Chicken attacked by Hawk (photo attached)

[zoepilke]

One of our chickens was attacked by a hawk but luckily we went outside and scared it off before it could kill the chicken although it left a huge wound on the side of her face where her ear is (i believe). We have Neosporin, vetericyn plus, and blu-kote that we are putting on the wound as well as cleaning it. Also have her drinking pedoctiren and aspirin mixed with water. The wound is pretty nasty I will attach a photo. Is there anything else we should be doing to make sure she’s alright and do you think she will be alright? Thank you so much!

 

[Anime2lover]

One of our chickens was attacked by a hawk but luckily we went outside and scared it off before it could kill the chicken although it left a huge wound on the side of her face where her ear is (i believe). We have Neosporin, vetericyn plus, and blu-kote that we are putting on the wound as well as cleaning it. Also have her drinking pedoctiren and aspirin mixed with water. The wound is pretty nasty I will attach a photo. Is there anything else we should be doing to make sure she’s alright and do you think she will be alright? Thank you so much!

When my quail skinned it's head, I used a salt water rinse for daily disinfecting, and a sugar water rinse on the wound to help with new skin growth. I'd keep her separated to heal if you can.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would hold off on BluKote, since it is more for mild wounds. Vetericyn Plus and the Neosporin are good, and 2% chlorhexidene is good if there is any infection later. Hopefully she doesn’t have a brain injury or internal injuries. Is she drinking fluids or eating? If she is in shock, keep her in a quiet dim room. How is she acting? Do you have any oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or others?

 

[Opiumbrella]

Just went through this exact thing. The hawk tried to grab my bantam hen, her rooster dove infront of her and he got his head grabbed in the talon, as I was running and screaming the hawk lost its grip and he was rolled through the mud and water and I thought his neck had been broken. He was just in shock thankfully. Had a very similar wound on both sides of his head. First rinse with clorahexadine, then you can spray with veterycine I then caked original (not the kind with pain relief it is toxic) neosporin over the hole for the first 36 hours, to prevent infection, and then stopped and used only the veterycin as I didn’t want to prolong the healing of the tissue. One side was actually a bit worse than this, he was in shock so I put him in a dark quiet room in the house without any food, just water so he could get to it when he was ready. When he started drinking and moving around and come out of shock I added food. Also put some drench in his water for a boost, and within 72 hours I couldn’t believe how much he had healed. Just keep the wound clean, and keep their enclosure as clean as possible to prevent infection. With wounds like this I use puppy pads for the floor as they can be changed often and easy. And are clean. Good luck. I’m so glad you didn’t lose your hen. Lure some blue jays and crows in with whole peanuts and they will chase them away. At least they do for me.

 

[zoepilke]

When my quail skinned it's head, I used a salt water rinse for daily disinfecting, and a sugar water rinse on the wound to help with new skin growth. I'd keep her separated to heal if you can.

Thank you so much! And yes she is separated and we will definitely try that!

 

[zoepilke]

I would hold off on BluKote, since it is more for mild wounds. Vetericyn Plus and the Neosporin are good, and 2% chlorhexidene is good if there is any infection later. Hopefully she doesn’t have a brain injury or internal injuries. Is she drinking fluids or eating? If she is in shock, keep her in a quiet dim room. How is she acting? Do you have any oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or others?

Ok thank you so much! And she is separated and in a dog kneel in a room by herself with towels over it. I have not seen her drink by herself but I have been dropping water on her beak and she drinks that. She is very scared and is walking a little but staying in the same place for the most part. Also she never really like to be held but is now letting us pick her up. She is also not opening her eye on that side and the only thing we are giving her through mouth is apsrin mixed with water with a syringe. But we plan to go to tractor supply again tomorrow and we will definitely look for some better ones

 

[zoepilke]

Just went through this exact thing. The hawk tried to grab my bantam hen, her rooster dove infront of her and he got his head grabbed in the talon, as I was running and screaming the hawk lost its grip and he was rolled through the mud and water and I thought his neck had been broken. He was just in shock thankfully. Had a very similar wound on both sides of his head. First rinse with clorahexadine, then you can spray with veterycine I then caked original (not the kind with pain relief it is toxic) neosporin over the hole for the first 36 hours, to prevent infection, and then stopped and used only the veterycin as I didn’t want to prolong the healing of the tissue. One side was actually a bit worse than this, he was in shock so I put him in a dark quiet room in the house without any food, just water so he could get to it when he was ready. When he started drinking and moving around and come out of shock I added food. Also put some drench in his water for a boost, and within 72 hours I couldn’t believe how much he had healed. Just keep the wound clean, and keep their enclosure as clean as possible to prevent infection. With wounds like this I use puppy pads for the floor as they can be changed often and easy. And are clean. Good luck. I’m so glad you didn’t lose your hen. Lure some blue jays and crows in with whole peanuts and they will chase them away. At least they do for me.

Thank you so much! I’m so glad your rooster made it makes me very hopeful she will too! She is in a dark room and I’m getting her to drink by dropping it on her head and take some medince with a syringe in her mouth. And we will definitely have to try with the birds! A hawk recently had killed one of our other hens but we had thought we have fixed part of it by letting our dogs out most of the day and having wind chimes, fake owls, fake turkey and even a manikin out side but they still came back. Thank you so much!!

 

[RockinFlock]

How is your hen doing?

 

[zoepilke]

How is your hen doing?

So sorry for the late reply but she made it! We think she lost hearing in that ear but other than that she is fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad that she is doing well except for her hearing. Thanks for the update.