By Kelcie Paulis, Chickenlandia Presidential Advisor
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Wounds are bound to happen at some point in your chicken-keeping experience. Whether it’s from fighting, predators, something in the environment, or simply a mystery, chickens can be a bit thin-skinned. Luckily, chickens are also surprisingly resilient creatures. I’ve seen them heal from all manner of injuries and wounds. Most minor wounds can heal quickly with a little TLC and some savvy First Aid. If your chicken is wounded right now and you’re trying to decide what to do, let’s break it down in a few easy steps.
Note: In Chickenlandia, we aim to use natural products whenever possible. Some of the suggestions below aren’t totally natural, but in an emergency situation, it’s really important to have options. To see The President of Chickenlandia’s mostly natural first aid kit, click here.
Step 1: Wash Your Hands
Recently, we’ve learned a lot about how germs spread. To prevent new or further infection to your chicken or you, make sure you wash your hands before and after treatment.
Step 2: Stop Bleeding
When you have discovered a wounded chicken, it’s important to assess the damage and clean the area. But you must stop any active bleeding first. Some wounds, like combs, waddles, and toenails, will bleed far more than others. I use Kwik Stop to stop the bleeding but any styptic powder will work. If you don’t have any styptic powder in your chicken first aid kit, don’t worry! Cornstarch or baking flour works as a good alternative. Sprinkle the powder over the area and press it into the point of bleeding. Allow time for it to clot and dry before cleaning the wound.
Step 3: Clean the Wound
Cleaning the wound and surrounding area is important for both preventing and healing infections. If you do nothing else, don’t skip this important step. It’s the best thing you can do to help a chicken with a surface injury.
It’s not a completely natural product, but a good old soap and warm water rinse with classic Dawn Dish Soap is my first step in wound cleaning. It is safe and gentle, and for small surface wounds you can simply use it with a washcloth. For larger scraps, I rinse the area right in the sink, while being careful not to get the chicken completely drenched. You don’t want to give them a full bath and stress them out. Just get them wet enough to clean the dirt and germs away from the wound.
Step 4: Apply a Topical Treatment
There are lots of good topical wound treatments that are safe for use on chickens. Here are my top recommendations for this step:
Veterycin – Veterycin is my number one go-to product for wound care and cleaning. It kills 99.9% of germs. Veterycin is incredibly safe and has amazing disinfecting and healing properties. It can be used for virtually anything, anywhere on the body. Veterycin is readily available for purchase at most pet or feed stores, as well as online. And don’t worry about which formula to buy; while they make many species specific labels, all Vetericyn Plus products are safe to use. Generously spray on and around the wound. Repeat daily throughout healing.
Raw Honey – We like to lean natural in Chickenlandia whenever possible. Raw Honey has great antibacterial properties. It also helps things heal up faster. Any Raw honey will do. Drop on a glob and gently spread it across the wound. Make sure your chicken is separated from their flock when using honey topically.
Hydrogen Peroxide – Many people have this readily available in their home first aid kit. It is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection. You can use this on chickens for minor cuts, scrapes, & burns. However, peroxide should not be used on puncture wounds or bites. I apply it to the wound area with a cotton ball.
Neosporin – Just about everyone has a tube of Neosporin around the house. As long as it doesn’t have any painkiller in it, it’s perfectly safe to use on a chicken wound. Since it’s a triple antibiotic, it can help to prevent or treat infection during a critical time. Simply slather it on minor wounds and rub it in gently.
Blue Kote – Blue Kote is another one of my go-to products. It is an antiseptic, germ-killing, fungicidal wound dressing and healing aid. It works to protect animals against common infections and pus-producing bacterias. Blue Kote is for surface wounds and abrasions, but is also effective for fungal infections and ringworm. Blue Kote contains Gentian Violet, which is an antiseptic dye that dyes the area a dark blue color. This dye is very helpful for “covering up” a wound and preventing picking from their flock mates. Anytime I notice a bird with a wound that is being picked, I apply a spray of Blue Kote to the area (be careful, it WILL dye your hands blue for a few days and it does stain clothes).
Step 5: Repeat
Depending on the severity of the wound, you will likely want to repeat the cleaning and topical treatment process for as many days as necessary. For larger wounds I treat 2x a day for the first 3 days and then once a day until they are on the mend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my chicken need stitches?
Most surface wounds do not need stitches, but some may be large or deep enough to require closure. I usually don’t worry about stitching wounds that are smaller than a US Quarter. If you feel your chicken may need stitches and the wound is still fresh, seek a veterinarian for sutures. The open edges of wounded skin will dry up in the first few days of healing, thus leaving the skin unable to be remedied by stitches. If this is the case, continue to clean and treat. Chicken skin has amazing healing powers and it may still heal up on its own.
Should I use a bandage?
This really depends on the severity of the wound, but I generally do not bandage wounds. It often bothers the birds more than it helps, causing them to pick at it or scratch it off entirely. It’s also nearly impossible to effectively bandage some wound locations. I do use bandage wraps when dealing with Bumble Foot or Splay Leg. If you do feel the need to bandage a wound I recommend Vet Wrap self adhesive bandages.
Should I separate my chicken?
Many wounds will require separation from the flock for a healing period. For small surface wounds I may just apply a layer of Blue Kote to dye the area and prevent flock members from picking at it, but for larger, more exposed wounds, I recommend temporarily separating. A smaller, quiet space will help the chicken destress and heal.
Stress Management
Most wounds will be caused by an event that was likely stressful for the chicken. Managing stress is an important part of wound care as well. I recommend following the R.E.S.T Method for situations where a chicken has been through trauma. You can also give your chicken some Rescue Remedy and/or the homeopathic remedy Aconite in a 30c potency to help calm them down. Click here for more on using homeopathic for chickens. For more information on the R.E.S.T. Method, click the play button below!
A warm & quiet place to rest with some electrolytes and a tasty meal can do wonders for the body’s ability to heal. Once your chicken has successfully recovered they can be reintroduced to the flock and go on living a happy life. You may need to slowly integrate them, as illustrated in the video below.
Disclaimer Notice
The content of the Welcome to Chickenlandia website, blog, vlog, and all social media are for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dependence on any information appearing on the Welcome to Chickenlandia website, blog, vlog, and social media sites is entirely at your own risk. Please do your own research and make your own informed decisions regarding the health of your chickens.
I have a hen with a dislocated leg from my rooster riding her to much. She’s in good spirits and striving to live. I tried to wrap it but nothing wouldn’t stay on. I’ve got her in a kennel by herself. She isn’t putting any weight on it. She trys but not good. It’s been three days. What can I do for her. I’m thinking if I can wrap her foot up maybe that would help her. Not sure. Or should I put her down???
Hi, Charlotte! I’m sorry to hear about your hen. Poor thing. Have you tried getting the leg back in place? I’m wondering if there are any YouTube videos or other information online that would show you how to do that. If possible, your best course of action would be to take her to a licensed veterinarian. I would also be giving her Arnica 30c in her water daily until she shows improvement. It’s a homeopathic that you can find in a little blue vial at health food stores. https://welcometochickenlandia.com/blog/homeopathics-for-chickens/
What to do when my chickens throat was injured and small intestine was also injured. Food which eat are getting into stomach. what to do please reply
Hi, Angel! I’m so sorry about your chicken. I think I replied to this either on a comment or in an email. I hope your chicken made it through. <3
Great information. Do you know if the hen healer tastes bad if the hen or other hens were to try and peck? I have tried to find information on it. My hen was scratched by a hawk talon we believe. I heard the scream of my hens and ran outside just in enough time to see a hawk on the other side of the run trying to get away. All the hens had run and hid. I inspected them all and it looked like the hawk just ripped the skin. The wound was not even bleeding. Just wet from maybe the fat under the skin. The wound is between her wings and the middle of her back. I cleaned her up and then put vetericyn plus on it followed by hen healer and then tried vet tape but she got that off easily. She sleeps inside at night since the incident Saturday afternoon but I let her in the run during the day with them. Since this incident, I have not allowed them out of the run. We did perch an owl on one corner and another one is on the way that has flapping wings. Getting a scarecrow as well. I don’t want to lock them up forever in a 9′ x 27′ run because of this. I feel bad not letting them scrubble in the grass and find grubs and whatever else they like to nibble on. I hope the other hens don’t pick at the blue stuff and cause damage so I check on her several times a day to make sure. I will also take my lunch break and let them out for an hour to graze but I will stay out there. I don’t have a rooster. The girls are 14 months. I don’t have a dog. I am hopeful the crow and owls will keep the hawk away.
I think it doesn’t taste good to them and it also hides the wound. It’s always best to keep a wounded chicken separate, if possible, though! 🙂
You article gave me the courage to treat a horrible wound on the back of my hen. Almost 3 in in diameter.
I washed it with warm water and regular soap, removed dead tissues and even applied the sutures (I am very good at sawing) to close the gash. My dear Baba Yaga did not mind at all, laying quietly all wrapped up in a towel. I might rename her Princess after she heals.
I should of done it a long time ago, but was too afraid.
Thank you!
That’s awesome! Very well done. 🙂
My chicken was attacked by 2 dogs because she flew out from her coops and one of her cuts is a bit deep. on back left side. i try to clean but she protests and looks back at me and gets up and moves. I’m scared to try again and help her. Taking her to vet tomorrow. First time chicken owner so I did try to clean with Peroxide but only sprayed that one time on only a small part. don’t know how i can hold her and wet her without her trying to fly and get up. 🙁
Hi Lucy. Sounds like you did the right thing by making her a vet appointment, I hope everything turned out okay for her. The fact that she was resisting you cleaning her wound shows that she still had a lot of energy and fight left in her, which is a good sign. If a problem like this should arise for you again; I like to recommend gently wrapping the bird in a towel, lightly covering their face with it, as they tend to calm down more when they cant see. Another good trick with a feisty bird is to wait until after dark and sneak in to grab them off the roost; chickens are most subdued in the dark.
Hi Lucy, how did your chicken do? Was she able to recover? My chicken got a dog attack today, and is in the same situation. I treated her with Veterincyn and is taking her to the vet tomorrow, but wondering about her chance to survive and recover since she’s lost most of the skin around her bottom. We’re quite worried about her.
How did your hen do? Did she survive?
I’ve been out of town and I got home this morning. My brother was watching my chickens. His dog attacked one of my hens 5 days ago so I’m wondering if it’s too late.
My hen got attacked by another and now her comb is all cut up and she has a bald spot on her head with 2 wounds (smaller but noticeable) since this has happened, 4 of my other girls keep going after her. Is this because they can see she is injured? It’s getting ridiculous and now she won’t leave the coop because she’s scared. I did purchase pinless blinders but still have a few days till they arrive. Currently the biggest bully is in jail… should I have seperated the bullied one instead?!?! Help!
Hi Ann, Sorry that I didn’t get to this comment sooner. Yes, They were mostly likely picking at her because of the wound. Chickens can be so relentless when they see a weakness. For any future problems like this, I like to recommend Blue Kote spray to coat the wound. It will dye the wound area a dark blue color, making it less noticeable to the other birds in the flock. It can help a lot. You did the right thing by removing the bully for a bit, sometimes that can help reform the flocks pecking order. I hope they were able to work it out!
Blue Kote at my tractor supply store says for horses and dogs. Is that th he blue kote that you use?
Yes, any Blue Kote topical is safe for use on chickens.
Greetings, my hen recently got bit by my dog on accident and she is starting to develop an odor. I see no wound but under her wing, her skin is turning yellow and feathers are falling out. I use alcohol to clean it and apply some purple solution my mom had for pet wounds.
Hello. I’m sorry I didn’t get to this sooner! Odor can be a sign of infection so I would have suggested keeping an eye on the wound area, cleaning it daily, and applying a wound solution. Sounds like you did all the right steps to help her heal. I hope she was able to heal.
Hi a neighbor hood dog attacked my chickens this morning and bit some feathers off and tore some skin. Little bleeding what can I do for them they are still fairly young but really spooked and just laying down on their feet unless I move them
Oh I am so sorry to hear this happened. I hope they were able to pull through such a stressful event!
Thank you! My pen was raided by a Wiesel, we lost two hens. One of the girls was still alive but was bitten on the neck, I’m glad I saw your instructions first they’re very clear and to the point. She’s doing good now about an hour later she has enough energy to stand on her own i currently have her in my arms on the couch wrapped in my boyfriends long johns for warmth lol.
I have a an almost 3 month chick in my lap, sleeping with watery breathing after an older hen attacked her so badly that she’s practically a raw chicken ready to be cooked for dinner (aside from neck and head feathers). This raw injury is over her entire back, and most of both her wings. Because she’s so small, this is only three by 4 inches but for her it’s her whole body. I used neosporn and she’s about 12 hours post injury, but i worry if i should simply take her to the vet. She’s fighting hard! She even tried the small perch (only 2 cm off the ground) to sleep on, but she’s so wobbly and unstable that she can barely stay on it.
Hi Tori. I’m so sorry to hear this happened to your chick! Poor little thing. You did right to bring her inside and treat with neosporin. Was she able to recover?
Hello. We recently came home to find one of our hens near death with her head from the comb to the shoulders picked and void of skin. (I believe it was from the rooster) The blood had dried on her but she was cold and in severe shock barely able to hold her head up when roused but would drop her head and close her eyes shortly after. I have brought her into the house next to the fire place inside a pet carrier. Water and food inside. Its her 3rd day inside now. She was still not eating or drinking so I brought her outside to see if she would try to forage while being next to the other chickens. She did show interest in the feed I sprinkled out and to the water but it was as if she couldn’t get her head down to eat or drink and after 15 minutes she was exhausted. I brought her in and with a medicine dropper been giving her water which she gladly excepted but tired quickly. Tonight I mixed some of the chicken food in warm water for more nutrition. She seemed to enjoy it but still extremely weak. Only able to stay alert for a few minutes at a time. Im certain she was badly dehydrated and ive got some catching up to do to rehydrate her. Ive not washed her wound as I’m afraid it will shock her at this point and kill her. Hoping the dried blood will act as protection until she not so fragile. My question is.. is there anything I can add to the water besides the chicken feed to give her more nutrients? I seen pedialite was ok. Could I mix rice water for more starches? At this point she is struggling to eat solid foods so I’m not certain just how to go about getting her over this hump until she has the strength to eat and drink on her own. Also… she can’t live in a per carrier inside my house.. at some point she will go back to the chicken house in her own water tank to keep separated from the others. If she has no skin on her head……. im wondering how that stays clean?
Any advice or tips would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time..
Hello Kim. I am so sorry I did not see this sooner. Sounds like you did everything you could to help her pull through. These are all the same step I would have recommended you take. Poor girl. Did she make it?
I have a baby chicken that was recently attacked by a mongoose. I’d like to know what to do because it can’t walk at the moment.
I’m so sorry that happened. Something like this is very serious and likely beyond what I could help with. Did she make it?
Came home to find our Rhoad Island Red out I’m yard. Wind blew open cage. A dog had several opened a large wound on her back. It is not bleeding but approx 6 inches around open to the meat with puncture wounds. Can not find any vet to help. She is indoors. With warm bedding and quiet. But it does not look promising? It has been cleaned best I could. Any suggestions? Thank you
In meantime I’m still calling around for a bird vet.
I’m so sorry I didn’t get to this sooner. I hope she made it. It sounds like you did everything you could. Sometimes they are just too far gone but I hope that’s not the case!
Advice? Please no hate! I’m heart broken. A dog got to my turkey, she mostly lost feathers but does have a gash on her shoulder. I cleaned with hydrogen peroxide then applied neosporin. She is such a sweet girl and I want to do what I can for her. Should i put a top bandage on it? Is there anything else I can do or just wait and hope for the best?
Hi, Casey! I’m so sorry I didn’t get to this sooner. I hope your chicken is doing okay! I wouldn’t put a top bandage on it unless you could be sure she wouldn’t mess with it. How is she doing now?
Hi there, I check your new stuff regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep
doing what you’re doing!
Hey , I have a baby chick and my brother ran a scooter over it he broke it’s leg and I’m literally crying what do I do for it pls help ASAP
I’m so sorry I didn’t get to this sooner. I hope your chicken is doing okay!
We just had a raccoon attack last night and one hen was stripped of her back feathers and skin, but is still alive and walking/eating/drinking. We’ve separated her and understand there is probably not a lot we can do, but thought it was worth asking about. Her entire back is open to her flesh, but there is no active bleeding. She’s in shock, but no other symptoms. Any chance of survival? Thank you
Hello. Sorry to hear about your poor hen! For open flesh wounds it is most important to keep them clean and watch out for infection as it heals. No active bleeding is a good, I have seen hens heal from similar wounds. Survival can depend on her level of shock, the damage, and so many other factors. Good luck and I hope she is able to recover.
Hello a young chick…6weeks or so old was attached by the other older hens and ran out. We have washed her a few times and put antibiotics in her water. She is eating drinking and 7 days on still not walking on her left leg. Shecan stand on it curl her toes but shakes and then sits down quickly after a few sips of water or food. She closes her eyes and rest we assume pain. Then goes back to eating, drinking and pruning. She churps all the time at me for company…what can I do about her leg? Just give her time…she’s I a birds cage but I put her on the grass for 30mins a couple of times a day.
Hello. So sorry to hear about your injured chick. Sounds like you have taken all the right steps to give her the best chance at recovery. If you are able to take her to a veterinarian, they may be able to confirm if the leg is broken or not and treat as needed. But if you are unable to seek veterinary care I would recommend continuing as you are doing to give her more time to heal. If she is still eating and drinking that is a great sign. I hope she is able to recover!
Hello I have a hen that fishing line got wrapped around her toes. There are several places where it cut pretty deep. I’ve removed the line and she was able to put weight on her foot. Now the foot is swollen. What should I do?
Hello, this is one I have seen several times unfortunately. I recommend cleaning the wounds on the swollen foot and then keeping an eye out for any signs of infection. I have seen many birds fully recover after the initial swelling goes down. If the line was wrapped for too long or too tightly it is possible for a toe or more to die off from the loss of circulation, but even a lost toe is something many hens can recover from. The most important thing to do it watch for signs of infection and treat if necessary. Hope she’s feeling better soon!
Hello! I am wondering if there is an egg withdrawal period following the use of Blu Kote? I have read once used on a bird you can no longer ear their eggs, but I can’t find any support for that? Thanks!
There is no egg withdrawal time for Blu Kote in my personal opinion. I have worked with Blu Kote (and it’s ingredients) in the animal field for many years and have never had concerns about eating a chicken’s eggs after, as it is strictly a topical treatment. I have also recently seen new claims that you can never eat eggs again after Blu Kote use, but I find this is likely from a mistaken interpretation of label warnings against consuming meat that has been treated with Blu Kote, as it is a topical medicine. I hope this helps!
I love your chanel on youtube.. i am a subcriber… i found this by accident… my pet leghorn… BLONDIE will be 2yrs old in August…. she is raised indoors by choice since i live in High Desert community of San Bernardino… Avian predators parasites and coyotes etc. She sleeps next to me in her own bed at night… one day last week she hopped off her bed onto her other lower bed and hopped by accident on to her water bowl and thus injured her right side which is bruised at upper joint near breast.. she struggles to be weight bearing… i have all necessary aids… she is eating some not alot..getting her water… i wrapped her lower leg.. but after much research i believe i need to wrap the injury higher up… she’s so precious… i recently had her registered as Emotional Support Pet… she loves being cuddled as of now in her favorite blanket as i type… she has her own Apple Tablet to watch her chickens and her DVD to watch her favorite movie Charlottes Web…. i give her Sitz baths in Epsom Salt and gentle massages… she’s a little trooper… i taught her to give cuddle and kissys… i live in Morongo Valley…. no Avian Vets here so i’m doing best i can. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.. thank you i go by CALIDEE on youtube
Sounds like you a have a very loved bird on your hands! If the leg does not appear to be broken or dislocated then I am hopeful she can make a recovering. Warping the injury higher up will allow for better support, but I also know how tricky it can be to wrap a bird efficiently. If she is still eating and drinking that is great! This may be an injury that just takes time to heal. I would continue to monitor her for any new symptoms and try to limit her mobility for a few days in hopes that helps her muscles recover. All the best! – Kelcie
Hello, thank you for all the great information and advice. I have a 2-year old RIR, Claire, who snagged her nail on something causing it to break off and bleed pretty badly. I brought her inside and cleaned her up and applied Blu-kote. I’m pretty sure Claire was close to the top of the pecking order, if not the top. My EE, Rory, who was at the bottom of the pecking order, all of a sudden started going after Claire in 100% challenge mode. I was very careful to monitor them while putting Claire back in the run and Rory has still not backed off. I’ve brought Claire into the basement in an isolation crate so she can recover (currently on day 2 of isolation). Any advice on what more I can do? Since Rory is the only one seeming to attack her, should I bring HER in instead of Claire? All my ladies have been together since they were a few days old and I’ve never had an issue like this.
Also – I did not know I should trim their claws. How much should I trim at a time?
Hello. The situation you are describing is not uncommon. And you’ve got the right idea, I would recommend swapping them out for a day or two once Claire is healed enough to return to the flock. This will give her some time to reestablish herself with the others before reintroducing Rory. We have a YouTube video called ‘How to Reform a Bully Chicken’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZn9ltWXcgs&t=26s) that may be helpful for you if Rory continues this behavior. I hope that helps and that your ladies are able to work it out quickly!
As for nails, you do not need to trim them unless they seem to be overgrown in some way. Most chickens nails with naturally trim down enough from scratching the earth. If you do choose to trim them, clip only the tips, careful not to hit the inner quick. Wishing all the best for you flock! -Kelcie
Hi Kelcie,
Can you help me out on my 4month old chick, its got that weird thing hanging out from its right neck that was not supposed to be, its just happened when my 2 year old grand-daughter accidently pulled its neck, and that’s where my dearest chick have this weird thing hanging on its right side of its neck, its looked like a small bag, when fed my chick, the bag is tight, its looked like a small round marble, please some advice, thank you and await for your reply.
Hi Marley. So sorry to hear about your poor chick’s injury. I unfortunately can not offer any specific diagnosis for this, but sounds like a possible air sac rupture. Maybe look up Air Sac Rupture and see if that possibly matches the symptoms you are seeing. If this is the case, a veterinarian can treat the air sac by draining the pocket. Hopes this helps you find a direction to go in. Good luck to your sweet little bird!
Hi Kelcie,
Thanks for the helping tip, I will try it out myself though here where I lived on an island, we do not have a veterinarian, anyway thank you so much, it really help me out.
I have a 4 month old chick that was pecked by an older hen on the head. It was a wound the size of a quarter. You can see her skull. We used Kwik Stop for the bleeding, cleaned the wound with Dawn and used Tegaderm to pull the wound together and separated her from the flock. After 2 days we removed the Tegaderm and cleaned it again and put Neosporin on it. It’s healing and she wants to be with her 3 friends so now we used Blue Kote on it. We still keep her separated at night or when the rest are in the run. There is no smell or drainage. When do you think we can leave her with the flock at night?
Hi Joanna. So glad your chick is healing and on the mend. If her interaction with the flock during the day seem good, IE the others birds aren’t picking at her wound, they I think it should be okay to leave her with them overnight. If the other chicks aren’t harassing her when they are together during the day then it is unlikely that they will at night. Hope everything goes smoothly! – Kelcie
We have a mama hen that was injured last night (most likely by a predator) . It’s about a quarter size cut on the top of her neck. She currently has 4 chicks that are about 2 weeks old. We’ve cleaned and applied bleed stop to the wood. It’s pretty bad, but she’s in good spirits. I’m worried the other chickens will bother her, and the chicks are pecking at the bloody spot. If I separate her, should I keep the chicks with her? I’m not sure they’ll survive with the other chickens with out her…. But worry that they’ll make the wound worse. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Becky. I would first try applying some Blue Kote to the wound if you can get some, it covers up the visible blood/wound and usually helps keep other birds from picking at wounds. In hopes that this would help keep the chicks from pecking at her. If you do separate her from the flock I would try to keep the chicks with her at first and see how it goes. At 2 weeks old it is likely the rest of the flock would pick on them without mom around for protection. Hopefully the blue kote will stop the chicks from focusing on her injury. Separating the chicks to a heat lamp is an option if they cant seem to let her be. Maybe somewhere she can still see them, just for a few days while the wounds scabs over. I hope your hen heals quickly. All the best! – Kelcie
Hi there. I have a little rooster who may have had a running with another much larger rooster or a sharp stick like thing. Anyhow he has an eye wound (swollen and whitish). I’m trying to determine what type of gel to put on it. I have EMT gel. It doesn’t say it can be used on the eye or not. Can you advise??
Thanks either way
Hi! I have read that EMT gel is safe for use around the eye, but I hear mixed results on it’s effectiveness, depending on the cause of the eye problem. If he is still struggling with his eye then I do highly recommend Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment, it works wonders for most eye wounds & infections alike in my experience. Hope your little Roo is feeling better soon!
I have a chicken who was pecked by a bigger hen several months ago. I took her out of the flock and cleaned her and kept her in a safe place by herself so she could heal. I used vetericyn plus to help her heal and it worked well. My question is this, some of her feathers have not grown back and it’s been at least 2 months, is it safe to put her back in with the original flock she was with, even though she has a bald spot? I don’t know when or even if her feathers will ever grow back.
Hello. Yes, it is safe to go ahead and reintegrate her into the flock if you feel she is ready. Many bald spots will grow feathers again after the hen’s next molt, as this is when their bodies grow new feathers. Or, depending on the type of wound, she may have scar tissue that remains featherless. Just keep an eye on how her flock mates treat the bald patch. They may not pay it any attention at all and leave her be, but if they do focus on it and pick on her, you could try applying Blu Kote to the area. This will temporarily tint/dye the skin a dark color (as well as aid in healing) which usually makes the other birds less interested in the exposed skin.
I hope her reintroduction goes smoothly!
OMG. Thank you for the advice. I started my small harem 3 months ago and have learned so much since. This site helped me tremendously today. I live in the mountains and my flock was attacked by something??? last night. Woke up to the screams, put Lila back in general population and found the others on top of her at 6 this morning, pecking at her wounds. So, YES, separate the wounded, and give them some time to destress and feel safe before adding more stress to their harrowing night/day. I was totally dismayed this morning looking at the wounds, but I came to you all and found the comfort and guidance to go ahead, wash the wounds – NASTY wounds – and my husband found a spray Peroxyde. I don’t know if she’ll make it. She’s feisty and has been eating today, and drinking in earnest in the past hour or so. Thank you so much. Fingers crossed.
I posted about 5 weeks ago about my injured hen. It was really nasty but the advice I got here reassured me. Thanks to this advice, I was able to wash the severe wounds (I could see her neck bones and shoulder bone clearly) and I discovered spray peroxide.😊 After about 10 days of isolation, I started reintroducing her to the flock, with the fence between them. After another week or so, I let her run around with her crew during the day and brought her in for the night. She has a huge bald spot on the neck and shoulder, but that didn’t seem to bother the others. She is now fully reintegrated and is doing fine. Moral of the story… With just a little patience and courage, your girl or guy can heal and thrive. Thank you so much.