Dog attack

[GemW]

My chickens were attacked this morning by the neighbors dog. 3 have passed and the other 2 that are injured seem to be doing well. They basically got plucked and have exposed skin. Ive looked at the wound care advice on here and have them separated. Cleaned with saline spray, betadyne spray and regular neosporin. They are up, moving, eating, drinking, laying eggs even. They look anxious to be free again. How long do they need to be separated from the flock? I know injuries will get pecked but I am just looking for advice on how much healing I need to see before they can go back? I know their feathers will be gone for a while yet. Added a Pic of one of them. The other is a larger area but more in the middle of her back and covered a lot by her wings.

 

[FernwoodHollow]

That's so awful I'm so sorry to hear that! Hopefully your neighbor is going to make things right, I know it doesn't replace losing all of the hard work and raising them and the pets that you loved. But I would make sure that they make better efforts to contain their dogs and let them know that they actually owe you money check your state rules on how much per chicken you can get.

As for keeping her separated if this were me I would keep her separated until it's scabs over enough that you can spray blue coat on it so that way the others don't peck at it as much likely a couple days. And her being seperated will make it a little bit calmer and easier for you to clean her and keep infection at bay for the first couple days and to make sure she doesn't make it worse accidently too.

 

[GemW]

They said they are going to try and do better with him and have offered to buy new chicks at least. He is overall a menace and this was definitely the breaking point.

Im unfamiliar with blue coat? Where can I pick that up? I'm fortunate that these are 2 of the calmest and they have no issues letting me do whatever needs to be done.

 

[GemW]

I see it at tractor supply so Ill go pick that up tomorrow. And it needs to be scabbed over before using it?

 

[FernwoodHollow]

I see it at tractor supply so Ill go pick that up tomorrow. And it needs to be scabbed over before using it?

it doesn't have to be scabbed over no you can use it on open wounds to dress and prevent infection and pecking after you clean and dry it but it does have some alcohol in it so it's going to sting a lot if the wound is still really fresh and it can cause the skin to harden abd prevent scabbing/healing in deep wounds since its a protective coating so I'd stick with the less stingy stuff like vetericyn etc till youre ready to put her back with the flock to give it a little time to dry out and the vetericyn wont stain her blue for awhile haha. It's not going to really hurt I just think of my own injuries when I spray stuff with alcohol on it especially something that deep haha

 

[FernwoodHollow]

They said they are going to try and do better with him and have offered to buy new chicks at least. He is overall a menace and this was definitely the breaking point.

Im unfamiliar with blue coat? Where can I pick that up? I'm fortunate that these are 2 of the calmest and they have no issues letting me do whatever needs to be done.

Also i totally understand this! I live really rural and there are a few dogs in the neighborhood that have zero recall and just wander. I put electric fences up and told folks it runs at 9,000 volts if you don't want your dog to get the shock of its lifetime keep it off my property

 

[MROO]

I see it at tractor supply so Ill go pick that up tomorrow. And it needs to be scabbed over before using it?

I'd use the neosporin for a few days first. It'll keep the skin softer so it can heal from the inside out. I don't use Blu-Kote until a wound scabs over, mainly because of the alcohol already mentioned. Once it scabs, the Blu-Kote keeps a layer of protection against both germs and the red-spot picking of the other hens.

 

[GemW]

All very good information. Thank you all.
I did see somewhere I should keep them uncovered. I did put gauze on initially while I was trying to assess everything else. One kept it in. Should I take it off? Its the one with the bigger wound.

 

[FernwoodHollow]

All very good information. Thank you all.
I did see somewhere I should keep them uncovered. I did put gauze on initially while I was trying to assess everything else. One kept it in. Should I take it off? Its the one with the bigger wound.

No its ok to keep it uncovered and let it breathe while she isnt in the coop. If she was in the coop I would say cover it because the other hens, dust kicking into it, poop, bedding Etc but if she's in her own little enclosure somewhere clean then it's fine to let it air out but as above mentioned just keep Neosporin on it and keep it cleaned until you notice it's starting to heal from the inside out.