The Poultry Keeper

Ridgeback · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

My dog has just managed to get in with my chickens! He managed to get hold of one before i got to him and the chicken now has a couple of puncture wounds around her back end. I have treated the wounds with wound powder. Please could you advise me what else I should do?
Thanks. Crying or Very sad

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1331 Location: Manchester

how big are the wounds? puncture wounds are a problem because they often go deep, if they are not too big on the surface then it's best to leave them open so they can drain, whereabouts are the wounds? can you see anything inside them?

Ridgeback · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

The wounds are about half an inch deep and they are by her tail, there are about three in total. Sorry have not kept chickens for long so I do not know all the terminology yet!

They are just quite red ans very sore looking. I am just worried they will become infected! Your advise would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1331 Location: Manchester

well thankfully it doesn't sound too bad at the moment - keep up with the wound powder if that's all you have, if you've got any spray then it will be better as it won't dry the area and possibly trap infection in. If the wounds are visible when she is just walking around normally she'll need to be separated from the other hens as they will likely peck her and make the wounds worse.

The best spray to get is a purple spray made from a solution of genetian violet, you can get it from horse tack shops or some farm shops, that will also discourage pecking. If you can't get hold of that then any spray antiseptic from the chemist will do.

Hope she has a speedy recovery!

Ridgeback · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks. I did get some purple spray as well. Do you think I can use that now or should I wait until tomorrow as I have used the wound powder already?

I will keep you posted on how she is doing. May thanks again for your advise! Very Happy

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1331 Location: Manchester

personally I would wash out the wound powder with some saline solution - you can either pick up some at the chemist (contact lens solution is good as long as it doesn't contain thimerisol, or you can make your own - it needs to be a 9-10% solution with freshly boiled water.

Flush out the wound powder and any dried blood/debris in the wounds -someone else to hold the hen would be useful at this time!- and then liberally spray the purple spray onto them.

Be careful as the purple spray does stain.

Would powder is good for surface wounds to help stop bleeding and encourage scabs to form, puncture wounds really need to be kept moist to heal well and drain effectively.

Ridgeback · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks very much. I will do that now!