Fisher Attack!

So last Monday, June 13th, I opened up the coop to find four dead hens. It was obviously a weasel relative as all of their heads had been chewed up. Thank god the goose was in the coop though, otherwise we might have had 22 dead chickens. I am convinced that Dick (the gander) scared the predator off before it was too late for everybody. We are think it is a fisher based on the size of the paw prints going up the side of the coop. He broke through the screen over the propped window. Figures that as soon as higher security measures are installed we invite trouble, as the window had been propped with no screen or anything or the last five years. The coop has since been secured with no further issues.

So the problem is that my only silver penciled hen had a majority of the area above her tail degloved. The fisher essentially ate the top of her back between her wings. She is too stubborn to die so I have been playing chicken doctor all week. And no, taking her to an actual avian vet wasn't an option or even truly necessary in my opinion, and I have about as much experience as you can have treating injured birds. So she is doing EXTREMELY well for the extent of her injuries and really just wants to go back outside and be free to pick, which she tried to do the morning of the attack. She's eating, drinking, and is in good spirits with no signs of infection. I guess she was lucky she was so fat. I have been wrapping her in ace bandage as best as I can with gauze to cover the wound. Day before yesterday she was out and picking, but wasn't getting around very well due to the bandage interfering with her legs. All of our chickens are cochin bantams so their bodies are very compact. I have to cover the wound in some way to prevent flies from bothering it, but I also don't want to cut down on her mobility. Any suggestions? She is sitting on my lap now pecking the smallest cat, as happy as she can be without corn in front of her.

It sounds as if you have experience so you already know that birds tend to heal quite well from such wounds, but it does take time as such wounds heal from the 'outside in'. Have you considered a smaller version of a hen saddle coated with antibiotic ointment on the inside?

No I hadn't, but how would I go about making one / buying one (if they are available)?

She's been living in the bathroom for a week now, and its hard to get in and use the room because you don't want to hit her with the door if she has gone for a stroll.

Type 'hen saddles' in the search bar at the top of the page. Several pertinent threads will appear.

There is a medicinal pink ointment called Swat. Most feed stores carry it in the horse section. It keeps flys off while helping to heal wounds. I have used it lots of times, and wouldn't be without it in my animal medicine cabinet. Good luck.