My 1 year old barred rock hen, Diamond, was attacked by a dog today (in her defense, the dog was trying to play, not fight, but I digress). I put up the dogs, picked Diamond up, and looked her over...she seemed fine, although I (stupidly) didn't move her feathers around too much. I set her down and watched her for about 20 or 30 minutes...she seemed extra nervous for a few minutes (who wouldn't be?), then went and got a drink, then started scratching around like normal. A few hours later, I went to check again, and the wind happened to blow her neck feathers over a bit, revealing a pretty large (about 2 inches aroundish) wound on her back/neck. I could see muscle and bone, and a surprisingly small quantity of blood. The hurt patch of her back basically looks like a pack of skinless chicken from the store, poor girl. When she stands with her head up, you can't see it at all...but you can see it when she puts her head down to eat or peck at the ground, or when she stretches out her wings. I have absolutely no idea how I missed it the first time I checked her, unless possibly her coop-mate Delia picked at her.
I took her in the house (my first time doing that) and cleaned the area with mild antibacterial soap and water, then just held her in a towel for about an hour or so on the couch to absorb some of the water from her feathers...she almost fell asleep on my lap. Then I put neosporin on her wound as best I could, and put her in my recently abandoned brooder cardboard box, with water (with electrolyte and vitamin powder) and her regular food (local layer feed). She really seems ok, she's acting mostly like herself, just in a much smaller space than she's used to and with no grass and plants to occupy her. I've seen her both eat and drink, in the coop earlier and more recently in the brooder box.
My questions:
1- How long should I isolate her from her coop-mate? I only have 2 adult chickens (including my injured girl Diamond, who is definitely the flock leader of the two) and five 3 week old hens, who are in a separate chicken tractor.
2- Is there anything else I can/should do for her? We live in a city, and have access to a vet, but it's hard for me to justify vet bills on a chicken, especially if I can help her myself.
3- Is there anything I need to watch out for as she heals?
Thanks so much in advance for the advice.
I took her in the house (my first time doing that) and cleaned the area with mild antibacterial soap and water, then just held her in a towel for about an hour or so on the couch to absorb some of the water from her feathers...she almost fell asleep on my lap. Then I put neosporin on her wound as best I could, and put her in my recently abandoned brooder cardboard box, with water (with electrolyte and vitamin powder) and her regular food (local layer feed). She really seems ok, she's acting mostly like herself, just in a much smaller space than she's used to and with no grass and plants to occupy her. I've seen her both eat and drink, in the coop earlier and more recently in the brooder box.
My questions:
1- How long should I isolate her from her coop-mate? I only have 2 adult chickens (including my injured girl Diamond, who is definitely the flock leader of the two) and five 3 week old hens, who are in a separate chicken tractor.
2- Is there anything else I can/should do for her? We live in a city, and have access to a vet, but it's hard for me to justify vet bills on a chicken, especially if I can help her myself.
3- Is there anything I need to watch out for as she heals?
Thanks so much in advance for the advice.
