Chicken attacked by neighbor's dog. HELP with treatment please!

[Pandachick]

Last night two of the neighbor's dogs got on my property killed 6 of my chicken but my husband was able to save 1. She is only 3 months old. She has 2 deep puncture wounds on her back just under her wings. I rinsed the wounds to get all the grass, dirt and debris out. I have been treating her wounds with an iodine antiseptic spray. I have her isolated in the house. I have in a smallish space because whenever she moved her scabs would brake open. She made it through the night, is eating and drinking. Her poop looks normal. I have never owned chickens before. Did I miss any steps? I assume she needs to be isolated from my remaining chickens, but for how long? How long should I treat her with the antiseptic spray? What else should I be doing for her?

 

[GodLovesU]

It might be helpful if you post pictures of her wounds.

 

[Pandachick]

It might be helpful if you post pictures of her wounds.

Thank you. I have posted the best pictures I could get. She doesn't like me messing with her wings.

 

[GodLovesU]

@Eggcessive

 

[SouthCentralWeasel]

I had a chickens get half her leg ripped off by a dog earlier this year! I just put some iodine antiseptic spray on it once. She hide in the coop for about a week. She lose complete use of the leg but hop around like nothing happened now. Chickens are tougher then most give them credit for. If your chicken is eating and drinking and hasn't died of shock by now there isn't a reason to baby her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Coat the wounds with triple antibiotic ointment like Neosporin Original or the generic equivalent. The Original will NOT say '+pain reliever" in small letters on the front. Pain reliever is toxic to chickens so don't use that type. Wash the wounds twice daily, pat dry and coat with the ointment. No need to bandage. You don't want them to scab, you want them to remain moist. You can trim feathers so you can see what you're doing. Wash wounds with saline solution in a spray bottle (google recipe, you can make it yourself) or something like Hibiclens you can get from feed store. Watch for fly strike - flies laying eggs in the wound resulting in maggots. You don't need to isolate unless other birds peck at her wounds. If they do put her in a dog crate in the hen house or run so she can stay with her mates. Provide food, water, grits and something to perch on. Best wishes for her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You should also treat her for shock. To an 8-oz. cup of water stir in 1 tsp sugar, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda. Hold it up to her beak to drink or dip her beak in so she tastes that it is sweet. Until she eats and drinks on her own you might throw a blanket or towel over her crate or otherwise keep her in a warm dark place.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about losing most of your chickens. Do you have others? Good advice on wound care. Initially a disinfectant such as Hibiclens chlorhexidene is good, and then plain old saline to spray or rinse the wound, and plain Neosporin triple antibiotic ointment applied twice a day is good. Leave the wound open to air and isolate her. Watch for signs of infection.

To make homemade saline, add 2 tsp of salt to a quart or liter of water. Simmer it for 15 minutes and store in a clean jar or spray bottle. Depending on how much internal damage the dogs did, that will affect her outcome.

Do you have older chickens? How are your chickens kept? Any pictures of your coop or run? Do you lock them up. Chickens are sitting ducks for dogs roaming around. They have to be kept in a predator proof run with a top.

 

[Pandachick]

Sorry about losing most of your chickens. Do you have others? Good advice on wound care. Initially a disinfectant such as Hibiclens chlorhexidene is good, and then plain old saline to spray or rinse the wound, and plain Neosporin triple antibiotic ointment applied twice a day is good. Leave the wound open to air and isolate her. Watch for signs of infection.

To make homemade saline, add 2 tsp of salt to a quart or liter of water. Simmer it for 15 minutes and store in a clean jar or spray bottle. Depending on how much internal damage the dogs did, that will affect her outcome.

Do you have older chickens? How are your chickens kept? Any pictures of your coop or run? Do you lock them up. Chickens are sitting ducks for dogs roaming around. They have to be kept in a predator proof run with a top.

All of my chickens are the same age. I have 9 others left. I have been letting them free range and keep them in a chicken tractor (12×12) at night that I move every day. We don't typically have dogs roaming our neighborhood. I have electric fencing on the way that i am going to put around their coop in the future. The fencing got delayed. Will electric fencing be enough?

These dogs got out of their electric fence. When their owner found out they were really upset and has offered to replace them.

How do I know when she is ready to be let back in with the other chickens?

 

[Eggcessive]

The problem with her wound is that the others will peck it and injure her if they can see pink/red. Since hers are deep she may need to be separated for some time in a wire dog crate with food and water. You can place her crate with shade on top next to the others to remain part of the flock. I would be tempted not to free range if the neighbor dogs can get out again. Be sure that you have good air circulation in your coop, and some light if they have to stay inside more. I have used electric fence netting. You have to keep checking it to make sure the electric is not grounded out and keep grass from growing on it. It keeps the chickens in pretty well even without electrification, but I don’t trust it to keep dogs out.