Bad Poodle! Need Advice on Attacked Bird.

[chickiebaby]

Well, it finally happened. The usually FAIRLY well behaved Romping Sasha got dear Lucy Redbreast, and got her bad. Harried her like mad and left feathers all over the place. Not one bite mark - she's well trained in that regard, I guess, but that's hardly any consolation at the moment. Lucy, an EE of surpassing beauty, is bare,bare, bare on her back and it's below freezing out. Her wings, rump and neck are fine.

Just put her in a dog crate with towels and cooked egg and water, and draped the whole thing to darken it. Poor bird! She is totally in shock and bleeding a bit from the comb where I think she hurt herself trying to get back in the coop before I found her.

I plan to hit the comb with some blu-kote, but the bare area is so large, I wonder if pine tar or something would be wiser. I've always sworn by blu-kote, and I have some right here, but never had any area this large to treat, and it looks really raw from feather-pulling.

My youngest is already knitting a square of wool that we can cover her with, with some elastic underneath, for when shes well enough to go back out.

Looking for ideas on treating the large bare area, first of all against infection, and then against pecking by others when reintroduced, and to maximize healing and eventual regrowth.

Ideas?

Thank you.

 

[chickiebaby]

Still waitin on y'all! Turns out both of my farm supply stores re closed on Sundays anyway, so can't buy anything. I guess I will coat this whole area with blu-kote, which will have to be done outside, since that stuff always stains like mad- clothes, skin, everything. I'll wait a little longr in case anyone has any other immediate advice?

S

 

[amyquilt]

Can't help you, but you're luckier than I am. My very docile poodle killed 2 of my birds. No chance for me to help them, whatever she did, she killed them instantly.

 

[Alley]

I would go the Neosporin route. I recently had a coon attack one of my hens and when I posted on here, everyone said Neosporin. I cleaned it daily with baby wipes and coated her poor leg in Neosporin. It's now a month later and she's fine!

Good Luck!

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Quote:
Yup, I agree, that is what I used on my roo that was attacked & left for dead by a hawk. He is fine now!

What is it about poodles, I have 6 & they would love to get the chickens! GRRRR!

Here is another thought, I use M-T-G (I think that is what it is, can't remember) from TSC it is rubbed on horses that have lost hair & it makes it grow back extra fast. I am not sure if it would make feathers grow in faster or not. It is greasy, you could try after the wound is healed? Just a thought.

Good luck!

 

[onthespot]

If I was going to let that poodle around chickens again, I'd buy a shock collar and set it to taze and when she got one step away from that chicken I'd give her the shock of her life, literally. And again if she did it again, and she probably wouldn't do it a third time. Sorry about your bird.

 

[chickiebaby]

I'm still waiting for her to eat or drink before I bother her again with antibiotics. I have some Bactrobran - prescription Mupirocin - on hand, so I guess that's what I'll use. I just think it's going to keep getting wiped off by towels or bedding.

Still open to advice as I'm not doing anything further to her til I see her eat and drink. . . .

 

[ivan3]

I'm assuming the bare area is merely abraded and featherless (ouch). I'd clean the area first (betadine/distilled water 50/50) use sterile 2"x2" gauze pads to daub it up. Since you all are already working on a `vest', apply the neosporin using more 2"2"'s and then use either 2"x2"'s or 4"x4"'s (depends on size of bald area) directly on wound (get a roll of synthetic dressing tape - though strips of duct tape will work in a pinch) secure the pads to raw area using tape, then cover with your vest.

Pine tar is good stuff, but needs to be used sparingly (neosporin is a much better option for what you describe).

Don't get frustrated if the dressing/vest needs lots of adjustment (chooks are tough on dressings).

 

[chickiebaby]

Thanks, Ivan- that's pretty much exactly what I did, as it turns out, though I've chosen not to bandage her at all so far- she's staying indoors tonight anyway. Tomorrow if she goes out we'll bandage her and also cover her with the little woolen cape/square my daughter has been industriously knitting.

Sasha has been trying all day to say she's sorry, but I don't believe her - once a bird dog, always a bird dog. I can't really blame her for her own essential nature.

Thanks for good advice, everyone.

 

[jjthink]

First order of business is to try not to lose her from shock so keep her in a comfortably warm quiet place - warm so she doesn't expend energy trying to keep warm, and quiet to prevent any additional stress. Comfy bedding on the bottom of that dog cage. No drafts.

Whoever is the most calming presence for her should be the person tending her and trying to comfort with soft spoken word if she normally responds well to it. If she had an especially good feather buddy you can put them together if she seems lonely but make sure the healthy one does not peck her.

A couple of drops of Rescue Remedy in her water bowl to calm her.

Neosporin (without pain relief in it) for topical application on wounds. If she has any serious damage she may also need oral or injectable antibiotic to survive.

Pain relief - the aspirin water as described plenty here on BYC if she stops bleeding and you do not suspect internal injury. Pain relief may be necessary for her to feel like drinking/eating.

JJ