Dog attack!

[Horsewell]

My light sussex was running around in the garden along with the rest of the chickens when it managed to jump out of the 5 ft pen without me noticing. I opened the back door to let my dog out (German shepard) and he found her and took a bite, he pulled out alot of feathers and had the wing in his mouth before i managed to get him to let go.

Shes only just 24 weeks old and has just started laying. Shes got a tear out of her wing and its bleeding alot. I cleaned up some blood and she seems to be able to walk/flap eat and drink fine.

What should I do? Shes crowing(i think...) like shes in pain. I don't want to put her down. HELP!

 

[jjthink]

ERG - these dog attacks make me crazy. Poor hen.

Neosporin applied topically for days to try to prevent infection. IF SHE HAS DEEP WOUNDS SHE MAY WELL NEED ORAL OR INJECTIBLE ANTIBIOTRICS AS WELL.

Keep her isolated for a time so you can watch her eating and poo-ing and so she can heal. Keep her in a very comfy quiet stress free place (perhaps in a large dog carrier with comfortable layers of pine wood shavings, or towels and in a room away from noise or maybe even in with the rest of the chickens so they can talk and stuff but so they can't peck at her) till she you're sure she's on the mend. If she stays in the house and has a good buddy chicken, you can try giving them some time together daily in the infirmary but make sure the healthy one does not peck at the injured one.

If you have Rescue Remedy in your neck of the woods put a wee bit in her water. It has a calming effect.

CAN YOU POST A PIC OF HER WING????? It may need to be stabilized - folks here will be able to help best if they can see it.

If bleeding a lot you can't do this right now - you'll have to wait till this is no longer the case - sadly, because she sounds like she's in pain:
5 regular (325 mg) aspirin (NO SUBSTITUES) crushed into one gallon of water or 1 baby aspirin (81 mg) per cup of water.

Try to make sure she stays hydrated.

It is amazing the injuries these beings can recover from so she has a good chance - time and patience....hang in there. Hope it all turns out well.

JJ

 

[Barnyard]

Awesome advice JJ, nothing more to say!!

 

[Horsewell]

I will try to get a picture. She has her sister with her at the moment. She doesnt seem to be pecking it.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Poor baby...
Great advice Judy.

 

[Horsewell]

IS there any special needs for chicken antiseptic or can any type of animal/human antiseptic?

 

[Horsewell]

Shes doing fine now

Her wing is nicely healing and my dog had a good telling off.