A Bobcat hurt my hen

[kees]

How's she doing?

Suzy

 

[laverne34]

I took Rosie back to the avain vet today for her follow up appt. and she's much better but still has a long way to go. Thank goodness her crop is not damaged and the biggest problem now is the huge hematoma on her neck. The vet put a tube down her esophagus to check that everything was intact and then she feed her via the tube. Rosie has trouble bending over to eat or drink so I elevated her dishes in the crate that I'm keeping her in. She hasn't eaten too much so I'm feeding her a mixture of baby bird formula and baby food with a syringe. She really likes the taste and I'm so relieved she's eating. She's drinking plenty of water and pedialyte on her own now that her dishes are elevated. Rosie's also getting liquid ibuprophen for the discomfort which she takes with a syringe also. Her leg wound has healed nicely... I finished her antibiotics this morning and her leg looks good without any sign of infection. She's walking around a bit more too. Tell me I'm crazy for doing all this for her, but I get so much enjoyment out of my chickens....
There was another chicken at the vet today who had been attacked by a bobcat too...a couple days before Rosie's attack. This bobcat killed 3 chickens and this one got away. The owners couldn't swing the vet bill so the vet rescued the hen and will find someone to adopt this hen. It was walking around the office with it's battle scars but it's going to make it. I've learned so much through this experience.
If any of you live in Tucson...this sat...there's a city chicken coop tour. It should be fun.