Can this hen be saved? (Fox attack) (pictures)

[NHchicks]

She's my 2 yr. old hen, Cookie (the head hen). This morning she was wandering where she should not have been, and a fox tried to eat her for b'fast, but she got away. Now she has a large bald area with some nice holes in her rump. What should I do? She's walking around some, mainly staying under the deck.

Wish I had gotten better close-ups but she didn't let me too near before walking away again.

 

[allieloveschickens]

You should catch her and do a careful inspection- puncture wounds often get infected so it is important to flush them out with a saline solution and apply neosporin (non pain killer kind) If she is moving around well then hopefully she will be fine- chickens are remarkable healers! Good luck!

 

[NHchicks]

When you say saline solution, do you mean plain old salt water?

I could rinse her off with warm salt water, rub some neosporin all over wounded areas, and then just leave her, with no bandages?

 

[mysweetgypsy]

Clean the wound as best you can, (warm water and soap will do) and apply an antibacterial, (spray, paste, etc). If there isn't any internal damage, bleeding, etc, she should heal up pretty well. Don't cover it unless she's missing LARGE amounts of skin. Puncture wounds need to weep and drain. If you have an antibiotic you may want to put her on some as a precaution. Good luck

 

[allieloveschickens]

when my hen was scalped I bought a spray on antibacterial saline solution at the drug store, it worked really well at keeping the wound clean- if I can remember the brand I will post a pic for you.

here is a link to the product- if you do get it make sure to get the kind without pain killer in it: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...=149&ty=104&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

 

[NHchicks]

Thank you! I'll run to the drugstore right now - hope they carry it. A spray on, all-in-one sounds easiest.

 

[NHchicks]

Ew. I finally was able to get a little closer to her and see that she's also lost her neck feathers and has a nice gash taken out of the back of her neck. I was able to spray her back with the Saline Spray/Antibacterial, but then she ran. I'm going to have to round her up somehow later and spray her neck. She's not going to like that. It's tough to get anyone to help me hold an injured chicken around here, too. We're all kinda spooked that way.

That fox is not a very good hunter. He had a chance at her back and her neck, and yet here she is. Maybe he felt guilty. He should.

 

[NHchicks]

Oh FORGET IT. My husband looked at the gash on her neck and said no way, he's culling her, she needs stitches not an antibacterial spray.

UGH.

After he culls, he's going to use her for bait in the trap to get the fox, who showed up yet again this afternoon but didn't get anywhere because we came down the driveway.

I REALLY HATE THIS PART OF KEEPING CHICKENS.

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

If shes moving she will heal! DONT LET HIM CULL

common... give her a chance ;(

 

[PAchickenlover]

Iheartchicks<3

:

If shes moving she will heal! DONT LET HIM CULL

common... give her a chance ;(

I totally agree give the poor bird a chance!!! She just might surprise YOU!
No need to cull unless there is no chancs that she can make a recovery!!!!​