EMERGENCY HELP (Warning graphic photos) My 6mo old Copper Maran was attached by squirrels

[The Tiny Homestead]

The feathers, skin and fat are completely gone but her muscles, veins and tendons seem to be intact. Bleeding is limited to oozing from skin and a bit of blood dripping from her beak.

I rinsed her wounds with water and Vetrycin then covered the entire area with Hydrogel and wrapped her neck in gauze.
I also gave her an dose of water and B-12 via an oral syringe/dropper. That same day, I changed her gauze 1x as it was oozy and pink. She also had a bit of blood on the dishtowel below her beak that I provided to help support her head.

She survived the 1st day and night. Gauze change this morning had very minimal oozing and no more blood had dripped from her beak. The photos below are from this morning (i.e. the day after the attack). She will drink just a few sips and will look eager to eat the yogurt/mealworm/feed mixture I made... but after about 4 bites she is done. I imagine her muscles were damaged and it is painful to swallow and/or move her head too much. Her wound seems less 'bright red" and seems to have improved slightly.

That good news aside, she now is dripping clear mucus from her beak.. which of course makes drinking/eating difficult.

Is the mucous from stress? Her wounds don't look infected but they are close to her ears/sinuses... is it possible the oozing is dripping into her sinus cavity and out her mouth and that is the discharge I see... not a sign of infection?

Any suggestions on how best approach this are greatly appreciated.

Michelle (BusyBrunette), Valley Center, CA

Hoping for the best for your girl. Sometimes they amaze us with their will and strength. If you don't mind my asking, what was the scenario. Did you witness the attack, and how many squirrels? I have a few that come to steal the chicken food and never thought they might be a threat. If anything, I've seen them run from the chickens, but now you have me wondering.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

How do you know it was a squirrel/s?
Just curious.

 

[BusyBrunette]

How is your hen? Did she make it? Hope she did, prayers for you and her.

Chickens are amazing animals. The healing was very fast and skin fat tissue/skin began to form over the wound after about 5 days. Once I learned how to properly feed her with a syringe, and the amount she needed to have each day... she really began to recover fast. Thank you for the inquiry... this site was fully of wonderful and helpful folks.

 

[BusyBrunette]

Does she have any wounds near her trachea/airway, or her esophagus and crop? The wound looks pretty severe. Keep it moist with the Vetericyn hydrogel or saline, and the antibiotic ointment can be good as well. Does the hydrogel alone seem to keep it moist enough? You might want to learn to tube feed her if she won’t take enough food and water. KayTee baby bird feed is sold at most Walmarts. Feeding tube sets are available from Amazon for baby goats and lambs. A size 14-16 French is large enough. Aim for 15 ml of fluid per kg (every 2.2 pounds) 2-3 times a day. Raw egg, wet feed with a lot of water or the baby bird feed, and fluids can be given.
https://www.amazon.com/Abustle-pig-Feeding-1-Syringe-Reusable/dp/B0CX8QX6QT/ref=sr_1_8?crid=L369ZOVX9X4B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZDLAl_O37XSgiTe-q41PTKViip2gcka7V_QORScPOoE9-8H31huC1ARfcmlmRFi3jYc6bFDNJ9kdwuUH5BEGNJ-hJo00OoZJ0rOE-2ueywRxw-fVbpS5te2x8_vU00SdGzVwudrL_jfpP3xu9HuVtEnEOaG_YQOaanBocpBQ7RdF468tqIb0iOE0DBGSqSiD7LnaN0JMFxlSUviZAhmDxOuLTMD4wc66jBK5X3_Nn3vYqMzdaANiSptjJF9pWc_rL9QObfQEU6VXIWdwbjHmuRv16vK5NUsV9wfMZoF7jnU.sULapOzmNUw1XpC6mySEckaux2kkaUyUodYFaB5qcOg&dib_tag=se&keywords=Baby+lamb+feeding+tube+sets&qid=1722645028&sprefix=baby+lamb+feeding+tube+sets,aps,340&sr=8-8

Just a quick THANK YOU for the encouragement and advise. Learning to properly syringe feed her (that the esophasgus is in the middle of the tounge) and knowing the amount of food/water she needed each day made ALL the difference in the world. Her wound healed incredibly fast,,, appx 2-3 weeks later the flesh was covered over with skin. She may have a permanent bald circle on her neck.. who knows, maybe feathers will actually grow back. That exposed cartilage/filiment that was attached to her tounge/beak seemed to work itself into some sort of place as well as she regained control of her tounge. Thank you again for the wisdom and encouragement

 

[The Tiny Homestead]

That is such great news. It warms my heart to know.

 

[chickachicka12345]

il pray for you and your hen.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Yay! so glad your hen made it!

 

[Goldendreams]

The feathers, skin and fat are completely gone but her muscles, veins and tendons seem to be intact. Bleeding is limited to oozing from skin and a bit of blood dripping from her beak.

I rinsed her wounds with water and Vetrycin then covered the entire area with Hydrogel and wrapped her neck in gauze.
I also gave her an dose of water and B-12 via an oral syringe/dropper. That same day, I changed her gauze 1x as it was oozy and pink. She also had a bit of blood on the dishtowel below her beak that I provided to help support her head.

She survived the 1st day and night. Gauze change this morning had very minimal oozing and no more blood had dripped from her beak. The photos below are from this morning (i.e. the day after the attack). She will drink just a few sips and will look eager to eat the yogurt/mealworm/feed mixture I made... but after about 4 bites she is done. I imagine her muscles were damaged and it is painful to swallow and/or move her head too much. Her wound seems less 'bright red" and seems to have improved slightly.

That good news aside, she now is dripping clear mucus from her beak.. which of course makes drinking/eating difficult.

Is the mucous from stress? Her wounds don't look infected but they are close to her ears/sinuses... is it possible the oozing is dripping into her sinus cavity and out her mouth and that is the discharge I see... not a sign of infection?

Any suggestions on how best approach this are greatly appreciated.

Michelle (BusyBrunette), Valley Center, CA

Ìt looks like a tight collar wound on a dog
I would suggest pouring hydrogen peroxide on it, neospprin or triple antibiotic cream, bandaging it close, and giving some antibiotics

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ìt looks like a tight collar wound on a dog
I would suggest pouring hydrogen peroxide on it, neospprin or triple antibiotic cream, bandaging it close, and giving some antibiotics

@Goldendreams Welcome To BYC

This thread is from August 2024, the last post and report from the OP is below, the hen recovered and is now still hopefully doing well after all this time.

Just a quick THANK YOU for the encouragement and advise. Learning to properly syringe feed her (that the esophasgus is in the middle of the tounge) and knowing the amount of food/water she needed each day made ALL the difference in the world. Her wound healed incredibly fast,,, appx 2-3 weeks later the flesh was covered over with skin. She may have a permanent bald circle on her neck.. who knows, maybe feathers will actually grow back. That exposed cartilage/filiment that was attached to her tounge/beak seemed to work itself into some sort of place as well as she regained control of her tounge. Thank you again for the wisdom and encouragement