I posted earlier under "Help! raccoon attacked my chicken!" so go read that to know the whole story if you care.
I didn't trealize at first just how bad the injuries were. I thought I was dealing with some missing comb and missing and broken toes. Bad enough right?
Then I lifted up her wing to get a better look at her foot to tell the vet over the phone exactly what was going on, and that;s when I saw to my horror that the skin on her leg was gone. Totally gone! The muscle and tendons were showing just like at KFC. I nearly fainted I was so Horrified that this poor chicken had endured all this and now she's got a missing skin issue too. It's like the skin was split open and the whole bare leg is poking through. There is another spot up by her breast that is also split open with the skin pulled back exposing the muscle. It's not as severe, but its still bad.
So I calmed myself down after crying and freaking out while explaining all this to my husband, and I went to the store to get some supplies.
I bought some anti bacterial soap, some saline spray, and some anti bacterial iodine substitute that also works as an anesthetic.
I washed out a small bucket with soap and then with bleach and water. I then filled it up with warm water and squeezed in about a fourth of the anti-bacterial soap.
She was so brave when I picked her up and placed her in the bath, with my hand under her right side to take any weight off of her hurt foot. The water soon turned red from all the dried blood on her feathers and the wounds themselves. She was very calm the entire time and even seemed to enjoy it. She just totally relaxed and closed her eyes until her sister got caught briefly on the hamper in the laundry room and squawked loudly as she made her way out. Even as hurt as Matilda was, she was still more concerned about the safety of her sister. That's just the sort of chicken she is. I know some people would say that I'm projecting these things onto her, but I have also had chickens that absolutely did not have any personality other than mean mean mean. I know the difference between just an average chicken and a brave and courageous chicken, thank you very much.
The only time she freaked out or showed any signs of discomfort was when I used the saline solution. I almost didn't use it at all because I was afraid of it hurting her too much, but My husband encouraged me to use it and I think he was right. I needed to sterilize the area before wrapping it up. I then used some gauze like tape that sticks to itself but not the wound (or so it says) and wrapped up the leg and all the exposed tendons as best I could. I wrapped it all the way down to her missing and mutilated toes and she seemed okay with all of that. She just laid on her side and patiently let me lift her foot to wrap each new layer of tape, casually looking from me to the tape without much worry. I still can't believe how an animal can be so calm and so functional after such a massive injury. I placed her back in the laundry room on some paper towels placed on top of a bag of pine chips that she seems to like sitting on. When I went back to look in on her she was standing on both her legs. The wrapping of her injured foot seems to help her keep better balance, whereas before she would hop and seem to be always catching herself before giving up and laying down again. Now she has been standing on her own for at least an hour or two. She also had all her feathers fluffed out, maybe to help them dry after the bath, but its also keeping them away from the exposed muscle tissue so they won't stick.
Half an hour ago She was nestled down into her feathers and sleeping peacefully. some of her feathers still puffed out. Her sister is keeping a very close eye on her and is being a good nurse by chasing the cats out when they try to come in and investigate Matilda. I gave her some fresh water and turned out the light. I hope she makes it through the night. I'm supposed to bring her into the vet in the morning. I imagine he'll give me something to give her as far as oral antibiotics go. I am also selling some stuff on craigslist to try and raise enough money to pay for whatever she needs at the vet.
If anyone has any advice before I take her into the vet, I'd sure appreciate it. I read the story about the scalped chick and it gives me hope for Matilda. I have to admit that she is my favorite chicken, and my buddy. I told my husband that she has fought too hard to be here to give up on her just yet. I won't give up until she gives up, or it appears that she is just suffering through the hours instead of getting better. Believe it or not, she doesn't seem to be in that much pain right now. I hope it stays that way. Since nobody responded to my other post, I feel a little cynical about how helpful these forums are for people. I hope I am wrong. I am new, so maybe that has something to do with it. people only respond to friends posts? I don't know. I guess patience isn't my virtue, but how patient can you be when your beloved chicken is maybe dying from exposed flesh? I'll update in the morning whether somebody reads this or not. Goodnight and good luck to every chicken who faces down a mean raccoon during the night. My prayers are with you.
I didn't trealize at first just how bad the injuries were. I thought I was dealing with some missing comb and missing and broken toes. Bad enough right?
Then I lifted up her wing to get a better look at her foot to tell the vet over the phone exactly what was going on, and that;s when I saw to my horror that the skin on her leg was gone. Totally gone! The muscle and tendons were showing just like at KFC. I nearly fainted I was so Horrified that this poor chicken had endured all this and now she's got a missing skin issue too. It's like the skin was split open and the whole bare leg is poking through. There is another spot up by her breast that is also split open with the skin pulled back exposing the muscle. It's not as severe, but its still bad.
So I calmed myself down after crying and freaking out while explaining all this to my husband, and I went to the store to get some supplies.
I bought some anti bacterial soap, some saline spray, and some anti bacterial iodine substitute that also works as an anesthetic.
I washed out a small bucket with soap and then with bleach and water. I then filled it up with warm water and squeezed in about a fourth of the anti-bacterial soap.
She was so brave when I picked her up and placed her in the bath, with my hand under her right side to take any weight off of her hurt foot. The water soon turned red from all the dried blood on her feathers and the wounds themselves. She was very calm the entire time and even seemed to enjoy it. She just totally relaxed and closed her eyes until her sister got caught briefly on the hamper in the laundry room and squawked loudly as she made her way out. Even as hurt as Matilda was, she was still more concerned about the safety of her sister. That's just the sort of chicken she is. I know some people would say that I'm projecting these things onto her, but I have also had chickens that absolutely did not have any personality other than mean mean mean. I know the difference between just an average chicken and a brave and courageous chicken, thank you very much.
The only time she freaked out or showed any signs of discomfort was when I used the saline solution. I almost didn't use it at all because I was afraid of it hurting her too much, but My husband encouraged me to use it and I think he was right. I needed to sterilize the area before wrapping it up. I then used some gauze like tape that sticks to itself but not the wound (or so it says) and wrapped up the leg and all the exposed tendons as best I could. I wrapped it all the way down to her missing and mutilated toes and she seemed okay with all of that. She just laid on her side and patiently let me lift her foot to wrap each new layer of tape, casually looking from me to the tape without much worry. I still can't believe how an animal can be so calm and so functional after such a massive injury. I placed her back in the laundry room on some paper towels placed on top of a bag of pine chips that she seems to like sitting on. When I went back to look in on her she was standing on both her legs. The wrapping of her injured foot seems to help her keep better balance, whereas before she would hop and seem to be always catching herself before giving up and laying down again. Now she has been standing on her own for at least an hour or two. She also had all her feathers fluffed out, maybe to help them dry after the bath, but its also keeping them away from the exposed muscle tissue so they won't stick.
Half an hour ago She was nestled down into her feathers and sleeping peacefully. some of her feathers still puffed out. Her sister is keeping a very close eye on her and is being a good nurse by chasing the cats out when they try to come in and investigate Matilda. I gave her some fresh water and turned out the light. I hope she makes it through the night. I'm supposed to bring her into the vet in the morning. I imagine he'll give me something to give her as far as oral antibiotics go. I am also selling some stuff on craigslist to try and raise enough money to pay for whatever she needs at the vet.
If anyone has any advice before I take her into the vet, I'd sure appreciate it. I read the story about the scalped chick and it gives me hope for Matilda. I have to admit that she is my favorite chicken, and my buddy. I told my husband that she has fought too hard to be here to give up on her just yet. I won't give up until she gives up, or it appears that she is just suffering through the hours instead of getting better. Believe it or not, she doesn't seem to be in that much pain right now. I hope it stays that way. Since nobody responded to my other post, I feel a little cynical about how helpful these forums are for people. I hope I am wrong. I am new, so maybe that has something to do with it. people only respond to friends posts? I don't know. I guess patience isn't my virtue, but how patient can you be when your beloved chicken is maybe dying from exposed flesh? I'll update in the morning whether somebody reads this or not. Goodnight and good luck to every chicken who faces down a mean raccoon during the night. My prayers are with you.
