Chicken bald back

[Janet G]

One of my hens has a damaged fifth claw (if that's the right term - the claw highest on the back of the leg). It looks like the end had come clean away & it's bloody, also a lesion on her leg above. It's probably from fighting as we introduced 2 new hens yesterday & she took great exception, in fact was quite vicious. I've cleaned the wounds with water, sprayed on surgical spirit & smothered it with vaseline, as I don't have any animal disinfectant & couldn't think what else to do. Is there anything else I should do, & is there any chance of this infecting her leg or any other problems? Thanks.

Janet.

[Goosey Lucy]

Not an expert but...is it still bleeding? If so wound powder or if none to hand, cornflour can be used.

 

Hens are attracted to red things so a bloody wound may well be attractive to your other girls and maybe to this hen. Purple spray can disguise the colour. I think it's also called Gentian Violet.

 

Tea Tree oil can also help with wounds.

 

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will be along soon.

 

Are your other hens separate from this one? I've had to do very slow introductions in the past.

 

Also, are you sure she is a she? from your description it sounds like a spur that a cockerel would have

[Chucky Mama]

I would just salt water bathe, dry and then put on some wound powder if you have some, or purple spray. I wouldn't use vaseline as it will keep the wound too moist and surgical spirit is very painful in a wound so salt water (1 teaspoon in 1 pint) is better

[Janet G]

Thanks for the help, I'm going to try & get the gentian violet & wound powder later today. It wasn't still bleeding as such, but definitely a bit missing from the end of the claw. & yes she's a hen, good layer that we've had for over 2 years. She's been attacking the new hens again despite being wounded so for all their sakes we've put her in a separate house & run. This seemed better than confining the new ones who get on well with our other hen. Anyone any idea on how long we should keep her separate to change her behaviour or doesn't it work like that? We've not had any problem introducing hens before.

 

Cheers,

Janet.

[Chucky Mama]

I don't know if you are introducing 2 new to 1 hen but you will find lots of advise here Click Here