Wound Care for Chickens: How to Treat a Chicken Wound and FAQ

Dealing with an injured chicken can be stressful for both the chicken and its owner. Fortunately, with 5 simple steps and a well-equipped first-aid kit, wound care for chickens doesn’t have to be so nerve-racking.

From pecking wounds to predator attacks, it’s almost inevitable that a chicken in your flock will need first aid at some point. That’s why it’s essential to have appropriate items handy in a first-aid kit and an understanding of what steps you need to address the injury.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to treat a chicken wound and get your hurt chicken feeling great again!

Wound Care for Chicken in 5 Simple Steps

Most chicken wounds can be treated with proper cleaning and care. If one of your chickens gets hurt, follow these steps as soon as possible. If their injury doesn’t seem to get better afterward, be sure to contact your vet.

Step 1: Cleanse your hands.

We can keep this one short and sweet! It goes without saying that it’s critical to wash your hands before tending to an injured chicken. You want to make sure you avoid spreading germs and causing worsened or new infections. 

Step 2: Control the bleeding.

If your chicken is bleeding, you want to be sure to stop it as best as you can right away. You can use Styptic Powder or Cornstarch for this. Simply put the powder in a bowl and pour it directly onto the wound, or you can dip the wound into the powder. 

Once the bleeding has stopped, you can clean the wound. If it takes some time for the bleeding to stop, don’t worry because some areas (like nails and beaks) produce more blood than you may expect! 

Step 3: Clean and disinfect the wound.

This one might be the most critical step of wound care for chickens! And, fortunately, a chicken wound isn’t usually as bad as it seems once it’s cleaned.

You can use a saline solution to clean out an opened wound. To make your own solution (to have handy for when you need it), you can mix 4 cups of cooled boiled water with 2 teaspoons of salt. If it’s a deep or especially dirty wound, you’ll want to use a syringe or dropper to make sure it’s thoroughly cleaned out.

Step 4: Apply an antiseptic.

Once the wound is entirely cleaned, you’ll want to apply an antiseptic to prevent potential bacteria or fungal infections. Blu-Kote is an easy-to-use product to treat a lesion by killing germs and speeding up the chicken wound healing process. You can also use Neosporin, but NOT with painkiller additives. 

Step 5: Keep an eye on the wound.

Over the next few days, you’ll need to pay close attention to your chicken’s injury to make sure it’s healing correctly. You can repeat the cleaning and antiseptic application process every day or so. You’ll also want to ensure it stays clean and dry until the injury is entirely healed.
If need be, you may want to separate the injured chicken from the rest of the flock while they heal. This can ensure other chickens don’t mess with the wound and that they have a quiet space to rest.

Tip: If you notice inflammation, you can alleviate this by adding Flaxseed and turmeric to your chicken’s food.

Wound Care for Chickens FAQ

When it comes to how to treat a chicken wound, you want to make sure you’re confident in appropriately caring for an injury. And, we’re here to help with answers to common questions about wound care for chickens.

How do you treat an open wound on a chicken?

Stop the bleeding and thoroughly clean the wound. Styptic Powder or cornstarch can be applied to the open wound – either dip the wound into it or sprinkle it directly onto the wound. Wait for the bleeding to stop, then thoroughly cleanse it with a saline solution. You can use a dropper to clean deep or very dirty injuries.

How do you treat a chicken peck wound?

Chicken wounds from pecking aren’t unusual, but they’re easy to treat with these steps: stop any bleeding, clean with a saline solution, then apply an antiseptic. For more details, check out the steps above.

How do you treat a chicken that has been attacked?

If your chicken is injured due to an attack, you’ll want to immediately wash your hands, control any bleeding, and clean the wounds. Again, the steps above will help you with this.

Predator attacks on our chickens can be terrifying for them and us. While you want to follow the steps to treat injuries, you’ll also want to take a few extra steps to make sure your chicken recovers. 

After you’ve treated any wounds, you should probably separate the injured chicken from the rest of the flock to give them time to rest and recuperate. Make sure you’re keeping them fed and hydrated as well as providing pain relief.

How can I provide pain relief for chickens?

There are several ways to pair wound care for chickens with pain relief, including medicines and natural remedies. 

Here are some options:

• Epsom salts: reduces stress and alleviates pain (a bath can stress an injured chicken out, so dip wound into water & Epsom salt mix, if possible).
• Flaxseed and turmeric: can be added to food to reduce inflammation.
• Coconut oil or Vaseline: nourishes the wound and alleviates discomfort.
• Lavender oil: mix with coconut oil and rub onto the wound for faster healing and pain relief.

For medicine, it’s best to contact your vet to find out the best options for your chicken and its specific injury.

What can you put on a chicken wound?

From cleaning solutions and antiseptics to oils and antibiotic ointments, there are several formulas you can put on a chicken wound. 

Here are the top items we recommend for your first-aid kit:

• Styptic Powder: helps stop bleeding; can also use cornstarch.
• Saline solution: cleanses the wound.
• Antiseptic: Use Blu-Kote or natural antiseptics like honey to fight infection.
• Coconut oil or Vaseline: is used for injuries and ailments when lubricant is necessary (frostbite, leg mites, egg binding, etc.).
• Antibiotic ointment: Neosporin or similar ointments help speed up the healing process but make sure the Neosportin does NOT include painkiller.

How do you cover a chicken wound?

The best way to cover a chicken wound is by using bandage wraps to provide support by compressing and protecting the wound. Vetrap bandage wraps are ideal for wound care for chickens because it doesn’t stick to and pull feathers when being removed.

We hope this guide has helped you feel confident and ready to care for your injured chicken! Learn more about treating common chicken illnesses here.