Wattle wound

[TheResidentialFarm]

I'm stuck at work, but my husband sent me a picture showing one of our hens with blood on her neck and wattle. He thinks she cut her wattle on something (no idea what since they were in the coop/run until he let them out while home for lunch). Naturally, this happened to one of the hens that does not tolerate handling well.

What sort of care level do chickens require for wattle wounds? It appears to have stopped bleeding on it's own, but I won't be home until about 8 pm, at which point the hen will be with her rooster on the top corner perch, which I cannot reach from the ground (poor design choice) because there are a lot of lower roosts full of chickens in the way. It can be done, and I can fetch the hen and keep her in a crate for a few days and treat the wound, but it will cause a lot of chicken upset. WWYD?

 

[BantyChooks]

Personally, I'd leave it unless it appears to get infected or start bleeding again. My birds bang themselves up on who knows what all the time... they're fine.

 

[Tiana's chickens]

Usually birds heal pretty quickly on their own and that doesn't look too major, but definitely keep an eye on it

 

[Jimmybeam01]

yea no worries with that. sometimes with wattles, mostly in the winter i put vix on their wattles to keep them in good shape. but those wounds heal very fast and i dont see any threat with that one. just keep and eye.

 

[Chickassan]

That will heal up and you won't even be able to tell it even happened.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Leave it alone, it will heal just fine. Wattles and combs are tough and they heal really fast, because on roosters they grab at them during fights and they get cut up really badly, so they have to be sturdy.

My boy in my avatar managed to get a RAUNCHY wound to his where it was split wide open at an angle, you could move the parts independent of one another, and all I did to him was fit them back together and hold them until they clotted in position. You can see the scab in the picture actually, it was healing. Healed up to where you can't tell it ever even happened.

 

[TheResidentialFarm]

Thank you so much, everyone! My horse took a tumble and scraped her knees pretty badly a couple weeks ago (daily vet visits for IV antibiotics, daily bandage changes, complete rest, etc) so I think I'm pretty paranoid right now. Glad you all saved me from reeeaaally annoying my hens!

 

[Jimmybeam01]

its good to be cautious, i know i am, but from dealing with wounds on cattle and baby calves, other animals as well i have learned alot of methods to save really most animals from death or severe wounds. i have done alot of surgeries on bumble foot stuff with much success. i usually use teet dip before and after my surgeries, mixed with salt water for soaks and ive never seen wounds heal so dang fast! you will know when its very serious or not. wish the best of luck with your horses! and gals!

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Horses are the worst! So accident prone. And when they do get hurt they heal so slow and seem to get every complication you can think of.

Thankfully a wattle is not a big deal.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Haha that hen looks like she is daring you to come treat her.