my chicken was attacked by something last night - she's almost 1.5yrs old, a rhode island red. we suspect a cat or fox b/c we know a neighbor has both on her property and they have tried to get into our yard before. this happened after 1am, my husband heard noises in the back yard and let the dogs out to chase whatever it was, i checked the coop and found feathers and then when i went to look where the dogs had run my chicken came running and squawking out of the bushes towards me. she stopped and let me pick her up then seemed to go into shock. all her tail feathers were pulled out and much off of her back, she has a few puncture wounds on her back and one on one wing but she seems to be moving her wings ok. she ate out of my hand last night & this morning as well as drank water i dripped on her beak. i think she may have eaten out of the feeders this morning too and has pooped a good bit in the dog crate i kept her in the rest of the night. i let one of the other chickens, i only have 4, come in and they talked through the cage a little. she was walking around more after i left for work and my husband decided to let her back into the yard some - she is now in the coop nesting box. she looks very rough but seems to be acting ok but probe in pain so not as active as usual. i told him to keep an eye on her with the other chickens in case they pecked at her punctures and i have some concern she could get sun burnt.
what should i be doing for her? should i wash her wounds with anything in particular or leave them alone? they are not bleeding but are weeping. and if/once she's ok, how long till her feathers should fill back in. she's been eating mostly grower feed b/c 2 of the 4 chickens are only 20 weeks - but the chicks started laying last week so i started mixing the layer feed into the grower feed till it's gone. is there anything special i should feed to her till she's well? looks like there is bruising beneath the skin, maybe from where the feathers were plucked out - should i notice anything with that to know if serious or not?
what should i be doing for her? should i wash her wounds with anything in particular or leave them alone? they are not bleeding but are weeping. and if/once she's ok, how long till her feathers should fill back in. she's been eating mostly grower feed b/c 2 of the 4 chickens are only 20 weeks - but the chicks started laying last week so i started mixing the layer feed into the grower feed till it's gone. is there anything special i should feed to her till she's well? looks like there is bruising beneath the skin, maybe from where the feathers were plucked out - should i notice anything with that to know if serious or not?
