Chicken attacked by dogs

[new2chickens_]

We adopted 7 hens (no idea how old they are). Our dogs attacked one and tore all the feathers and skin off her back—from the base of her neck to her tail. She has very small clump of tail feathers left. It doesn’t look like her back was punctured but that her skin was torn (she has a large flap on the right side).

I read so many posts yesterday from this site (thank you!!!). We decided to use saline to clean off her bottom (she had liquid poop, normal color), sprayed her back with Vetericyn, covered with neosporin, used a tefla pad, and some of the stretchy band.

We put her in a clean kennel in our basement with a towel and newspaper scraps last night to keep her out of the heat.

As of this morning, she hasn’t touched the water or food and is sleeping. We brought her out to our backyard to see if that would stimulate her and offered the food and water, but she just closed her eyes and sat there.

I read in another post that another chicken’s behavior of eating and drinking was back to normal 48 hours after a dog attack.

Her urine yesterday was tinged pink. Its seemed to get lighter. I’m not sure if it’s from her bottom that seems to be raw from all the tail feathers pulled out, if she bruised her bladder, or if she has internal bleeding. Her wounds are isolated to her back.

Our plan (so far): rinse of her bottom. Take off the bandage, cover with more neosporin, and put another tefla pad on with a bandage (?).

My biggest concern is her suffering longer than she should (if we need to put her down).

My questions:
1. Do I let her rest? Or do I try to force water?
2. We have her in our cool basement with blankets over the crate. I read about fly strike and am totally freaked out about it. It’s pretty cool down there—any concern about her staying warm because her back is injured.
3. Anything else we should be thinking about for our plan?
4. With her extensive wounds, should we put her down? I will add pictures when we change her bandage today.
5. Any other recommendations?

So grateful for this kind community and all those who give their time, advice, and positive intentions.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would treat her for shock by offering sugar water up to her beak. Add 1 tsp of sugar to each cup of water. Watery chicken feed and scrambled soft egg are good to offer. She may be very sore or have internal injuries. Chicken urine is the white material in the droppings. The wounds spray and triple antibiotic ointment are good for any wounds or raw skin, but you may want to leave the wounds open to air. Hopefully, she will improve, but it depends on the extent of injuries. My hen who was run around and injured by a neighbor’s dog as she walked down the road, had similar injuries. She stopped laying, immediately started molting from the stress, and months later only laid thin shelled or shell-less eggs. She eventually died of reproductive problems related to her injuries. She had been our best layer prior to the attack. Let us know how your hen gets along, and I hope that she does well.

 

[Eggcessive]

I forgot to add that I would check her crop to make sure it is emptying by morning once she starts eating and drinking. Tube feeding can get fluids into her if she won’t drink.

 

[new2chickens_]

Thank you so much really moved by you taking the time to respond.

When we clean her up and apply more ointment, I’ll leave the bandage off.

She has the white trailing down her back feathers (that’s what we cleaned off with saline spray yesterday). Any idea what the clear, water-like fluid would be? I’m not sure it’s still happening—I’m trying to let her be until our kids are down for nap and we can reapply the cream.

I’m also worried about an egg because I think she was trying to get to the coop to lay.

Attaching some pics now, one of her bottom (without moving her) and one of the sweet girl, Butter.

 

[new2chickens_]

I would treat her for shock by offering sugar water up to her beak. Add 1 tsp of sugar to each cup of water. Watery chicken feed and scrambled soft egg are good to offer. She may be very sore or have internal injuries. Chicken urine is the white material in the droppings. The wounds spray and triple antibiotic ointment are good for any wounds or raw skin, but you may want to leave the wounds open to air. Hopefully, she will improve, but it depends on the extent of injuries. My hen who was run around and injured by a neighbor’s dog as she walked down the road, had similar injuries. She stopped laying, immediately started molting from the stress, and months later only laid thin shelled or shell-less eggs. She eventually died of reproductive problems related to her injuries. She had been our best layer prior to the attack. Let us know how your hen gets along, and I hope that she does well.

We went down to the crate, and she was laying on her side with her legs limp. We took the bandage off, and we used a syringe to give some sugar water. Her tongue moved some, but she’s pretty non-response, even when we bring the water to her beak. She can’t hold her head up, and she has blood coming from her bottom.

We’re going to put her down. Thank you for the advice.

Feeling so heartbroken about our girl

 

[Eggcessive]

The first picture looks like the skin is ripped off. Just make sure that no flies can get to her. She may develop green skin that is bruising with the recent wounds, so don’t be shocked.

 

[new2chickens_]

She just died

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[new2chickens_]

thank you

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh, I am just seeing this. Sorry for your loss. It sounds like she had major internal injuries.