Caring For An Injured Chicken: Quick Response Guide

Chickens are prey to a wide range of animals, from wild predators like hawks, foxes, and weasels to domestic animals like cats and dogs. Attacks can result in injuries ranging from superficial skin damage to extensive mutilation, and surviving chickens may exhibit signs of shock and emotional distress. Providing proper care for an injured chicken is crucial to ensure its recovery. This includes isolating the chicken from the rest of the flock to prevent further injury from pecking, cleaning and dressing wounds to prevent infection, and administering pain relief when necessary. Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit and creating a quiet recovery space for the chicken are also important steps in providing care.

Isolate the chicken from the rest of the flock

It is important to separate your wounded chicken from the rest of the flock, as other chickens will likely peck at the injured bird, making the problem worse. This is because chickens will victimise their own if they sense weakness or injury. They will peck at the wounded chicken, pull at its feathers, and try to prevent it from eating. In some cases, they may even eat the injured chicken.

Therefore, it is recommended to keep your injured bird in confinement and carefully watch for signs of infection. The chicken should remain in isolation until it is no longer at risk of being pecked by the other chickens. This can be done by creating a dedicated recovery space, such as a quiet area inside the house, garage, or basement, with a dog crate or pet kennel/carrier with soft litter material like pine shavings or a soft towel.

The wounded chicken should be monitored for signs of shock, as this can be deadly even when the wound itself is not severe. To prevent shock, keep the chicken warm and calm, and consider adding a vitamin/electrolyte supplement to its drinking water for a maximum of three days.

It is important to note that the longer the chicken stays in isolation, the more difficult it may be to reintroduce it to the flock. Therefore, it is suggested to gradually reintroduce the healed chicken to the flock, keeping a close eye on its interactions with the other chickens to ensure no further bullying or pecking occurs.

Monitor for signs of shock

Shock is a medical emergency that can lead to death if not treated properly. It can be triggered by the heart not pumping adequately, blood loss, dehydration, kidney issues, or severe infection. Surviving chickens are often traumatized and may show signs of shock and emotional distress for several days to months following an attack.

Monitor your chicken for signs of shock, including:

• Low blood pressure and a rapid, weak pulse
• Bluish discoloration of the comb, a sign of cyanosis, indicating that the heart is not pushing enough oxygen throughout the body
• Dizziness or weakness
• Pallor of the wattles and comb
• Open-mouth breathing
• Listlessness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Weak pulse
• Collapse
• A stunned appearance

If your chicken is in shock, it is important to keep it warm and quiet, separate from the rest of the flock. You can try wrapping the chicken in a towel, placing it in a warm brooder, or making a warming unit for more severe cases of shock. For example, you can place a heating pad underneath a plexiglass aquarium, line the aquarium with towels, and place a regular light bulb (60-watt) above it. Place a moist towel in a bowl on the floor of the aquarium to produce humidity to keep their respiratory system moist. Monitor the chicken for improvement and signs of overheating or heat stress.

Clean and dress the wound

It is important to clean and dress a chicken's wound to prevent infection and promote healing. Here are some detailed steps to guide you through the process:

Stop the Bleeding

Before cleaning the wound, it is crucial to stop any active bleeding. Some wounds, like combs, waddles, and toenails, will bleed more profusely than others. You can use products like Kwik Stop or any styptic powder to help stop the bleeding. If you don't have styptic powder, cornstarch or baking flour can be used as an alternative. Sprinkle the powder over the wound and apply pressure until the bleeding stops.

Clean the Wound

Once the bleeding has stopped, it's time to clean the wound and the surrounding area. This step is crucial for preventing and healing infections. Use warm water and a gentle soap, such as classic Dawn Dish Soap, to rinse the wound. For small surface wounds, a washcloth can be used, while larger wounds may require rinsing the area in a sink, being careful not to get the chicken completely wet, as this may stress them out. Ensure you clean away any dirt and germs from the wound.

Apply Topical Treatments

After cleaning the wound, you can apply topical treatments to prevent infection and aid healing. There are various options available:

• Antimicrobial sprays—Use a poultry-specific antimicrobial spray, such as Vetericyn, to keep the wound clean and sanitary. These sprays help prevent infection and can be used multiple times a day until the wound heals.
• Antibacterial sprays—Sprays like Blu-Kote are suitable for small wounds, scratches, or feather picking. It disinfects and colours the area purple, discouraging other chickens from pecking at it.
• Povidone-iodine—For larger wounds, povidone-iodine is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that can be gently poured onto the wound and allowed to air dry.
• Antibiotic ointments or powders—Follow up with an antibiotic ointment for dry wounds or an antimicrobial powder for oozing wounds.

Dress the Wound

Depending on the location of the wound, you may choose to cover it with a gauze pad and tape. If the wound is in a place where the chicken won't peck at it, you can leave it open for easier inspection. For certain injuries, like Bumble Foot or Splay Leg, bandage wraps may be necessary. However, in most cases, bandaging is not recommended as it may bother the chicken more than help, causing them to pick at it.

Monitor for Infection

Even with proper care, chicken wounds can sometimes become infected. Monitor the wound daily, either under the dressing or if left uncovered. Signs of infection include redness, pus or fluid oozing, and an increasing scab size. If you suspect an infection, seek veterinary advice and follow the treatment plan provided.

Administer pain relief

Administering pain relief to an injured chicken is an important part of caring for the bird. Firstly, it is crucial to separate the wounded chicken from the rest of the flock, as other chickens may peck at the injured bird, making the situation worse. This isolation will also help to reduce the risk of infection, which is the biggest danger to an injured chicken.

Once the chicken is in a quiet, safe space, you can begin to assess the severity of the injury. If the chicken is bleeding, use clean gauze to apply pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops. You can also use styptic powder to help stop the bleeding. If the wound is minor, your work may be done, and you can simply keep the chicken isolated and monitor the wound for any signs of infection.

If the chicken is in a great deal of pain, you can administer pain relief in the form of an aspirin solution. Dissolve 5 aspirin tablets (each tablet should be 325mg) in one gallon of water and allow the chicken to drink this solution. This should help to reduce the pain. However, it is important to ensure that the chicken is no longer bleeding before administering the aspirin, as aspirin thins the blood and can increase bleeding. Do not use anything containing the suffix '-caine', such as benzocaine or lidocaine, as these are not suitable for birds.

For more severe wounds, you may need to seek veterinary advice. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are often needed to combat the bacteria present in the mouths and claws of the animal that attacked. Signs of infection include redness, pus, and heat around the wound. If the wound becomes infected, clean it 2-3 times daily and contact a vet for further advice and potential antibiotics.

Reintroduce the chicken to the flock

When reintroducing a chicken to the flock, it is important to ensure that the bird has fully healed. Any wounds will attract other chickens, causing them to peck at the injured bird. To prevent this, you can use a product like "Rooster Pick No More" or Blu-kote to cover the wounds and repel other chickens.

Once the chicken is healed, you can begin the process of reintegration. One method is to allow the chickens to free-range together under supervision. This way, they can interact with each other while being monitored for any signs of aggression. It may be a good idea to separate them at night by keeping the recovering chicken in a dog crate or cage inside the coop. This way, the chickens can still see and interact with each other, but the recovering chicken is protected.

Another method is to reintroduce the chicken to the flock at night while the others are sleeping. In the morning, the flock may accept the chicken as if she had always been there. However, this method may not always be successful, especially in smaller coops or flocks with a history of aggression.

It is important to monitor the flock closely during the reintroduction process, as each flock and chicken are unique, and there may be some initial squabbles to re-establish the pecking order. Providing extra feeders and water dispensers can help reduce infighting by providing a safe alternative for inferior hens. Additionally, ensuring that there is enough space and easy access to food and water for all the chickens can aid in a smooth transition.

Reintroducing a chicken to the flock may take some time, and there may be a need for adjustments along the way. With patience and close supervision, the chicken can hopefully be successfully integrated back into the flock.

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