Bald eagle attacked one hen

[barkingdoginn]

The other day a bald eagle came into the garden and attacked a hen. As soon as it happened she looked like she wasn’t going to make it, my partner was doing a head count of the others and when he turned back around where the hen was she disappeared. Later on the next day he found her hiding under a board in the garden and she survived! She is our smallest hen and was wearing one of those camo chicken jackets which I think saved her life. Her injuries include a lot of feather loss, and a very bloody /bruised wing.

I am wondering how to address cleaning and caring for the wounds - does this look like it is treatable? Should I fully bathe her or clean up specific areas? She is making normal hen sounds, has laid an egg and eating and drinking lots. We have her inside. The photo shows the worst of the bloodiness

 

[coach723]

That she's eating and laying is a very good sign. Preventing infection is what you should work on. I would clean and flush the wounds with a chlorhexidine solution (Hibiclens, any pharmacy) and then apply a plain triple antibiotic ointment to them, if there are punctures (look everywhere in feathers to make sure no punctures from talons have been missed), get it into them. Reapply as often as needed to keep the wounds covered in the ointment. I would crate her so that she is safe from pecking of the wounds by others. A wire crate in the run with the other birds is less stressful, and makes reintegrating her easier. Make sure flies can't get to the wounds. If flies are an issue then crate her indoors until it's healed enough that they won't bother it. Keeping her on clean bath towels or puppy pads if needed, can also help keep them clean, so that loose bedding materials don't stick to the wounds. Once everything is scabbed up, the flies and bedding won't be an issue any more.
I think she's very, very lucky, and has a very good chance to fully recover.

 

[barkingdoginn]

Thank you for the advice!! Before seeing your response I cleaned her up with warm water and then some betadine iodine. Is that similar / ok to clean it or should I get the thing suggested? I treated any wounds I could see with polyspirin. I will also swap out the shavings for puppy pads! We have her inside the house in the crate we use for chicks but could put her in the run in a crate. Thanks again

 

[coach723]

I think you did fine. If you need to clean anything again, use the chlorhexidine or plain mild soapy water.