Can she be saved?!

[Ryytikki]

Been away on holiday for two weeks and left my chickens with a lovely friend who fed, cleaned and collected eggs. When I got back, I noticed one chicken limping but when I picked her up, I found her severely pecked, the other chickens have even made a large hole in the skin (see images)

Sorry if the images are upsetting but I need to know if there is any chance of her being saved.

She is eating and drinking fine, but in the long run, would it be kinder to get my husband to send her to the big chicken coop in the sky?

Two of the other three also have a small area pecked but neither of these are larger than a one pence piece and have scabbed over completely.

If I separate the ill chicken, I am concerned that if I put her back, she will not be re-accepted into the pecking order as she is at the bottom but I don’t want to give up on her if there is something we can do but equally don’t want to leave her in any sort of distress.

At the moment, I have locked her into the chicken house, eagerly awaiting for any reply and any advice to help prevent this happen again to any of my other chickens.

Thank youBeen away on holiday for two weeks and left my chickens with a lovely friend who fed, cleaned and collected eggs. When I got back, I noticed one chicken limping but when I picked her up, I found her severely pecked, the other chickens have even made a large hole in the skin (see images)

Sorry if the images are upsetting but I need to know if there is any chance of her being saved.

She is eating and drinking fine, but in the long run, would it be kinder to get my husband to send her to the big chicken coop in the sky?

Two of the other three also have a small area pecked but neither of these are larger than a one pence piece and have scabbed over completely.

If I separate the ill chicken, I am concerned that if I put her back, she will not be re-accepted into the pecking order as she is at the bottom but I don’t want to give up on her if there is something we can do but equally don’t want to leave her in any sort of distress.

At the moment, I have locked her into the chicken house, eagerly awaiting for any reply and any advice to help prevent this happen again to any of my other chickens.

Thank you

Ryytikki

[Two_Sheds]

I found her severely pecked, the other chickens have even made a large hole in the skin

You're not kidding - that's gruesome.

I didn't know chooks were cannibalistic

[Ryytikki]

yea, its scary to see what they have done in such a short time. Do you think we should try to save her or put her out of her misery?

[Flummery]

Is she actually in misery? Hens can actually kill one that they pick on. Have you got any gentian violet spray? - Also known as Purple Spray? If you spray that on a wound it's not only antiseptic but it disguises blood which will encourage chickens to keep pecking. Once they've drawn blood they will keep going. I'd be tempted to get it cleaned up by a vet then keep the wounds sprayed till they heal. Keep the pecked ones in a run near the other so they can see each other - otherwise they'll be strangers when re-introduced. I would say it's possible to save her but it will take patience on your part. Good luck with her.

[Ryytikki]

ok, we will try what you said and hopefuly it will work. We dont have any of that purple spray but we will get some if you recommend it

Thankyou very much for your help!

[Ryytikki]

You cant see it on the photograph but there is a bit that goes up and i can see either side of the tip of the breast bone, will it still be safe to spray internaly, even with no organs visible?

[MaureenHall]

That really does look gruesome!! Is the wound smelly? Don't want to be a scaremonger here, but to me (in a human nursing role now) from the photographs it looks necrotic (possible early gangrene?). I hope I'm way off course but I'd definitely get her to the vet for his/her opinion. Think I should get some purple spray as a standby just in case any of mine get injuries, I've been very lax in that respect. Best of luck, and whatever you do, it'll be the right thing for her xxx

[Noodle]

That looks horrid. I don't know about the spray on something that severe, I used to use it on horses if they cut their legs but nothing that deep.
I would say that if she seems ok in herself, eating drinking, pecking about then try to save her, if she's lacklustre, I'd say she probably too far gone, it's a massive would for a little hen.

[roitelet]

i would do as the others suggest but find out who the bully is and take it out for a week or two then put it back. The result will be that it is then at the bottom of the pecking order and it might resolve the problem.

Hope the injures chook recovers if not do the kindest thing.

Best of luck

[Ryytikki]

ok, thankyou everyone for your help and support!

We are going to put her into our guinea pig run and then put that inside the chicken run so that she is close to the other chickens, My mum is an ex zookeeper and she has found a vet that supplys the spray

The wound is dry and she is (apparently) still laying but we can only hope for the best and i will keep you all reported on what happens.

Thanks again

Ryy

[Ryytikki]

we are going to spray the pecked one but we are wondering if we should seperate the one doing the pecking or the one with the wound?

[Flummery]

Separate the one who is pecking - definitely. You might also need to keep the one with the would separate for a while. Some people reckon that if you take the bully out and walk around with her under your arm for some time, that takes her away from her superior position in the pecking order. Also if you put her in a separate run, she will need to integrate when she goes back in, as she will have lost her place.

Worse than politics, isn't it?

[Ryytikki]

hehe, that should teach her a lesson!
Mums just gone down to the vets and should be back in about 30 mins so ill update this thread when i get news!

[Ryytikki]

ok, we have sprayed the chook with the antiseptic spray (so now she has a blue bum), moved an old cage that we used for keeping our cats in when they were sick into the run with a tarpauling over the top to keep it dry. We still dont know what to do with the bully but we are considering doing what Flummery suggested (as soon as we can find a place for her to sleep - we're running out of room!)

[lynda66]

i would definitely keep her separate where the others can see her, if she starts to go off her feed, get her to the vets, she may need antibiotics, and remove the bully from the run completely for a while, anywhere will do, corner of a shed? spare room? garage? anywhere in solitary, where the others can't see her. so she doesn't have to deal with that when she's healed, watch out for fly eggs too, although theres not many about right now, they will lay eggs anywhere they can.