Dog Attack! Please help!

[YlurIcelandic]

Hi all,
I was inside at about 6:30 this morning and heard squawking from our flock of seventeen chickens. I raced outside and who should I see but a golden retriever chasing one of my chickens (an Americana) into a bush and emerging with the bird dangling from its mouth. After the necessary formalities were exchanged with the owner, I saw to my hen, who was miraculously still alive. I brought her in, offered food and water, and put her in a comfortable box, but I'm still worried.

The dog clawed off most of the feathers on her rear -- you can see her little tail and there is only one tail feather -- and bit her as well. One of the wounds where her feather was ripped out was bleeding a bit, and I found one puncture wound. I have cleaned what I could with warm water, diluted hydrogen peroxide, and Neosporin. She is currently crouched in a corner with her beak open a little, but otherwise appears ok.

I really don't want to put her down, and I don't feel that it's necessary either, but is there anything else that I should do?

Thanks,
Ylur

 

[iwiw60]

If you can you should put her in a dog crate/pen so she can rest and recoup by herself. Leave her in the coop so she can still see the others of the flock. Since she's injured provide her separate food and water. I would use Vetericyn Spray on those wounds and then Blu-Kote for extra protection. I hope your hen pulls through!

About the dog.......how did he get to your chickens in the first place? Were they outside and not in the coop? Do you have a chicken run attached to your coop, or do they free-range (one of my pet peeves)??? Do you know who owns that dog...they owe you for the damages.

Please keep us updated as to her progress!!

 

[YlurIcelandic]

Well, we have a run that we use, but in nice weather we also let them out in our yard... Although only when somebody is home with them. They are not free-range. Since today was beautiful, I went out to let them browse and dust bathe in their favorite spots. We live in the country, and the only nearby dog (that I knew of, now I know of two) was a very well-monitored and happy one. This dog was a different one, a young golden whose owners had left her in the care of a house-sitter. Her electric fence was broken, and apparently the sitter didn't notice that the dog had disappeared. Grr... And when we confronted the house-sitter, she said simply, "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll get you a new one."

My hen is now residing comfortably in a box with cleaned feathers, and it looks like she's going to make it. Unfortunately, though, the dog clawed her ENTIRE crop of tail feathers off. Poor Ming.

Thanks for your help!
- Ylur

 

[YlurIcelandic]

Ming died at 5:18 this afternoon, in a frenzied scrabble. I did all I could. Thanks to iwiw60 for their help. Rest in peace, Ming-Ming.

 

[iwiw60]

Ming died at 5:18 this afternoon, in a frenzied scrabble. I did all I could. Thanks to iwiw60 for their help. Rest in peace, Ming-Ming.

That's so sad...but you did all you could and should be proud of your efforts...

 

[YlurIcelandic]

Aww… Thanks.