pussy, but still quite bad. it is like a deep cavity and almost looks like it goes through to her cheek or throat… or ear? she fights me a little more when I go to pick her up (like she normally would) and she’s actually been perching on the roost I gave her in the crate - she stayed in a corner the first couple days. she hasn’t laid an egg since being in the crate - but I think she just isn’t quite comfortable with the set up. eats and drinks - not quite normally but some. she’s pooping in there.

she sometimes shakes her head and scratches at it. which seems not great.

a vet is an option do y’all think it’s time to go that route?

 

[alinas2010]

thank you so much for supporting me through this!!

here’s a couple pics I took this morning before flushing and slathering with ointment.

she seems slightly better? the wound looks less bloody and pussy, but still quite bad. it is like a deep cavity and almost looks like it goes through to her cheek or throat… or ear? she fights me a little more when I go to pick her up (like she normally would) and she’s actually been perching on the roost I gave her in the crate - she stayed in a corner the first couple days. she hasn’t laid an egg since being in the crate - but I think she just isn’t quite comfortable with the set up. eats and drinks - not quite normally but some. she’s pooping in there.

she sometimes shakes her head and scratches at it. which seems not great.

a vet is an option do y’all think it’s time to go that route?

Oh dear that does look like it goes into some sort of cavity! I do think a vet would be your best option at this point but I am going to tag the educators because I did not realize it was as involved as it is. They will give you the best advice while you wait to get into a vet. Please check back soon for their expert advice. Is the yellow pus? @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous please help!

 

[cheide]

Yes, I think the yellow is pus.

thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she scratching her face with her claws? I would watch for that. If there is pus, I would rinse the area with hibiclens chlorhexidene and half water, then rinse off. Reapply the antibiotic ointment twice a day.

 

[cheide]

Is she scratching her facing with her claws? I would watch for that. If there is pus, I would rinse the area with hibiclens chlorhexidene and half water, then rinse off. Reapply the antibiotic ointment twice a day.

I can’t exactly tell if she’s scratching with her claws or her knuckles… definitely her feet. how can I make her stop?

we’ve been doing the ointment twice a day. going to get some of the hibiclens now.

thank you

 

[alinas2010]

Yes, I think the yellow is pus.

thank you!

Be sure to flush that cavity out well with the saline, remove as much pus as you can.

 

[cheide]

I have an appointment with a chicken vet on Monday. if y’all think it’s more urgent I could take her into an emergency place?

it’s sunny here today so I let her out to roam our small yard for a bit - under supervision. she wanders around and scratches about. I even shut my other chickens out of the coop and in the run so she has the whole yard to herself (with me and the dog) and the coop too if she feels like hopping up and laying an egg.

I also used warm water to soak some food so it’s maybe easier for her to eat? and put water just in a bowl - seems easier for her? I don’t know

thanks everyone

edited to add a couple pics

 

[alinas2010]

I have an appointment with a chicken vet on Monday. if y’all think it’s more urgent I could take her into an emergency place?

it’s sunny here today so I let her out to roam our small yard for a bit - under supervision. she wanders around and scratches about. I even shut my other chickens out of the coop and in the run so she has the whole yard to herself (with me and the dog) and the coop too if she feels like hopping up and laying an egg.

I also used warm water to soak some food so it’s maybe easier for her to eat? and put water just in a bowl - seems easier for her? I don’t know

thanks everyone

edited to add a couple pics

Aw what a little darling. I think wet feed is probably good and soft for her to eat, my chickens love it and think it’s a treat! I feel that unless you start to see her decline significantly Monday would be okay for the vet. Make sure she is eating and staying hydrated, also keep up with cleaning and the ointment a few times a day and she should be okay through the weekend, imo.

 

[alinas2010]

Does she get to see her friends at all? Sometimes friends are great for chicken moral and healing, they’re so social. But ensure if she visits with any it is through the wires of her kennel or supervised by you so that she doesn’t get attacked. They can be mean to each other after being separated and reintroduced.

 

[cheide]

Does she get to see her friends at all? Sometimes friends are great for chicken moral and healing, they’re so social. But ensure if she visits with any it is through the wires of her kennel or supervised by you so that she doesn’t get attacked. They can be mean to each other after being separated and reintroduced.

first, thanks so much @alinas2010 for all the kind responses and advice

our run is in the yard and it has a wire fence so she can go over there and hang by them while they are all stuck in the run. lol the others are very jealous.

I only have six total chickens and they are all very docile and get along great. but they fight over the nest boxes for sure so I think that may have been when they injured her or made whatever this is worse on accident. then once there was blood, I’m sure they kept at it

when she’s all better I plan to reintegrate her slowly.