Dogs are the worst predator, I swear Amazing update!

[ladybugchickenfarms]

Hoo boy! Little did I realize the emergency wasn't over. I've been treating my two roos all day for delayed shock. This morning when they appeared in front of me after being outside all night, who knows where, they both looked to be in good health with robust red combs. But by mid-morning, both boys combs were black, and the younger one, Toots, was so lethargic I thought he'd fall over dead. He was all but semi-conscious with his eyes closed and swaying on his feet.

The black combs signaled acute stress to me since I've watched the comb color change on them before when they would go through periods of excitement or stress, only to have the normal red color return soon after. Their combs showed no tissue whiteness like you get with the first day of frostbite, and neither showed any blistering. Both combs were warm to the touch despite the black color, so I was pretty sure I wasn't dealing with frostbite.

I think one of the lessons of this thread I would like to impart is that any predator attack on a flock should be followed up immediately with electrolytes and vitamins, something I gave a fleeting thought to this morning but failed to follow through on. I fixed them some elctrolyte and sugar water first.

I fixed them some scrambled egg and sprinkled some Poultry Nutri-drench over it. I also tore up half a slice of whole wheat bread and doused it with Nutri-drench. They both ate well and drank, and Toots rallied and is now his old self. The black on the combs, which covered the entire top half of each comb, is now receding with the normal red color coming back, sort of like the moon reappearing after an eclipse.

I also found that my youngest flock member Ladybug had injured her foot or sprained a leg in the attack yesterday. She was limping badly and holding her foot up curled against her belly. After a baby aspirin and sharing some of the boys goodies, she's also feeling much better.

This has all been an adventure I hope not to repeat ever, or at least not for a very long time.

I'm glad they recovered! You did well

 

[aart]

The black combs signaled acute stress to me since I've watched the comb color change on them before when they would go through periods of excitement or stress, only to have the normal red color return soon after.

That's interesting...you didn't happen to take any pics did you?

 

[Serin]

I am so happy your roosters are okay! Happy endings like this don't happen often.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Wow, what a fantastic outcome! How emotional. I'm so glad you are nursing your roo's back to their beautiful selves instead of the alternative. What a ride, eh?

 

[azygous]

I'm beginning to suspect these combs might have some frostbite since the dark tissue isn't receding as quickly as I'd hoped. But there was never any white tissue, and the combs didn't appear to be frozen when I discovered the two boys early this morning. We'll see what they look like in the morning. That should tell the tale.

The black color was uniformly halfway down the comb earlier. It's now receded to the tips. Toots, on the right, was worse than his dad Strawberry, on the left, but both boys had the black covering the top half of the comb, and it was a dark charcoal grey. No blisters as yet. I would think they'd be showing up by now, 24 hours later. And neither boy behaves as if it hurts. Strawberry has experienced frostbite before with white tips, blisters, tips later turned black and fell off. I sprayed both with Vetericyn to be safe.

 

[NewBoots]

Against all odds, my two roosters were waiting outside the run this morning when I went out to check on my chickens and feed them! Not a scratch on them. They don't even appear to have any frostbite from being outside in 15F temps.

This is a perfect example why I have posted replies on many threads on this forum about missing chickens after a predator attack not to give up on the chickens surviving even though they haven't turned up after many hours of searching. Which is what I did until sundown last night, slipping and sliding in the snow searching every nook and cranny on eight acres surrounding my dwellings.

They must have led those dogs a merry chase, probably double teaming them so the dogs couldn't focus on killing one of them. But where they managed to hole up after the attack is going to probably remain a mystery.

Here are the amazing miracle roos this morning in all their glory! View attachment 1680173

OMG That is so awesome!!!! I am so happy for you!

 

[shannon84]

I'm beginning to suspect these combs might have some frostbite since the dark tissue isn't receding as quickly as I'd hoped. But there was never any white tissue, and the combs didn't appear to be frozen when I discovered the two boys early this morning. We'll see what they look like in the morning. That should tell the tale.

The black color was uniformly halfway down the comb earlier. It's now receded to the tips. Toots, on the right, was worse than his dad Strawberry, on the left, but both boys had the black covering the top half of the comb, and it was a dark charcoal grey. No blisters as yet. I would think they'd be showing up by now, 24 hours later. And neither boy behaves as if it hurts. Strawberry has experienced frostbite before with white tips, blisters, tips later turned black and fell off. I sprayed both with Vetericyn to be safe.
View attachment 1680640

So happy for you and your beautiful boys!!! What breed are they?

 

[azygous]

Strawberry is a pure Crested Cream Legbar and Toots is a Legbar/EE cross.

 

[PattyNH]

My cockerel with frostbite on his comb looks exactly like your boys. He never had white on his comb first...

 

[aart]

Looks like FB to me....a few days will tell the tale.

I sprayed both with Vetericyn

Is your coop heated?
If not, I wouldn't wet a FB comb with anything.