I recently discovered Countryside and this forum, so when our "puppy" (5 mo old, mixed large breed) attacked and seriously wounded one of our laying hens this morning, I immediately ran here for help first! Her wounds are large, numerous, open, and deep (to the muscle).

Since I had to run to town for the antibiotic ointment recommended, I decided to stop at the vet's office and ask their opinion, first. I learned, but didn't ask why, that all their antibiotic ointments and topical powders are for boilers only. Once used on a laying hen, the eggs are forever after unusable. Guess I should've asked why...does anyone else know?

I have the hen in the dog's travel crate in the house and have washed the wounds with hydrogen peroxide. I will be amazed if she survives. Meanwhile, the dog is whining to go out for more fun.

-- Sharon (pinnow@inwave.com), August 01, 2001

Answers

That doesn't make sense to me. I could understand a withdrawal period, the same that you get with antibiotics in meat or dairy animals. Wouldn't you normally eat a broiler? So what would the difference be between the two. As for the puppy, I think there are several other posts already regarding this. I would not leave him unsupervised around the chickens. You need to confine the chickens so he can't get to them and also correct him for any behavior that isn't okay around them. I won't go into detail regarding training as it has been discussed before.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), August 01, 2001.

Sharon, I had a neighbors dog attack and pull off one of my ducklings legs, right to the "shoulder" joint. It left a big opening. The little duck was otherwise unharmed. So, I washed his wound with Providone Iodine, slathered triple antibiotic ointment on it and stitched him up with good ol Aunt Lydia's thread. Thought surely he'd be dead before the week was out.

He is still very alive and still stays with all the other ducks. I washed his wound(with hydrogen peroxide)everyday after he swam in the pool in the morning, otherwise he was treated as any or the other ducks. The only thing I wish I had done differently is used dental floss to stitch with, but he made out fine. Good Luck, do whatever you can to the best of your ability and knowledge and let nature take it's course.

-- Emily in central Ky. (BellyAcresFarm@kyk.net), August 01, 2001.

Sharon,

Chickens are amazingly resilient and it's likely your hen will recover. I, too have never heard that once antibiotics are used the eggs are no longer safe to eat. Might get a second opinion on that. I visit several poultry only forums and what you mentioned the vet told you has NEVER been brought up as a possible problem or concern.

Sounds like your taking care of the wound just fine. With my sick animals, i usually add vitamins/electrolytes (that you find as a dry powder mix at any feed store) to their water and offer any good nutritious treats i know they have a weak spot for. #1 being chopped boiled egg. or dry cat food soaked in a tad of water to soften. Plain yogurt is another favorite. Anything to keep them eating.

Just keep her comfortable and give her lots of TLC. I'm wishing the best for her; please keep us updated!

:-)

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), August 01, 2001.

Post your questions re chickens on The Poultry Connection. You've had some good comments already but a specialized site is the way to go.j You will find the experts there...they have been there, done that and some are biologist, chemists, Vets etc. Good luck, hope the hen is OK.

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), August 01, 2001.

There are actually several drugs that never leave the system. Gentocin or Gentomyacin are ones that if you use them in goats extra label, they should never be eaten and you should never use their milk. In all except as an eyewash. The problem comes in that most of us and our vets use nearly all drugs extra label. It is like saying this or that wormer has no milk withdrawal, sure it doesn't if you are using per label directions, on the animal on the label, which the tests were ran on. But you start doubling and tripeling the dosages and then use them on goats, orally instead of injecting or pour on, then I doubt that the withdrawl doesn't change considerably. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 01, 2001.

Sharon, This may sound terrible but if the chicken dies, beat the dog with it. We had this conversation before and that is the only thing that seems to work to keep them from killing again.

I had a chicken that two dogs "played" with. A chunk of meat was missing and it had a deep puncture wound that I was worried about. She is fine now. They are tough birds.

-- Dee in NJ (gdgtur@goes.com), August 01, 2001.

I had a turkey that was attacked twice...first by the neighbors big dog, then by my own dog. She had a huge wound...awful damage!! I cleaned her up good, and sprayed on Betadine spray..the kind that has a gentle spray for wounds. I watched her close and she healed up. Never walked the same or looked the same as before. I was amazed. It is so hard to deal with that sort of thing. A dog you love doing something so naughty. Mine was an old bassett I had had since she was a pup...she was 12 years old at the time. She played with baby chicks and never ever hurt them when she was young...after about 10 years old I could never trust her with chickens, ducks or even this 40 lb. turkey!! I hope your hen heals up really well. Its hard to tell how much pain they are in. Good luck! Jenny

-- Jenny Pipes (Auntjenny6@aol.com), August 02, 2001.

Thanks for all the encouraging replies!

The hen is still alive...I've been treating her with the peroxide washes, tea tree oil, and plantain poultices. The wound edges are drying and so far, no signs of infection. She has eaten hardly anything, although she musters up the energy to peck at me during her treatments.

I never dreamed that I could deal with injuries of this sort (very different from butchering roosters as far as I'm concerned...), but now I have hopes of finding the vet in me yet!!

-- Sharon/WI (pinnow@inwave.com), August 03, 2001.