[nicchick]

Hi, my hen that had an op for an impacted crop 11 days ago and was healing nicely has pecked off the scab on her wound this morning. I bathed it with salted boiled water and dried it and stuck it back together with superglue. It looked really clean and she had been healing really well. I took her babygro vest off her 2 days ago and had been putting some vicks round the area to put her off pecking I thought she would leave it alone. Have I done the right thing? Nic.

[poultrygeist]

Hi nic. Just noticed this post.

No idea but I would try some wound powder and/or purple spray to assist healing and hopefully put her off pecking.
If it's really bad could you take her back to the vets for a look-see ??

I suppose it's a case of stick it together (which you've done), keep it clean (which you've done) and stop her pecking it again (which hopefully you've done).

Rob

[Foxy]

maybe boil the baby gro and stick it back on her? could be that the wound is feeling "itchy" as it heals and thats why shes pecking. The baby gro will protect the wound when she is perching too. B........y good idea popping a babygro on her!!!

[Aunt Sally]

Yes could be itchy as Foxy says.

[poultrygeist]

Would germolene help ??

Rob

[Foxy]

Would germolene help ??

Rob

Probably best leaving alone as it is a closed wound -and anything that prevents rubbing of the area is a good idea, but germolene is very good for grazes or open wounds and useful to have in our first aid cupboards for chooks (as well as sutures, oxygen, IV drips, theatre greens.....  )

[nicchick]

Hi, I think the problem was she pecked the wound the morning after the op and it was glued back together but as it healed there was a bit of a scab. I have had her in my workshop with the bald ex-bats and she has been on newspaper changed several times a day. I thought she would be ok today and to be honest it looked like it was going to come off soon.
Today there was absolutely no-one around to help so it sounds awful but I tied her legs together (loosely) and flipped her on her back and got a really good look at it. I've just checked her and it has held.
I didn't want to take her to the vet as they would probably want to anaesthetise her to stitch it. My friend says that it's important it holds together as if it leaves a hole she will need a skin graft! She then said "we don't do skin grafts on chickens".
I was just a bit panicked earlier but read a posting by Munty and feel a bit more confident. Poor Hen has had so many Baytril injections over the last week or so it looks like a needle exchange in there!

On a much happier note the hen that had an egg burst 12 days ago has been fine and laid two normal eggs. We were hoping to introduce them all back to the flock at the weekend so will have to see how they get on.
Thanks for making me feel a bit happier about it all, Nic.

[Aunt Sally]

super glue is a great idea - they use it on humans.  Keep an eye on it

[poultrygeist]

Whoever said keeping chickens is simple and worry-free hasn't kept chickens 

Well done for taking such care and keep us updated.

Rob

[nicchick]

I know! Luckily I work from home and have very understanding customers. I've got the three of them lined up in front of me - Barbara in her babygro and then two alarmed looking baldies all scratching and trilling. They are learning a lot about interior design and all went quiet when Pippa Greenwood was on R4. Seriously though it has been great to be able to keep an eye on them all but it definately isn't stress free at the moment. Nic.

[Foxy]