Chicken bald back

[good_egg]

I've come home to find Buffy with her comb hanging off and blood all over her head. I think there is a dog staying next door and it escaped and gave them a fright - cant get at them but I have no idea what else could have happened. I'm going to clean her up - can I do anything to reattach/hold come in place? Steri strip or similar? Have vet appointment tomorrow am.

 

Thanks for help.

[daxigirl]

Don't worry too much. The comb does bleed a lot so it may look worse than it is. Give it a gentle clean with a bit of TCP diluted in warm water or similar. Keep her quiet and warm in a dark box in the house if possible, shock will be the thing to minimise. By all means wrap some gauze round the comb but I'd avoid sticking plaster to the comb itself.

 

I'm sure someone else will be along with better advice for you. Good luck. Big hug for the shock for you and injury to her.

[good_egg]

Didn't look so bad when it was cleaned. They are all super jumpy poor things. I bathed her in salt water (although now worried that's not good if she cleans herself). Kept her in for cuddles while she dried off a bit but have tucked her up with the others and will take her to vet in morning as it seems to gape a bit so can't see how it will heal without help.

 

Thank you for replying

[Patricia W]

It could be one of the others. I suspect there would be more injuries if it was a dog. Use purple spray to disguise the red of the blood as it attracts the others to peck some more.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that . I agree, it could be one of the others. One of my girls had part of her comb pecked right off once. It actually healed quite quickly though so hope yours will too .

[good_egg]

Went out to check on them last night and she was bleeding again. Same place - think cos its come off at the base then if she shakes her head it goes loose straight away!! She spent the night indoors when I finally got it to stop bleeding.

 

Don't think it's the others - neat slice at base of comb at back. She is top chicken and no sign that has changed. Don't think dog got - just wonder if scared her so she caught it on something. Cannot work it out though. Chicken, utility room and I are all purple though - just in case!

[Plum]

I'd stick some tape or steric trips on it. Obviously got a good blood supply so stands a good chance of healing.

[Purplemaniacs]

Chicken, utility room and I are all purple though - just in case!

Nice, I like purple.

 

I hope her comb heals quickly, one of mine was pecked on the comb and it healed very quickly. Perhaps she caught it on something if she was paniced by the dog

 

Chrissie

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to hear about the injury; sounds as if she's caught her comb in fencing or similar. One of mine did that.

 

You did right to bathe it etc, I would see if it's repairable with superglue (my mainstay for that sort of injury) and keep her in and away from the others until it's fully healed. When you're ready to put her back, I'd recommend a dab of Nettex's anti-pecking spray... brown rather than purple, but still stains and tastes vile, so hold her head until it's dried.

[good_egg]

Thanks DM. Was still quite oozy this morning cos it kept flapping when she moved her head. Wondered about superglue but everyone here looked at me like i'd lost the plot!! Took her to local vet who said she needed stitches but she didn't want to do... So, we are just back from our new discovery of an avian expert in Cumbernauld who is going to anaesthetise her and stitch. Think I wish I had seen your post!! Will get her back tonight - should we keep her out of the main run? Only thing we have is a cat carrier in the garage...

[good_egg]

Forgot to say, managed to stop bleeding with cornflour to slow down the main flow - think she scratched it last night which is why it started again - her toe nail has blood on it and there is an arc of blood akin to a horror movie in their house! So, cornflour then iced water as her comb was quite warm so figured must be a lot if blood in it; this washed the cornflour off a bit, I just soaked kitchen towel in the iced water and applied pressure. Then when it had slowed a lot if sudocrem.... Not sure textbook approach but SO glad it worked eventually!!

[The Dogmother]

That's good, well done!

 

I use superglue for a number of injuries, both human and animal - that's what it was developed for

 

Do you have access to a small dog crate you can keep her in? Don't keep her from the others for too long, or they will be pecking her on her return.

[good_egg]

Might see how she looks. If it doesn't look too bad might let them all out for an hour together before bed and see how it goes. They stayed away from it (as far as I can tell) yesterday and certainly didn't go for her or the blood after I got home. Having had reintroduction issues before so am worried about them being apart too long! They are a drama! I will remember superglu (perhaps for me too!!)

[daxigirl]

See I knew people would be along with lots of ideas and advice.

 

Glad she seems ok. Gonna get meself some superglue for medicinal purposes too.

[good_egg]

She is home! A little wobbly at first but now trotting round the garden quite the thing! Stitches are nearly invisible and comb is solidly attached - I do wish she would stop shaking her head though! Let the other 2 out and put her in WIR but she trotted straight over to them to see why they were eating and they have been FR quite the thing since! Have antibiotics to give her for 5 days. Fingers crossed it is plain sailing from here...

[good_egg]

Forgot to say thankyou to everyone who posted! It's so nice to know that help is on hand and that people understand!!

[The Dogmother]

well done to that girl and her 'chicken mum'!

[daxigirl]

Hooraahh

 

Raisins work well for hiding pills in for them.

[coco]

Glad she is ok and well done to you for treating her. Chickens do tend to heal fairly quickly, I had a sussex that was pecked down to the bone, by the time she had finished her antibiotics she was fine.

[Mrs_B]

Oh my goodness, good_egg! Poor you! So sorry to be reading that your lovely hen got hurt in such a way, but so glad that everything seems OK after your updates.

 

I'd never have considered super glue either - what a great idea!

 

How's Buffy doing?

 

x

[good_egg]

Hello! She still has a somewhat purple and pink head and the stitches are a little bit scabby but she seems fine and even laid an egg yesterday! Taking her back to vet for a check up on Friday.

[Mrs_B]

Oh bless her - she must be so sore Good for her to feel good enough to lay an egg

 

I know what you mean about the Purple Spray - I have some sprayed inside my wooden coop door at the moment as I was concentrating on getting it on the right part of one of my hens the other day, I didn't realise where the 'spray' was landing (it was dark outside!) thankfully it does go away eventually, even off feathers and skin.

 

Has she been good at taking the meds? Have you had her inside all of the time? I hope she makes a full recovery and you can put this stress behind you (these chooks are still determined to cause us all stress!) Huge hugs!

 

x