Hello,
Long time reader, first time poster – I wish it were for a more cheerful chicken topic
A cat or racoon got into my chicken run yesterday and killed 2, and injured 2 of my girls. They are Barred Rocks about 11 months (Black Betty and Hen Solo).
Both survivors have severe wounds on the back of their heads, avulsed skin and skull bone is showing. Black Betty (BB) has about 2”x1” area exposed, she is more alert but not eating or drinking on her own. Both eyes open.
Hen Solo (HS) has a smaller area of exposed skull about 1”x1” and additional injuries to neck. It appears that her neck may be broken or some injury to the muscle because she has trouble keeping her head up, and seems most comfortable laying down with head resting back. She is also alert when roused, but also not eating or drinking on her own. Only one eye opens.
I cleaned both wounds as best I could with dilute betadine and applied topical vetricyn gel and Neosporin. I wrapped HS’s head because her wound keeps resting on her back, but BB wouldn’t let me wrap hers so I covered all exposed bone with thick layer of Neosporin. They are in a large dog kennel in a quite bathroom in the house. I’ve been going in every few hours to give them droppers of electrolyte water and some mixed with wet chick crumbles/carrot puree and crushed up baby aspirin. They seem to swallow what I give, but don’t make any effort to get more. Food and water kept in cage.
Long story short, my request for advice is if these sound like wounds that could heal or lead to a normal life? Any treatment tips for exposed skull wounds? Could HS have a broken neck and still be ambulatory?
Thanks all! I’m feeling pretty traumatized as this is my first chicken disaster! I can’t imagine how my girls are feeling….
Long time reader, first time poster – I wish it were for a more cheerful chicken topic
A cat or racoon got into my chicken run yesterday and killed 2, and injured 2 of my girls. They are Barred Rocks about 11 months (Black Betty and Hen Solo).
Both survivors have severe wounds on the back of their heads, avulsed skin and skull bone is showing. Black Betty (BB) has about 2”x1” area exposed, she is more alert but not eating or drinking on her own. Both eyes open.
Hen Solo (HS) has a smaller area of exposed skull about 1”x1” and additional injuries to neck. It appears that her neck may be broken or some injury to the muscle because she has trouble keeping her head up, and seems most comfortable laying down with head resting back. She is also alert when roused, but also not eating or drinking on her own. Only one eye opens.
I cleaned both wounds as best I could with dilute betadine and applied topical vetricyn gel and Neosporin. I wrapped HS’s head because her wound keeps resting on her back, but BB wouldn’t let me wrap hers so I covered all exposed bone with thick layer of Neosporin. They are in a large dog kennel in a quite bathroom in the house. I’ve been going in every few hours to give them droppers of electrolyte water and some mixed with wet chick crumbles/carrot puree and crushed up baby aspirin. They seem to swallow what I give, but don’t make any effort to get more. Food and water kept in cage.
Long story short, my request for advice is if these sound like wounds that could heal or lead to a normal life? Any treatment tips for exposed skull wounds? Could HS have a broken neck and still be ambulatory?
Thanks all! I’m feeling pretty traumatized as this is my first chicken disaster! I can’t imagine how my girls are feeling….
