Wounds

Poultry can be wounded by sharp objects, pecks and bites.

Cocks are often wounded in cockfights. Chickens with large wounds are usually slaughtered.

Treatment

1. Control the bleeding.

2. Cut the feathers around the wound.

3. Clean with fresh water and soap. Remove dirt, stones and loose skin. Clean again with fresh or salty water.

4. Apply one of the medicines given below along with any of the fly repellents listed. All applications should be made twice a day.

Fresh, open wounds

· Grind together a clove of garlic and an equal amount of fresh or powdered turmeric rhizome with enough coconut oil to make a paste. Apply this to the wound twice a day until it heals. This remedy helps the wound heal fast. (India. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Grind fresh turmeric rhizome and apply the juice to the wound twice a day until it heals. (India. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Apply vegetable oil on the wound, then apply wood ash on top of the oil. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4)

· Mix vegetable oil and powdered lime (calcium hydroxide) and apply to the wound. This soothes the wound. (1,2,3, 4, 5)

· Apply fat from a python on the skin once a day until the wound heals. (Laos. 1, 2, 3, 4)

· Mix 1 tablespoon of fish oil and l tablespoon of charcoal powder. Apply on the wound 1-2 times a day. (1,2,3,4)

· Apply wood ash on the wound. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2. 3, 4, 5)

Fly repellents and antiseptics

These medicines repel flies and prevent the wound from becoming infested with maggots.

· Crush a handful of fresh neem leaves and make into a poultice. Apply on the wound. (India, Thailand. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Grind fresh leaves of Vitex negundo to make a poultice. Apply on the wound. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Wounds with maggots

· Drip the milky sap from the banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis) into the wound. After a little while, the maggots will crawl out. Dress with one of the fly repellent medicines. Repeat this once a day for 2-3 days until all the maggots have come out. Continue treament as for an open wound. Used by Ms Ramanamma, paraveterinarian, Girijan Deepika, tribal areas of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. (1, 2, 3, 4)

Crush unripe fruit and seeds of custard apple (Annona squamosa). Apply on wound once a day for 2-3 days (until all maggots are dead). Then dress with any of the other treatments for open wounds or fly repellents until the wound heals. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Grind a handful of neem leaves and mix with enough coconut oil to make a paste. Apply onto the wound once a day until the wound heals. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Infected wounds

Pound a handful of Eucalyptus globulus leaves and squeeze out the juice. Pour the juice onto the infected wound. Repeat twice a day until the wound heals. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Burns

Wash the burn with cold or cool water. Make a poultice of either of the following medicines and apply it to the burn. Fresh latex or pulp of Aloe vera. (Throughout South and Southeast Asia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Honey. (Indonesia. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)