Dog rips both her wings off!!!

[hinkjc]

I surely hope the folks giving advice to "snip" this and that are licensed veterinarians. This is all very appalling to me. I cannot imagine such a tramatic experience for a living creature. If you want to save the bird it should receive care from someone who is trained to deal with such horrific injuries. If that is not available, then the bird should be humanely euthanized.

Would some of you make these same decisions if your dog's legs were ripped off? There is nothing humane about home treatment for such a serious injury. This poor bird is a living creature just like any other and deserves just as humane treatment as any other living being.

Jody

 

[sweetchickadee]

I had a neighbor's doberman rip a wing off one of my hens. Dad was going to kill the hen, but she was walking around digging for bugs, like nothing at all had happened. Had to give her antibiotic shots for about a week, but the hen lived for many years after that without any issues at all.

 

[crazy huhn]

I just read all the 10 pages again and have to agree with Jody. Why, if you honestly care from the bottom of your heart, don't you take her to a licenced veterinarian?
BYC people are awesome, but wouldn't you feel even better, if all the advice would be confirmed by an expert veterinarian? What is it? Denial of a serious injury, fear of what a vet would tell you to do or not to do? Fear of getting turned in because of a dog completely out of control? I did not find anything in your posts that you do not have a good vet around in your area. We all are tight in these hard economic times and I am not a licensed vet (yet), but Asperin and rubber bands just do not seem right in Sadies case, it just seems sad. I do not need to hear any stories and I am in credit card debt myself, I just care for your poor little bird. Hey, if it is that, maybe all of us on here can jump in and paypal you for the sake of that bird, instead of tip toeing around the real issue and liberalize the topic to an "I am OK, you are OK" Dr. Phil statement.

 

[Bec]

I hope your poor girl gets better soon!

I too recently went through a dog attack on one of my hens! It was bad and without the help of some kind people on here, I would never had known how to care for her properly. It was my dog that hurt my hen. The guilt is a bit overwhelming, but 2 things to remember...dogs are animals too and you can't change things now. It happened, it is done and now you have to move forward and take the best care of you hen as you can right now.


Good thoughts coming your way!

 

[AngieChick]

It sounds like you are taking wonderful care of your bird. Those of us with "special needs" chickens totally get why. I would not be surprised if she ends up being extremely affectionate to you after the special care she is getting from "Mommy". My special needs girl has a crooked bill. She seems okay, but can't catch bugs or pick things up like the other birds. That doesn't mean she doesn't have quality of life. When the other girls are scouting around, she jumps up on my lap for a nice snuggle. Just because Sadie won't be able to dirt bathe and will have to have a lower roost doesn't mean she won't find other things in life to make her happy. Cudos to you for taking the time and energy to care for her.

Sometimes in life we just need something to take care of.

Please don't feel bad for not being able to get her to a vet, no matter what some have said on the board, everyone's financial situation is different and it is challenging to find an avian vet anyway. Sometimes we have no choice but to treat at home the best we can. There just isn't another option.

 

[Cetawin]

Okay I am piping in here again and I wish I had pics online of Beanca and I but I do not so I will tell you the story.

Beanca is a Russian Steppe Eagle. At age 2 she was being illegally smuggled into this country in a crate NOT marked live animal or etc etc. The shipping crate she was in was dropped from the crane and she was crushed in the rubble. One wing was so shattered that it took over 70 steel pins, screws and wires just to keep it together. Her ability to hunt was taken away, her ability to fly stolen, her ability for freedom gone and her ability to mate was also gone so should she be killed because of that? Well she was not. She was given to John Barkas, the rehab specialist who fixed her wing. She is used as a wildlife educational bird. She goes to schools, public events and so forth to educate the public and especially young people about eagles and the need to preserve them, their environment and injured wildlifeso forth. Beanca was given to the wildlife rehabber that saved her life and mended her wing. He died and she was willed to his partner. She is 34 years old now and a happy, content and loved creature who has not suffered because of her disabilities.

I know this eagle personally and can tell you that her life has been full and rewarding. Her naturally molted feathers are sold and the proceeds go directly to her wildlife santuary. While she as a bird of prey and Eagle is protected, her feathers can be sold. I held a benefit for her and other injured wildlife at Fort Bragg in 2002 to celebrate Native American Heritage month. Beanca, a gorgeous little owl and I raised over 700.00 for her wildlife sanctuary in one day. Beanca allowed children and strangers to come and stand with her for pictures and enjoys doing it. She is amazing and when I think of how quickly some people would have allowed their pity and sympathy over her injuries, their lack of faith in the spirit of the animal and their own refusal to give the time to an injured animal dictate her fate...well it makes me sick to my stomach. Here is her website which is long overdue for updating Beanca's Nest

Every living creature deserves every possible chance for survival and animals are very resilient, determined and have a natural survival instinct of their own. Our job as caretakers of Mother Earth and the creatures here is to do just that CARE take. We have an obligation as human beings to try to save the lives of animals not so quickly end them because we feel sorry for the animal.

And no I am not saying that is the case will all illness and injury but a bird without wings or the use thereof is capable of having a rewarding life just as a dog can lead a rewarding life with three legs or a blind cat live happily.

So...Sadie heal girl. Sara...you keep giving Sadie the best care you can and allow her every opportunity to heal. Ignore the negativity. If she were mine, I would do everything within my power to save her and help her heal too.

Keep us posted Sara.

 

[Riocotesei]

I'm disappointed on how some have decided to reply to the OP. She distinctly asked for no negative feedback, and that's what it's been poisoned into. If you guys don't like it, don't post..it's really not that hard. We all have our opinions and it shouldn't be forced upon others that asked NOT to. I believe it's wrong to tell a person to take them to a vet (if they can even find them) not knowing their situation or abilities and pay a very high amount to get it professionally taken care of. Many vets make mistakes as well and they don't know everything. Before the convenience of vets, people did what they could for their critters I see nothing wrong with that.
Now I can say something slightly contradictory, but it is just a chicken. Don't compare it to a dog cause they are nothing like dogs. I hold a much stronger loving bond with my dogs than all my chickens. Anyone on here that has an emergency with a dog would go straight to a vet.
I thought we were here to help each other not pass judgement!
I had a Broiler chick that got stuck to duct tape as a day old, and the others pecked at it and mutilated one of it's wings. She was going down hill and even though it was just a broiler chick we opted to save it. We cared for it in the house. She slowly got worse and we realized the wing was infected and keeping her from getting better. We did the best we could and cut the wing off. She got better and healed just fine. She lived as long as a broiler could, 15 weeks actually. We never culled her to eat, she died naturally. I buried her with a cross under one of our trees. This was my first ever experience in owning chickens and I was not the least bit attached to these birds (at first)--however, I have a responsibility as their caretaker to do the best I could for them.
These animals come to this earth to live and experience life, she wanted to live and I helped her pull through. I don't think it would have been fair to cull her cause she was going to have a lower quality of life, she has a much better life than the other broilers. They went to processing at 8 weeks.

Good luck with your chicken sara I'm proud of your efforts and your chicky.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Sara,
Sounds as if you're doing a tremendous job with Sadie... I'm thinking she will be properly spoiled by the time she's completely healed.

Thanks for all your updates on Sadie's health. I'm completely amazed at how well you're caring for her. Obviously she's your pet, and enjoys being pampered by you. I have four hens who are about ready to lay (I'm calling them freeloaders for the time being

); one is a real sweetheart and will nestle down in my lap to be petted. It's fun to have such a friendly chicken who enjoys human company, isn't it?

Good luck!

Carla

 

[ZooMummzy]

Like AngieChick, I think you are doing a great job and us with special needs chickens completely understand. My little banty has a bad leg and can only hop around on one leg and her wings. She isn't able to do all the "chicken things" she should be doing, but she is happy and I feel glad to be alive. Keep up the good work and keep us updated. I am pulling for her and sending lots of strength and good thoughts your way!

 

[hinkjc]

Cetawin, the difference between the eagle you are discussing and this chicken is the fact that the eagle had professional care. That is why there are laws in all locales relating to vet care for animals - to ensure humane treatment. There is no excuse for not providing proper veterinary care for your animals and making the correct decisions. That is part of being a responsible owner.

Jody