Dog Attack - When to put down an injured hen?

[swissmiss78]

One of our free range hens was recently attacked by a dog in our yard. I was able to stop the attack but the poor girl is pretty beat up, he took about a silver dollar size chunk out of her back and pulled most of the feathers from her neck. Her neck seems to be doing ok at this point, the injury on her back is what worries me. We caught her and put a thick salve of antibiotic with pain reliever on her back and kept her indoors for 2 days under some heat. She continued to eat and drink normally and the wound is oozy but doesn't seem infected. We moved her into her own 'hospital coop' outdoors, which shares a fence line with the others and that seemed to perk her up (she seemed depressed being cooped up inside). This attack happened 4 days ago and she is still eating and drinking and wakes up with the other chickens to forage in the morning (although she can't forage 'with' them because she is in a different pen on her own, so the others don't pick at her injuries)... my question is - how would I know when to put her down? I don't want her to suffer. The injuries were pretty severe but she is still acting normal... like foraging, eating and drinking... how would I know if/when it is 'time' to put her down? Or is it possible at this point that she is going to pull through? If she were going to die from her injuries, would that have happened already?

 

[Odelia]

I believe she will most likely pull through at this point. She may never grow feathers back in that area. So if you have severe winters it would be kind to put a saddle on her so she stays warm. Keeping the wound from getting infected is the most important. If it gets infected or she stops eating or drinking that is when you need to consider letting go of her. Good luck and I hope she is back with her flock soon. You would be surprised at how well they heal.

 

[swissmiss78]

This is the answer I was hoping for! Thank you for your reply!

 

[aart]

They can heal up just fine from some horrific wounds...just keep an eye on the wound and watch for infection. Keep the wound uncovered if possible.
As long as she's eating, drinking, pooping, acting OK,
she'll probably be recover fully.

NOTE: pain relief additives can be toxic to birds, better to use an triple antibiotic WITHOUT pain relief additive.

Well, that's what I've read over and over....but it seems you've used for 4 days without any ill effects?

 

[swissmiss78]

Wow, thank you for that info! We used a triple antibiotic ointment with pain relief the first two days but now we are just using Vetericyn spray for wound care. She is still hanging tough! Eating, drinking, pooping, foraging like normal. I'm sure she is looking forward to getting back with her flock! But I want to wait until she is completely healed with nothing for the other chickens to pick at.

 

[CrazyTalk]

If shes eating and drinking - she'll probably make it. Just keep doing what you're doing. They seem to be able to come back from a lot.

 

[Manningjw]

I have a new appreciation for how much of an injury a chicken can suffer and still survive/thrive. It sounds like your hen is doing well so just keep at it. One of my hens survived a raccoon attack and finished her brood and raised chicks despite the attack.

I also found an old wound when I was handling a hen in a nest box about a week ago now. It was a bit over a silver dollar sized gash in the right flank that I presume was from the rooster mating with her (many scabs on her back on the other side as well). The skin had separated and remained separated, I imagine it had to have been there 1+ week based on how scabbed over and covered in dirt/poop it was when I found it. She continued to lay eggs every single day and acted completely normally. I cleaned the wound as best I could and applied a combination antibiotic to it and it is closing up quite well, better than I expect it to.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

One of our free range hens was recently attacked..... she is still acting normal... like foraging, eating and drinking... how would I know if/when it is 'time' to put her down?....

In my experience, as long as a hen is moving under her own power, and eating she has a chance.