Back of the head wound, hens pecking injured hen-Any Medical Advice? or Flock Dynamics Advice?

[terry]

My daughter just came home from a family camping trip, they were gone 2 days and in that time one of her hens was pecked so badly in the back of her head that she has a deep hole.  I have not seen the hen, but spoke with her on the phone.  She is going clean it up and treat it with antibiotic cream.   My daughter said the hen is walking around and seems to be ok otherwise, here eyes are ok.  I don't know if she is eating but my daughter seems to think she will.

I wondering if that hen can be given some pain relief, aspirin or something?  Anybody treat wounds or have advice how to treat them or how to help the hen be more comfortable and heal?  

I have had pecked birds but never really had injuries i had to treat, i just separated the hen and she healed right up.  From my experience any injury, or bloody spot will get hens pecking.  Sometimes after a hen is pecked there developed a "pecking hen" that wouldn't stop.  Trying to get the flock living in peace again if found can be troublesome.  

Any suggestions?  Thank you for your help, Terry Northern California Foothills  

[Naola Vaughn]

I would simply put some BluKote on it and put the hen back outside with the other chickens and keep an eye on her and the other birds to make sure they won’t pick on her.  It may have happened while they were roosting at night as well. 

 

Of put BluKote on it and keep her separated until it heals up.

--
--
This message came from the "dom_bird" discussion group. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: Dom_bird+u...@googlegroups.com

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "dom_bird" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to dom_bird+u...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Barry Koffler]

Don't use the Blukote til the wound heals over.

>I would simply put some BluKote on it and put the hen back outside
>with the other chickens and keep an eye on her and the other birds
>to make sure they won't pick on her. It may have happened while
>they were roosting at night as well.
>
>Of put BluKote on it and keep her separated until it heals up.

--

-Barry

*******************************************************************************************
bar...@feathersite.com Barry Koffler mid-Hudson Valley, New York
the FeatherSite at
http://www.feathersite.com
Lead me not into temptation . . . I can find it myself

Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already
tomorrow in Australia!

"It's called the American Dream 'cause you have to be asleep to
believe it." -- George Carlin

I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without having
their motives questioned.

*******************************************************************************************

[terry]

Thanks again

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

You could get some Blue Kote.  I think that is how you spell it.  I have Red Kote, which is ok for combs and wattles, but red coloring would attract more attention.  What is nice about this product is that it sticks to everything, even moist areas such as wounds or vent,e tc.  Its sold at feed stores and is for agricultural use.  I used it on a cat once who was severely mauled.  Because it sticks she could not lick it off before it had a chance to help her heal.

Heritage Hens
herita...@aol.com

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

Why would you give someone that advice?  You are wrong,  It is a germicide and used EXACTLY for open wounds and other injuries.  This product has been used by farmers for years.

What is effective as well is that you can cover the whole wound quickly with the spray on animals or birds who are very skittish and you aren't hurting them worse by touching the wound.

Heritage Hens
herita...@aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Koffler <bar...@feathersite.com>
To: dom_bird <dom_...@googlegroups.com>

	        Lead me not into temptation . . . I can find it myself

Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already 
tomorrow in Australia!

"It's called the American Dream 'cause you have to be asleep to 
believe it." -- George Carlin

I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without having 
their motives questioned.

*******************************************************************************************

-- 
-- 
This message came from the "dom_bird" discussion group.  To unsubscribe from 
this group, send email to: Dom_bird+u...@googlegroups.com

[Nancy]

Check label - at least the brand I got said not for use in food-producing  animals. Other brands may be ok - IDK. I hope the hen is improving.

Nancy

[terry]

I really appreciate all your advice.   I had never heard of this product before but most people feel it is very useful especially to ward off attacks.  My hens would peck but not wound and damage each other so i had a screened "sick room" where i separated injured hens/roos.  

My daughter has the injured hen in her basement now.  The wound is large but the hen seems to be doing well and is walking and drinking.  Last night my daughter gave the hen aspirin water, then cleaned out the wound with hydrogen peroxide, it has formed a crust.  She also applied an antibiotic cream.  The aspirin water relaxed the hen and she rested well.  The hen seems to be in good spirits and she takes treatment of her wound well.   I think she is going to recover.  

Reintroducing this hen when she is fully recovered is my concern.  

The raccoon ate half her comb, and with care she recovered completely with half a comb.  

So when she was healed heather put a wall of chicken wire to give the hen a corner alone and reintroduce her to hens.  In that process the hen tried to get under the wire and made the smallest of scratches on the back of her head.  I know Any spot of Blood will invite an attack, and suggested she be kept separately.

Long story short, the landlord will not allow hens in the house, they were away only a day and a half.   My daughter's husband left her and she is struggling working full time.  I come down to help out and she is trying to give her kids a happy place.  They were never allowed to have pets before.  

I am taking off soon to go down, the kids have not seen the hen yet.  

There is a family farm that takes in hens and i think i will suggest giving the hen a new home when she is fully recovered.  The farm lets them free range and they have dogs and horses and all their hens are doing well.  Every year the school raises chicks and donates the hens to this farm.  I think this bird may need to be relocated, maybe her comb will make her look tough (she is a sweet barbed rock hen) and the others will stay clear of her.  

Bell is a red hen who we believe to be the pecker.  I think she may be Rhode Island Red.  I've had Barbed Rocks and Rhode Islands before - they seemed to be fine together, my Rhode Island was the dominate hen and the Barbs were ok with that.  Heather's flock of 4 are 2 years old now and were very happy group until this incident with the raccoon. 

My daughter works full time and doesn't have a lot of recourses juggling work and school schedules.  I also have a zoo near by that hens run free in, Maybe Bell the pecker could relocate there.  That would give them 2 hens and maybe that could work out for them.  

Thank you all again for your support, I really appreciate having you as a resource.  Sincerely, Terry Northern California Foothills 

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

Yes, it does say that.  But that means that you wouldn't eat the bird or perhaps her eggs while being treated.  Some wormers are like that, you don't eat the meat or eggs for a period during and after treatment.  I guess you need to choose what is best for the hen rather than her production.  It says not to use on cats, too, but it saved my cat's life and she had no ill effects of it.

Heritage Hens
herita...@aol.com

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

You could also use Vitamins and Electrolytes in the water.  I use 1/4 to 1/2 tsp to gallon of water, depending if the packet is concentrated or regular.

when I have isolated a wounded bird, or one recovering from a vet visit, such as inflamed ear, I use this method of introduction.  Instead of returning her to the flock, I take a docile hen and put her in with the recovering hen.  Then another docile hen, rotate a few so that they bond.  

I raise Orpington chickens only because I had problems with other breeds fighting to establish pecking order.  The Orpingtons do have a pecking order but it is very subtle and there is never any violence.  

Pat

[K M Edgar]

Pat,

I like Orpington chickens as much as the next person, but to say one breed of chicken (like Orps) are guaranteed to peck less or are more docile toward one another is a bit "over the top".  I know that can be said to a modest extent ..... but there are several breeds of chickens that are less flighty around humans than others.  I can say that Cochins & Silkies are docile and now that I've opened this can of worms ..... others will chime in with their favorite house chicken breed.  I raise Gamefowl specifically because they are exceptionally great peckers ..... at least in defending their young.  I don't raise Gamecocks.  I do keep a flock of Gamefowl hens to hatch whatever particular egg I want hatched .....  be it ostridge, emu, goose or dinosaur...LOL

Sincerely,

Kelly in Moxee

[Cock-A-Doodle-Do]

I didn't mean to imply that Orpington breed is the ONLY docile breed.  However, it is the ONLY breed that I have had that was this docile, and I have had RIRs, Golden Comets, Wyandottes, Crevecoeurs and a couple others. 

 I also did not say anything about guaranteeing they won't peck.  They may peck if you throw a treat and one hen wants it and of course if a hen is taking her chicks out she will fend off hens or roosters that she doesn't want near her young.  I said that they are not violent.  I have raised Orpingtons for years and have never had a hen do harm to another one.  This is not to say that the roosters don't have their fights now and then with each other, but for the most part they exist well together.  I have four Orp roosters at any one time.  

As you say, there are a lot of options for folks who want an alternative to some that are not as docile.

[terry]

That is a good idea.    Terry Northern California Foothills

[terry]

I just wanted to let you all know, that the hen that was attacked by the raccoon and then pecked badly by a "sister hen" is now in Full Recovery!!!  

I fed that hen meat scraps and she put on weight and got much stronger, kept up regular feed, and kept wound clean & medicated.

The hen was kept in the basement for awhile at night then during the day out with the others.  

There were some more pecks- twice drawing blood.  But the hen kept getting stronger and was returned to the nigh roost.  

Then the dominate hen drove her out at night, and we found her on the steps to the house, so we put her up at night again for a week, then reintroduced her to the night roost again.  

She is now doing well with the flock, she has a new look with very little comb left but she is strong, healthy and back in full time with the hens as though nothing happened.  

No one is more surprised then myself, but she was a determined hen.  

I am glad to report a Happy Ending, and to Thank you all Again, Really it is Comforting to have your Input and Encouragement.  Sincerely Terry from N California Foothills

[Barry Koffler]

>She is now doing well with the flock, she has a new look with very
>little comb left but she is strong, healthy and back in full time
>with the hens as though nothing happened.
>
>No one is more surprised then myself, but she was a determined hen.
>
>I am glad to report a Happy Ending, and to Thank you all Again,
>Really it is Comforting to have your Input and Encouragement.
> Sincerely Terry from N California Foothills

Glad it worked