February 14, 2014

The Chicken Infirmary – Down on the (Sub)Urban Farm

Down on the (Sub)Urban Farm

Warning: there is a (single) graphic picture of a chicken with a laceration in this slideshow. There’s no blood, though. Just skin and muscle. 

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This is another reason I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts lately – everything with Tabby came to a grinding halt, and then a week later Lucy was inside as we had to help her heal up.

I’m a bit tired of tending to sick/injured animals. I’d really love to have a peaceful spring.

What I have learned, though, is that chickens are resilient creatures. As long as you can keep their wounds clean and prevent infection, they can bounce back from just about anything – including dog and hawk attacks, where lacerations and deep wounds even expose bone and internal organs.

The key is keeping the wound clean and preventing infection. Once infection sets in, it’s a whole different ball game. Also, maggots. We’ve had a pretty cold winter for our part of the country so far, so we don’t have a fly problem right now, but in warmer weather? Maggots can definitely be a problem. And really, you don’t want your chickens to go through the pain of literally being eaten alive.

As I did my research, trying to figure out HOW to help my chicken, I found this stuff called Vetricyn. As much as I want to be a person who rarely ever has to rely on manufactured medicines, I was not at the point to mix up a concoction in my own kitchen when I needed something for Lucy.

Vetricyn is about as good as it gets otherwise.

It’s safe for all animals species. It’s safe if the animals ingest it. Which, well, I was rather clueless as to how to prevent a chicken from preening.

However, it’s a bit expensive. I will say, though, that it’s worth the price anyway – and a little bit goes a long way. Lucy’s side healed up in two weeks flat, though… she ended up with another laceration after we put her back outside.

But that’s another post.

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About Rebekah

Rebekah Loper writes character-driven epic fantasy featuring resilient women in trying and impossible circumstances who just want to save themselves but usually end up saving the world, often while falling in love.
She lives in Tulsa, OK with her husband, dog, two formerly feral cats, a small flock of feathered dragons (...chickens. They're chickens), and an extensive tea collection. When she's not writing, she battles the Oklahoma elements in an effort to create a productive, permaculture urban homestead.

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