Attacked by Racoon, Severe Injuries, Emergency, Plz Help

[OG Anomaly]

One of my hens was dragged away by a large barn cat, a few years ago. I saved her and tried to treat at home - puncture wounds were on her back and shoulder, so they would not/could not drain and became infected quickly. I took her to the vet, and, together, we gave her a sub-cutaneous bag of saline and a shot of antibiotics. Within a day, she responded. I was able to get liquids and food (cooked egg yolk and layer feed, blended with water to a runny gruel) into her by using a needle-free syringe and running a line of the gruel along the side of her beak. She swallowed on her own, and I did not need to try tube-feeding. Lots of patience! I checked and cleaned her punctures gently, but the antibiotics did the trick. After about a week, I started letting her be with the flock. She recovered completely. Best of luck!

Aww! Thanks for sharing your story & tips! That's great you were able to save her!
Nice job!
In the article I read on tube feeding, the woman was worried about hurting her birds too, and she also said, once she did it, it was really easy!
I can't imagine taking care of the smaller birds! They're so tiny! You must have good eyes and a lot of patience!
I'm 99% positive I won't have to tube feed now!! She ate like a champ today!
She still won't eat out of the bowl, but was helping herself to the deep bowled Tblspn I've been using!
A few people have mentioned the syringe-on-the-beak method. I also came across it several times while I was researching, and I did try it, a few times! It just didn't work well for me in this situation. It was really messy and I was worried about the food getting into the wounds around her beak and wattles. Her whole face is just torn up and I didn't want to take a chance of promoting infection. I decided to stick with the spoon feeding, unless she got worse. It's worked pretty well, it just takes forever, lol.
There's a small hook at the tip of her beak and when I dip the front of it into the fluid, it automatically picks up a drop and she'll 'sip' it. When there's enough in her mouth, she'll then lift her neck up and swallow.
Today she was going for the spoon herself, I didn't have to dip her beak for her, and she was taking actual drinks. Pretty exciting
Hope you have a great day!

 

[OG Anomaly]

Nutri drench is a good calorie replacement for birds not eating..it'll give her some nutrition. I sometimes add a bit of honey in with it to give a few extra calories. Tube feeding can be stressful on older birds. U can just drop it on the side of her beak..some will get in. That may n enough to stimulate her to eat. I'd just try giving her the normal stuff u feed regularly to eat...another one of my favorite tricks is mealworms! Chickens just can't seem to resist them..i think the wiggling around stimulates them to eat. I raise my own mealys..i had some chicks come in last month. 6 were dead. The other 4 barely alive. I started nutridrench right away ..every 30 min at 1st. One chick would not eat. It was completely shut down. I tossed it a meal worm...and much to my delight..it finally eat. For w weeks all it would eat was mealworms! They r blue/ partridge bramahs...they are gorgeous! I ain't buying no more birds that need to be shipped..i'll just buy eggs and hatch them for now on. Tube feeding is easy. I used to raise conjures, cockatiels and parrots. If u go that route...when u open the beak..ull see the airhole..gently push the tube past that hole towards the crop on her right side..u can feel/seethe tube go down that side of the neck. If ur tube is the hard plastic type and its cut blunt.u can file it to make it smoother and u can put a bit of oil on it to help it slide down. It's really easy.

U could just try placing towels around her in her box to if she's in a small box or crate that you can access from above .

I Love the pics!! How sweet they all are! Are those feathers supposed to be around the chicks feet!? Haha, I think I've seen pics of those as adults, they're so cute! And knowing the story behind the horses...? Makes me smile, thanks!

I'm going to add a post/update directly to the thread, I can't remember who all I responded to, what I said where, or if I already responded smh. Once I hit 'Like', I don't know how to tell if I already responded or not.
But, I'm 99% sure I'm not going to have to tube feed now!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write all that out! I feel a tiny bit bad I'm not going to be doing it now, lol
And I was going to buy meal worms, but completely forgot, I'll try to get some tomorrow, I feel like she should try and get some solid food in her soon? I don't want to push it either...not sure on that one...what do you think?

Can you tell me how I turn off the emojis after I open them? Haha
They're cute! But they distract me and I can't figure how to close them, I'm sure it's something simple, lololol Thanks!

 

[abraga]

I Love the pics!! How sweet they all are! Are those feathers supposed to be around the chicks feet!? Haha, I think I've seen pics of those as adults, they're so cute! And knowing the story behind the horses...? Makes me smile, thanks!

I'm going to add a post/update directly to the thread, I can't remember who all I responded to, what I said where, or if I already responded smh. Once I hit 'Like', I don't know how to tell if I already responded or not.
But, I'm 99% sure I'm not going to have to tube feed now!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write all that out! I feel a tiny bit bad I'm not going to be doing it now, lol
And I was going to buy meal worms, but completely forgot, I'll try to get some tomorrow, I feel like she should try and get some solid food in her soon? I don't want to push it either...not sure on that one...what do you think?

Can you tell me how I turn off the emojis after I open them? Haha
They're cute! But they distract me and I can't figure how to close them, I'm sure it's something simple, lololol Thanks!

The chicks w/the feathered feet are bred like that...they r so big and long legged..they sort a look like little vultures right nowummm...i don't know how to turn them thingys off either. I bet if u get her eating meal worms...she'll start to eat better. Just get the regular meal worms...not the super mealys. If they don't have those...baby crickets work to. There is another type of worm called super worms...they look like large maggots. They r high in calcium and soft to.U could also have ur son go out to the yard and find a few earth worms...but mealys r the ticket. Occasionally I buy a bunch of crickets to toss into my coop for the chickens i don't let out...man...they go crazy chasing them things around.
Let us know how ur chicki is doin when u can! Have a LOVELY day : )

 

[OG Anomaly]

Update, She's Doing Really Well!
Thank you for asking!

So far, we haven't found any infection and no fly strike.
I started with the Dakins recipe I'd found on different site the first night, and started using the Vetericyn (realized I've been spelling that wrong) after learning about it here. I'm going to start using the Blu-Kote on her butt, when I remember to get it. I have a bad memory, lol

I also learned about the Blu-Kote here, and pretty much everything else I've been doing to care for this chicken since (the chicken that now has a name...smh at myself) and I just wanted to say thank you again, to everyone. It's really an amazing community with a lot of friendly, helpful people and a lot of good information, thanks for sharing!

The swelling has gone down about 80% and she started to drink the Nutri-Drench-Tylan-Honey-Water mix on her own today! She hasn't had solid food yet, not sure if I should push it..?

Her left eye is completely open and looks pretty good! It's a little bloodshot and dilated, but she can definitely see out of it! About 10 minutes after I applied the Terramycin, it opened! I'm still using that 2x a day.

The right eye is still closed and I still think it may be gone, but as long as it heals, I'd think she'd be able to get around pretty well...? If anyone has anecdotes, thoughts on that, feel free to share

Some people mentioned a 3 Day mark? We passed that last night, so... that's that's good too, I know I'm not out of the woods, but I think she might be ok...?

She also laid another egg this morning!
Can we eat it, while she's on the antibiotics?

It was such a beautiful day I took her out on the deck to eat and she made a purring noise!? She was clucked and chortled when she sat with my son and he moved his leg, so we weren't sure if it was a fear noise, or not? I didn't know chickens could purr!

I have pics, have to find them then I'll add

 

[OG Anomaly]

I couldn't figure out how to add them today, lol. I did last time, but here they are! Also couldn't get a pic of her right side, but you can still see how much the swelling has gone down!

 

[Leighe]

Hi and thank you! I'm new to this site (and to using 'threads' in general) and have been checking for alerts, but didn't see any new ones. I came to post an update and only just saw the other posts, so I apologize about that! I'll get this figured out soon, lol.

I'm sorry you were attacked as well! I know it's nature and all, but still very sad.
I thought ours might've been a fox, we have those around too, but we actually saw the raccoon & then I read they will attack, so...
I've never really worked with birds before (I'm generally more into mammals, lol) so I have a lot to learn.
She's doing pretty well so far, and I have a list of supplies I'm going out for tomorrow. Vetricyn is on it and..(another topical-something I already forgot & have to look up again, but it's the OTC stuff next to Hydrogen Peroxide) as well as baby chick food. Looks like she's going to be sticking around, for a few days at least, and she's going to need to eat & get her strength back up.
I saw some people make a slurry & feed with a syringe or cath tubes (I would have to research tube feeding, I've not even seen a pic, but it's an option I want to look into).
Our vet was kind enough to talk to us over the phone & let us pick up an antibiotic called Tylan. He reminded me a couple times that he really doesn't do chickens, but I really appreciated that he called us back, twice!
I really wish he'd look at her or the pics though. I put in a request at the co-op extension for a chicken person and will hopefully hear back tomorrow.
What I'm most concerned about right now (other than infection & flies) are her eyes. They're so swollen shut! It's heartbreaking
I was positive she'd lost the left one, but she seems to be reacting to light changes & that's really good news! My son reminded me that it's only been a day...idk if a chicken swells up like a person, something else I have to look into.. it just
The vet said I could hold cool, wet, soft cloths over them a couple times a day, to try and lessen it, but if there are some expert tips on this, it would be great!
I've irrigated the wounds a couple times with Dakins solution and then slathered on triple antibiotic ointment. I know there's a debate/preference about using ointment, I usually start with it & see how it goes. I think because I want that gaping hole to close up quickly & because it's summer, I'm going to go with the hydrogen-like stuff..chlor-something, the vet knew what it was & said he thought it was a good idea..?
During the day, I've been holding her on my lap & almost constantly offering water. The antibiotic is mixed in there now & am also giving her 'aspirin' water, but she can't have any more of that after tomorrow.
I saw some people said they gave their chickens honey? I figured it couldn't hurt..? Some kind of electrolytes are also on my list.
We have her in a larger size tote with clean shavings and a lightly secured towel over the top so flies can't get in. I'm going to hook up a screen covering, too.
Today I learned that chickens have an air sac (?) you need to watch out for when handling & that they don't sweat...I'm going to freeze up some watermelon for her & try to find some ground meal worms or something like that for the slurry....I think that's it...this is probably way too long...I apologize, I just don't want to miss anything.
Almost forgot the pics...View attachment 1089127 View attachment 1089128 View attachment 1089131 View attachment 1089132 View attachment 1089133 Poor little thing :'(

Never apologize for....writing too much or writing randomly. You are putting words to thoughts that are going every which way to save an animal. Thats what we are here for to be the calm and offer advice. Everybody has given great advice. My rooster was in a battle and I thought he lost an eye...had it closed for 3 days and then I saw a slit and knew he was going to keep the eye. You're doing a great job!

 

[Leighe]

My son didn't have the top mesh of the coop/enclosure properly fastened down & we'd been letting the girls choose whether or not they wanted to sleep inside the coop or not...the raccoon got in through a gap in the wire. He fixed that and we are now making the chicken go into the coop itself at night & are locking them in.
We let them outside to free range from about 11a- until just before dark.
We're pretty sure our cat is trying to help as well, haha. Although he's fixed, he'll still spray occasionally, and that's what he did.
He walked all the way around the coop and sprayed along the outside of it...not sure what the chickens make of it, but hopefully the raccoon will think twice.
We're also looking into traps and some kind of early warning system.
I'm usually up and will be listening, and we will probably shoot it, if given the chance.
Now that it's gotten in and killed once, I'm pretty sure it'll be back.

Trap, baby monitor to hear chickens getting bothered. Game camera will show you what time he/she comes and they are pretty regular, so you could be ready with your gun. I've done that with skunks. Ummmm, no free choice on whether they go into coop or not, lol. Loved the idea behind it but as you have found, they don't realize there are things waiting for them. You might make a summer coop (a coop with hardware cloth around it and sealed tight so they can roost in the summer with air flow) and then either add wood panels to it for winter or give them a winter coop (make sure there are vents in whatever direction you go).

 

[Leighe]

Update, She's Doing Really Well!
Thank you for asking!

So far, we haven't found any infection and no fly strike.
I started with the Dakins recipe I'd found on different site the first night, and started using the Vetericyn (realized I've been spelling that wrong) after learning about it here. I'm going to start using the Blu-Kote on her butt, when I remember to get it. I have a bad memory, lol

I also learned about the Blu-Kote here, and pretty much everything else I've been doing to care for this chicken since (the chicken that now has a name...smh at myself) and I just wanted to say thank you again, to everyone. It's really an amazing community with a lot of friendly, helpful people and a lot of good information, thanks for sharing!

The swelling has gone down about 80% and she started to drink the Nutri-Drench-Tylan-Honey-Water mix on her own today! She hasn't had solid food yet, not sure if I should push it..?

Her left eye is completely open and looks pretty good! It's a little bloodshot and dilated, but she can definitely see out of it! About 10 minutes after I applied the Terramycin, it opened! I'm still using that 2x a day.

The right eye is still closed and I still think it may be gone, but as long as it heals, I'd think she'd be able to get around pretty well...? If anyone has anecdotes, thoughts on that, feel free to share

Some people mentioned a 3 Day mark? We passed that last night, so... that's that's good too, I know I'm not out of the woods, but I think she might be ok...?

She also laid another egg this morning!
Can we eat it, while she's on the antibiotics?

It was such a beautiful day I took her out on the deck to eat and she made a purring noise!? She was clucked and chortled when she sat with my son and he moved his leg, so we weren't sure if it was a fear noise, or not? I didn't know chickens could purr!

I have pics, have to find them then I'll add

I LOVE when my babies "purr" or "trill" or "singsong". It means they are happy and content and all is right with their world. I will just sit and listen and have such peace in my heart. Kinda like that old "CocaCola" commercial...

.

 

[OG Anomaly]

The chicks w/the feathered feet are bred like that...they r so big and long legged..they sort a look like little vultures right nowummm...i don't know how to turn them thingys off either. I bet if u get her eating meal worms...she'll start to eat better. Just get the regular meal worms...not the super mealys. If they don't have those...baby crickets work to. There is another type of worm called super worms...they look like large maggots. They r high in calcium and soft to.U could also have ur son go out to the yard and find a few earth worms...but mealys r the ticket. Occasionally I buy a bunch of crickets to toss into my coop for the chickens i don't let out...man...they go crazy chasing them things around.
Let us know how ur chicki is doin when u can! Have a LOVELY day : )

Hahaha, I'm going to get some crickets just to watch that! Hahaha
The store didn't have any live meal worms, so we got some dead, dried ones...they're pretty gross, lol. They're getting live ones in later this wknd.

She's eating even better today!

 

[abraga]

Update, She's Doing Really Well!
Thank you for asking!

So far, we haven't found any infection and no fly strike.
I started with the Dakins recipe I'd found on different site the first night, and started using the Vetericyn (realized I've been spelling that wrong) after learning about it here. I'm going to start using the Blu-Kote on her butt, when I remember to get it. I have a bad memory, lol

I also learned about the Blu-Kote here, and pretty much everything else I've been doing to care for this chicken since (the chicken that now has a name...smh at myself) and I just wanted to say thank you again, to everyone. It's really an amazing community with a lot of friendly, helpful people and a lot of good information, thanks for sharing!

The swelling has gone down about 80% and she started to drink the Nutri-Drench-Tylan-Honey-Water mix on her own today! She hasn't had solid food yet, not sure if I should push it..?

Her left eye is completely open and looks pretty good! It's a little bloodshot and dilated, but she can definitely see out of it! About 10 minutes after I applied the Terramycin, it opened! I'm still using that 2x a day.

The right eye is still closed and I still think it may be gone, but as long as it heals, I'd think she'd be able to get around pretty well...? If anyone has anecdotes, thoughts on that, feel free to share

Some people mentioned a 3 Day mark? We passed that last night, so... that's that's good too, I know I'm not out of the woods, but I think she might be ok...?

She also laid another egg this morning!
Can we eat it, while she's on the antibiotics?

It was such a beautiful day I took her out on the deck to eat and she made a purring noise!? She was clucked and chortled when she sat with my son and he moved his leg, so we weren't sure if it was a fear noise, or not? I didn't know chickens could purr!

I have pics, have to find them then I'll add

I bet she enjoyed some fresh air! Chickens make all types of sounds/clucks. They do have a soft cluck when they r content..another soft one for chicks..and more of a screech when alarmed..and a loud squawk when they sense danger, etc. Ur girl looks better, ur a good momma...chickens r pretty darn tuff...she'll do just fine with one eye...probly will tilt her head a lot when just using one eye...the brain/nervous system is miraculus..and will adjust its resources to accommodate one eye. I've noticed when my birds look up at a flying bird or airplane..they oftentimes tilt thier heads and use one eye..so..she will b fine