Coyote tried to take one

[gumpsgirl]

We had one here early this morning also. It was just at daybreak and we saw it snooping around the coop. My son got the pellet gun (that's all I will allow them to shoot when their dad isn't home) and shot at it. It ran away, but it freaks me out to know that they know where dinner is anyways.

I sure do wish I knew what to tell you about your hen, but I really am clueless as to why she would behave that way unless she has internal injuries. I would bring her in and put her in a quiet spot with a heat lamp for the night and see how she is doing in the morning. It probably wouldn't hurt to add some vitamins to her water either. At this point, that is really all you can do.

 

[#1California Chick]

WOW!!!! You are really brave!!! I want you on my side in any fight!!!

I bet they won't hang around in the daytime anymore!

I have not had this experience, but from what I read on this forum -- I agree with the other comments here. She is probably in shock, keep her in a warm, dark, quiet place. Maybe a little sugar in her water.

Good Luck!! This is so sad.

Cindy

 

[mythkat]

I just checked her. There's a huge poop in the box that looks completely normal, no blood, and she talked to the dog when he looked in on her. Not panicky, just the way they always talk to him. She let me pet her and didn't try to hide. I'm going to keep her in the house for a couple days but I think she may be ok. The temperatures have been in the single digits here. The coop is insulated and heated but does anyone think I should keep her in longer since she's lost a lot of feathers on her back and neck?

 

[walbarbsa]

Many years ago I had a hen attacked by, I think, it was a raccoon. The thing clawed her back and left it looking like raw hamburger. I was new at chickens and was ready to have my neighbor come and shoot her or something (remember I was new and it was the first day of school , blah, blah). Well, my neighbor put a half bottle of hydrogen peroxide on her back and gave her a piece of valium while I took the kids to school.

At the end of the day, the hen was fine. She never grew enough feathers to cover the scarred area...

So, your hen is most likely in shock and just needs a quiet place to regroup.

 

[cdtrum]

Ok....I am no expert, but I had a hen get hurt this summer while we were doing some new fencing....a board fell on top of her....she did not walk for about a week.....I put her in a dog kennel and really thought she was done for after a few days.....my neighbor came down and took her to his house and his wife would get her out every day and manipulate her legs, they also fed her chick starter because of higher protien.....I am happy to say that after 2 weeks she came home and went right back into the coop with her flock....she did limp for about a month, but not at all now and went back to laying after 2 weeks. So don't give up on her! My vet suggested to put her in a sink of water and if she would paddle her feet....he said that is a good way to tell if they have a spinal injury or not.....I never tried it because my neighbor came and got her.
Hope she gets better.....those darn coyotes....we have them also, but thank goodness they have never gotten one of mine! Knock on wood!

 

[mythkat]

Well there's no blood in her poop and she's eating and drinking but she can't walk. She flops around using her wings like crutches. I think I'll keep her in till after Christmas at least. I'm going to try letting her paddle in the warm water and see if that helps her leg. Right now she's snuggled up to the dog and they're both sleeping. He's a bird dog,a spinger spaniel, and he really does like birds.

 

[UrbanChickenMama]

It sounds like she's in shock. Do you have somewhere, warm, that you can isolate her? I have a dog crate that I put in my garage for my chickens in isolation. Get her some food, water, and soft bedding and then isolate her. If you can't find anything physically wrong, she probably just needs some time to care for herself.

In addition to that, you could give her some garlic in a treat, once she starts eating, and ACV in her water (1tbs to 1 gallon) to boost her immune system while its fighting through all that she's been through.

Poor baby! and....


GOOD SHOT MOMMA!!!!

edited to say: sorry I only saw the first page of responses and just jumped to tell you what I'd do. Looks like you've got it all under control!