Chicks Attacked - One Dead - One with a broken wing bone sticking out. Help!

[greentechtrevor]

I am not sure if it was a cat or a owl but I got home and had a bad feeling. Went outside and one of my chickens was laying dead outside the fence. I went to find the rest and one had its wing hanging down at its side. Upon closer examination the bone was protruding from the wing. So we used water mixed with hydrogen peroxide and applied neosporin and wrapped the wing to the whole body. Not sure if this is the best course of action but I did not want to euthanize her right away due to the fact that I already lost a chicken today and can't bring my self to break her neck. Do you think there is a chance it will heal? Or any feedback would be appreciated it. There are no chicken vets in my area nor do I have the money for that.

 

[BonRae67]

Great job that is exactly what I would have said to do. Keep her warm because of shock. She should heal fine. The wing probably won't function correctly or at all. Clean her wound every day.

 

[Peeps61]

I'm so sorry! It's awful when things like that happen, but it's part of owning livestock and poultry. I think you've done the right thing in treating your bird. I'd keep her confined and away from the others for a few days and make sure she is not suffering. Chickens are amazingly tough animals and can recover from a lot. I have a chick that was attacked by something and her beak is out of alignment. She was also bleeding a missing several feather. I cleaned her up and put her in a brooder box with the heat lamp. She rested for a day or so, then was actually up and eating and drinking. The messed up beak has not stopped her even though it looks terrible! Tough birds. Let us know how she is doing.

 

[greentechtrevor]

Thanks. Glad to hear that is was I was suppose to do. I will put a heat lamp on her asap. I have her in the house ATM. I am tempted to go buy another chicken or two before its too late and they arn't around town anymore. Not sure if that is just to fill the sadness of loosing one since I only had bought 4 babies this year to add to the 4 I got last year. We will see. Thanks Again!

 

[One Chick Two]

I am not sure if it was a cat or a owl but I got home and had a bad feeling. Went outside and one of my chickens was laying dead outside the fence. I went to find the rest and one had its wing hanging down at its side. Upon closer examination the bone was protruding from the wing. So we used water mixed with hydrogen peroxide and applied neosporin and wrapped the wing to the whole body. Not sure if this is the best course of action but I did not want to euthanize her right away due to the fact that I already lost a chicken today and can't bring my self to break her neck. Do you think there is a chance it will heal? Or any feedback would be appreciated it. There are no chicken vets in my area nor do I have the money for that.

Sorry to hear this happened. But, great job immobilizing her wing. Eventually, give her some gentle PT. I believe she will heal very well under your care.

We have a PR pullet who had gotten her wing wedged badly between a fence and a pallet. Two cockerels decided to help her out by pecking her wing down to the bone, and completely taking off the wingtip bone and all, and making deep holes in her side. It was horrible. Fortunately, I went outside to check on everyone, and heard the poor baby yiping. I was glad I came out when I did and not later.

After separating her and cleaning her up (Didn't bind her wing in this case as her chest was so damaged.) within a few weeks she healed up nicely. She eventually grew feathers back in the damaged areas, although a few on that wing are pure white (where the follicles were damaged). She can fly. However, you can still tell the extent of the damage by touch examination of the wing, and the end tip is gone. Since much of the muscle was taken, it was remarkable how much she grew back.

Just wanted to share this to let you know chickens can heal amazingly well, even after very bad and deep wing injuries. Hope she has a full recovery!

 

[greentechtrevor]

Ok. So she is doing good, I woke up this morning to her wiggling out of the wrap we put her in. So we re wrapped her back up and I turned the light off in the box that I have her in so she will sleep. I am just giving her water with electrolytes and gatorade in it. I have not been feeding her yet. Should I feed her the normal chick grains or something special? Or should I wait another day to feed her? Thanks!

 

[Peeps61]

I'd go ahead and feed her the normal diet that she eats. She'll need the energy to heal properly.

 

[greentechtrevor]

Ok. Day 2. She is doing really good and we re bandaged her wing this morning and then re bandaged and cleaned her wound for a second time and I could tell it really hurt her. It is now a few hours later and we added food to her box and put it right by her. She is eating it up like crazy but hasn't been drinking much yet. Over all she is doing great compared to what I was thinking yesterday. Here is a updated pic with my dog Rose very intimately sad that her friend is hurting.

After taking this picture I heard the baby chicken screaming and she was uncomfortable after eating with her wrap. So i had to remove the wrap let her stand around and she realized she had no balance. After that I re-wrapped her and put her back in the crate with no light so she would sleep.

 

[Zoeys Chickens]

I am so sorry. I am just commenting to subscribe to this thread

 

[BonRae67]

That's great news. You can put 81 mg asprin in her water to help with pain. Probably mix it with a pint of water. Great job watching over Rose.