[b]EMERGENCY! Survived Beating... Head Trauma[/b]

[vickiecampbellusa]

Our 11-month old game rooster "Buddy" (who had been and "only child" and "king of the roost) started becoming rather HOSTILE lately following the introduction to the three new chickens (gringos) we rescued in late January (now 13-weeks old). For 10 of those weeks we kept the gringos hidden... separated physically from him, until about 10 days ago - when he met them face to face. We've alternated viewing times through the use of our new chicken tractor (Chuck designed himself), so all had some free-range time in the yard. However, Buddy had become SO ANGRY out of jealousy that he often attempted to flog us (particularly me). He finally succeeded... with two "surprise" attacks to my legs in the last week. FLASH FORWARD... Tuesday of this week, about sunset- Buddy struck me again (this one drawing blood), so my "hero husband" clubbed him when Buddy repeatedly flew up at him too. Chuck struck him more than once, and thought he had killed him... IMPORTANT NOTE: it broke Chuck's heart to hurt... much less kill him... because he had been a dearly loved pet since birth. SO... he laid him just inside the barn where he roosts, planning to bury him Weds. morning. HELP! SURPRISE! Buddy was found alive, leaning against the wall just inside the door. Chuck didn't have the heart to kill him... so we've decided we to try to nurse him back to health ourselves (for now). He could walk a little, but lost his balance (we assume because of a concussion). We've got him in a dog carrier, surrounded by some soft cloth "props" to keep him from falling & injuring himself further. His left eye is shut, so I used eye-drops to moisten it a little... and above it there was a little blood, so I cleaned the area and q-tipped a little antibiotic ointment on it. The eye seems to be opening a little now. He was "starved" when we found him... but he can't bend down without losing his balance... so we started him out hand-feeding him. He's eaten some mixed grains from a little cup & we've been spoon feeding him his favorite food - ricotta cheese (which he's wild about). To that... we add a little gel glucose to encourage him to eat. . Yesterday, Chuck gave him 3 fresh earthworms and 5 or six raisins too. We're worried most about him dehydrating. He hasn't wanted to drink from the little container we hold in front of him, so we're using a medicine dropper (I have to pry his beak open, but he swallows it & seems to like it). So far: we're giving him a little liquid infant tylenol for pain - added to his water, & also added antibiotics (just in case). Chuck wanted us to add a couple of drops of infant vitamins, so yesterday, they also went into the water, plus a little touch of gatorade! WORRY: he hasn't had a bowel movement since the rescue. I just remembered! He hasn't had any grit, or greens (both of which he usually eats when he free ranges). BUT... maybe he has internal injuries????????? Chuck might have hit him elsewhere???
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST TAKE HIM TO A VET?????
Here he is from March 14th.

 

[Desert Rooster]

Just keep giving him water with the eye dropper once in a while and keep doing what your doing, if he doesn't improve, take him to the Vet.

hope he gets better.

 

[drdoolittle]

I'm sorry, but your post upset me quite a bit. This roo was a "beloved pet"? I just don't understand why your husband had to club the bird repeatedly to stop it from doing what roos do. You should just put the poor thing out of his misery and be done with it-----you're just causing prolonged suffering by trying to save him. Guess you won't have to worry about him attacking you anymore.

 

[vickiecampbellusa]

Your comment seemed rather cold and sarcastic.

I don't want you to think I am being rude when I respond to your reply... especially when we haven't even met.
I feel it very strongly that you should know all the facts before you think worse of us.

BUDDY has ALWAYS BEEN, and still is, a beloved pet. Buddy has been Chuck's "little buddy" for a long time... keeping him company whenever Chuck's outside.

I understand your concern... I was horrified when I saw it happen, and Chuck was horrified that it happened!.
I would NEVER have hit him with anything worse than a broom or sprayed him with a water hose. There was never any plan to kill buddy for attacking me.
His injury came as a result of a "reactionary" moment... when my husband just lost control because of seeing that I had been hurt and trying to protect me from further injury.
Who knows... you might have done the same thing if the one you loved was being attacked by a rooster with a gash on the leg dripping with blood (even if it was a beloved pet).
Chuck's been concerned that Buddy might fly up and hit me in the face one day and put my eye out or something.

He regretted terribly that he hurt him and cried all day after finding him alive. For my husband to cry all day, I KNOW he is REALLY HURTING and VERY SORRY for his action, which was unintentional (he was defending me). He is not a careless, unfeeling man. He has spent hours by his side since... lovingly doing whatever he can to help him get better... PRAYERS in addition.

Chuck and I are new to having chickens in our lives, and we don't have the experience perhaps that you do of knowing "what roos do". We are learning more every day, and I joined BackYardChickens because of all the nice people who also enjoy their chickens and don't mind helping us "NEW EGGS" learn more. I have been using the advice those folks have given me from the start... and I am very thankful for all who have encouraged us in our efforts to raise our chickens.

I hope perhaps you can understand us a little better now.

As for putting him out of his misery... Buddy seems to be improving.

 

[gofasterstripe]

Hi Vicky.
You emailed me about a hurt chicken. I know nothing about chickens other than I can buy 1 at the store and cook it. Sorry about that I hope someone can butt in and help you.

 

[terrilhb]

to you and your husband. Sometimes things happen. I do not believe in animal abuse but I don't think that was abuse. It was a human reaction to seeing a loved one being attacked. Sometimes people just react without thinking. It happens to all of us. And I believe noone can say what they would do in a situation if they are not in it. I hope he gets better. Tell your husband to not be hard on himself. Good luck and I hope all works out.

 

[PotterWatch]

There are some people who will try to re-train a roo that becomes aggressive. There are also those who send them to the freezer. Frankly, I wouldn't keep a mean roo but to each his own. I also don't take chickens to the vet. Heck I would be surprised if I could even find a vet who would see chickens around here. If you want to try and get him back to health, just keep doing what you have been doing. There may be a point where it is more humane to put him out of his suffering but if you want to try a vet first, then by all means do so.

 

[drdoolittle]

No, I wasn't trying to be cold and sarcastic. I understand that what happened was just a reaction, but the most I've done to a roo when it attacked me or even my 12 year-old son, was to lightly kick at it----even when it kept coming at me. It usually only took, at most, 3 light kicks to make it re-think what it was doing and walk away. I'm glad your roo sems to be improving, and I really hope for the best.

 

[Lollipop]

I have to agree that it was a human reaction and not abuse. I would have done the same if my wife was attacked. Roosters are aall different, just like people. Some react well to discipline, others rebelle. Most, like your "buddy", will never "get it" and the kindes and safest thing to do is to cull him. A mean rooster is no pet and a huge liability. I`ve been doing this a long time and it still grabs my heart to cull one, but it`s the right thing to do...........Pop

 

[jmmre31]

Don't know if this will help, but we had a hen break her neck. I kept her separated but left her in the coop. Every 2 hrs during the day I'd go out and carefully lift her head and give her water. After about a week to 10 days she had very limited ability to move her head so I started hand feeding her. It took about 6 weeks, but she is alive and healthy today. She is one of our sweetest hens.

As for the roo part. We had a pet roo, Russel Crow. He was wonderful until about 8 months old, then that was it. We tried alot of different things, but in the end we culled him. I hated it, but we have 2 small children and couldn't take any more risk. We worked with him daily for about 2 months.
Kicking him away never seemed to work, it just made him fight harder. The hose worked!

Good luck!