Chicken attacked, multiple injured

ravencreek

Songster
11 Years
Nov 10, 2008
550
4
141
Benton TN
Ok so to make a long story short, my chickens were attacked Saturday night/Sunday morning by a 5 month old Pyrenees puppy and with 9 dead and 5 wounded I'm sad and lost right now.

They are eating, drinking and "talking" like normal. They don't appear in any pain. I thought maybe they were just tired so I left them all on my porch over night and by the next morning 3 of the 5 were up and walking around eating and pooping everywhere. One wing was drooping on each and one chick wasn't holding its tail normal. I'm thinking maybe they are just sore from very rough handling and I decided to let them out with the others and planned on putting them back on the porch for the night. They decided on their own that they were well enough to sleep in the coop when I went to get them and they were on roosts.

My main concern is for 2 chicks(hatch date 3/17/2009) that were slobbery but have no external injuries yet they can't stand or walk. I pick them up and try to get them to stand/walk and its like they can't feel their legs. They just lay wherever I put them. They haven't moved at all on their own. How long do I wait before I....you know? These are pets to me and my children, not production birds. They are still full of life and I hate to "give up" on them. I understand that I must do whats right for them and not whats right for my heart. Its just hard after losing 9.
ANY advice will be helpful. I have to go for a bit but I will be checking back here later today. I will also update on any progress. Thanks in advance.
 
Sounds like the dog may have caused some kind of internal damage/injury. I would set the ones that can't walk for now in their own cage with access to food, water, and quiet--find a quiet spot for them where they can't be trampled. I administer 1/4 tsp baby tylenol to injured chickens every 4-6 hours--it seems to help them rest and with the pain. If they don't improve in the next 4-7 days, you most likely will have to cull. Good luck! Oh, if there are any wounds on the other chickens, lather it in in Neosporin! I always use that on wounds on my chickens and it speeds their healing!!! Good luck!
 
Another thing I like to do is make a wet mash for the ones that can't walk--just add a little water to their food besides the fresh water you give them. I also meant to say I'm SO sorry this happened!!!
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I had this happen with my own dog once and he killed a couple and wounded several. I had one that couldn't stand and had puncture wounds and was gasping--I took it up to my bathroom and placed him in my bath tub(a nice quiet spot), closed the blinds, and kept it just nice and quiet--I packed his puncture wounds with neosporin, made him a wet mash and also cooked eggs(good protein)--oh, if you have gatorade or pedialyte handy, I would put that in their water dish for awhile--electrolytes are great during healing time. I also gave him the baby tylenol like I was talking about--it took 3 weeks for him to stand, but it was the most exciting thing when I heard him crow!! Now you wouldn't know anything was wrong with him! Happy and healthy!!! Oh, and all the other wounded ones made it as well--I was SHOCKED!!!! Just wanted to offer you some hope today!!!! God bless!!
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My dog also got into the coop. It was such a nice day I put the chicks in the coop while I cleaned the brooder. My chickens are 2 weeks old - he killed one - mauled the other two. No visable bite wounds.
It all happened so fast. So I now have 2 in shock - 1 cannot stand well the other is okay neither is eating or drinking with out help.

I made a watery gruel of their food and water and have been offering it to them every few hours on a spoon and keeping them warm in the brooder. Heat lamp is about 90 degrees. I figure if I can keep them with food and hydration they will come out of shock. Both are pooping. Kind of watery. Had to wipe the one that is fairing better's behind with the last BM a little stuck and I don't want to also deal with "pasty butt"

How would I give them aspirin or tylenol - do you crush it and add to water? - How much? 1 tablet?

How can I tell if they are improving, or if it is a lost cause? I don't want them to suffer and I don't want to cull unless it has to be done - not sure how - these were pets for eggs not for meat.

Any advise appreciated.
Thanks
 
If you can get them to eat and drink, I would think that they will be ok. Most animals will not eat if they are in pain. Keep them hydrated and warm and quiet and hopefully they will be fine.
So sorry for all of your losses.
 
Dog mauled my chicken babies.

I have been checking them every hour or so and offering the plain water and gruel. The one that was less injured is starting to eat on her own if I put the dry starter crumbles on their perch and not wanting me to pick her up and feed her - so I think she is coming out of the shock. - I call her Dot. Dot never liked to be held so this is normal for her. She is hanging protectively close to my other girl. I raised the temp to 90 degrees in the brooder - should it be warmer?

My other little girl is improving too. She can stand a little better but is still wobbly. She is more enthusiastic about eating and drinking. I am at least nudging her less to eat and drink. I have one of those pitchers that drip in addition to the traditional waterer

Dot is sleeping standing up? Is that normal?

They were injured around 4 pm on Sunday.

The other stands for a minute and sits down using the perch to lean into. I guess time will tell.
I am going to keep offering water and gruel every hour.
Caroline
 
Thanks to all the replies....All chickens are doing great. Still in isolation but walking and doing all the normal chicken stuff.
 

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