A week ago I had a chicken bullying issue with one of my hens, a few of the other hens had decided to start pecking at her back where feathers are worn off because my rooster is a bit rough (don’t worry, I’m making them all aprons to protect them).
First I brought her in and washed the small spot up put iodine on it, then sprayed it with “stop peck” I finished milking the goats the next morning to find they’d continued to peck at her and the small spot was now the size of a looney. I again brought her in and cleaned her up, this time I sprayed and put an old dog sweater on her, over the next few hours I noticed it was getting caught under her so I cut the belly out. The next morning after milking the goats they were all outside gathered around her, the sweater had twisted and they were all eating her! I couldn’t believe she was just sitting there a letting them, the spot was now huge, about 2-1/2 inche wide circle. I was horrified, so I separated her from the rest.
This is where I did something I never thought I could do, I washed it again with sterile saline solution, coated it with betadine and I stitched her back up. It took 6 stitches to mostly close it, I left it open in a small spot so it could drain. Today is day 3 of her being stitched up and she is still separated, it looks ok, I’m not sure if it will be ok or not yet. I’m watching her closely, she’s still eating and drinking and seems ok. I’m not going to return her to the coop until she is healed and has a proper chicken apron on with an added piece to keep it from sliding around and exposing her back. I never thought I’d have to sew up a chicken, but I did and she is still alive. If I hadn’t done it, I’d have had to let her go.