6 week chick attacked by feral cat

[reddpepper86]

Hi everyone.

So we have some chicks that are about 6 weeks that just got moved to the coop about a week ago. This afternoon I heard some squawking and cheeping from the hens and chicks and went to see what the fuss was about, only to find one of the feral cats that hangs around our area had somehow clawed his way into the coop and attacked one of our chicks and dragged off another.

I took in the injured chick and cleaned her up as best I could, but it looks pretty bad. I dont even know if she's going to live. I washed the wounds and put on antibiotic ointment, but I don't know of there's anything else I should do to help. Right now she's got really labored breathing and is pretty disoriented and lethargic.

Do you think she has a chance?
Is there anything else we can do?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Pictures of injuries will help us help you. Don’t worry, we’ve seen it all.

Warm and quiet are best to help with recovery. Making sure the chick is hydrated. Nutri-Drench can help with feeling cruddy.

Keeping infection at bay can be a challenge but it can be done. There have been some great recovery stories here on BYC!

 

[christwodog]

I would get some hot wire around that coop as soon as I could. The cat knows where he can get a free meal now. As far as the injured chick, there's always reason for hope - many horrific injuries heal up with time. I had one literally on death's doorstep who made a full recovery, and one who barely had a scratch and didn't make it, so you never know! Good luck!

 

[reddpepper86]

Pictures of injuries will help us help you. Don’t worry, we’ve seen it all.

Warm and quiet are best to help with recovery. Making sure the chick is hydrated. Nutri-Drench can help with feeling cruddy.

Keeping infection at bay can be a challenge but it can be done. There have been some great recovery stories here on BYC!

I will definitely post a pic!

 

[reddpepper86]

 

[reddpepper86]

This was a couple minutes ago while I was changing the bandages. The bleeding still hasn't stopped. She had bled through the previous bandages. Now she's just laying on her side in the crate I have her in. I have a heat lamp on her and tried to give her some water. She took a few drops.

 

[Conan]

The poor thing!!! Do you have any kwik stop? Always good to have on hand. If not, kaolin clay?

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Can you see where the blood is coming from? If it's a vessel there may not be much you can do. If it's from her feathers being torn you could try and stop them individually. It does look pretty clean so far.
The tendons seem to be showing at the base of her neck...?
I'll tag a few people...
@KikisGirls @Eggcessive @WVduckchick @casportpony @Wyorp Rock

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

In a pinch corn starch or flour will work. Not the best on such a large wound.

 

[Folly's place]

That's a lot of bleeding. Try to find the torn vessel and apply pressure to it. This isn't good! Then apply ointment and hope. This is the kind of wound that really needs emergency veterinary care, which will be very expensive. And cat bites can be very difficult because of infection.
You've had good advice here for home care; don't feel that you failed if she doesn't make it. That's a bad wound, with continuous bleeding.
I'm not a fan of having feral cats 'hanging around'. Live trap and take them to Animal Control, or the humane society.
Mary