Fox attack. Quick, painless ways to put down a hen? UPDATE

[rockydobosz]

As I recently posted, I lost my first bird yesterday morning. However, last fall, another hen was attacked by a neighbor's dog. I searched the forum for what to do - neosporin, bacitracin, isolation - low and behold, she was back to herself in about a week and a half and still lays glorious eggs. This forum is terrific - don't give up on your bird so quickly. They are resilient and amazing creatures - and well worth the effort to save.

Good luck

 

[Shared Acres]

We've had similar issues in the past. I would suggest what the others have, cleaning the wound using Neosporin or an antibiotic spray (which is easier to use in my opnion). And make sure she's in a warm spot with food and water. We had one that bounced back from an attack, and you couldn't tell anything ever happened to her.

 

[pastrymama]

i am sorry, but can someone tell me what the "broomstick method" is? and what in the world would you use to chop off the head of a bird? do i need to always have a cleaver on hand or something like that? i am such a greenhorn and this kind of information just isn't in the stuff i have been reading. my dad grew up on a fram with hundreds of chickens and other animals and the stories he tells me of how his mother used to kill a chicken scare the crap out of me. i could never do what they used to do.

 

[CCCChickenman]

HI,
Two of our year old B.O. hens were in the wrong place, @ the wrong time, and were attacked by two of my neighbors dogs. (they are allowed their freedom on our back acre every morn)
I thought they were shot, one had (8) large holes in her back, and her chest was torn wide open.
But not a drop of blood?? Naturally lost most of her feathers
I put her in a tub w/a towel to lay on, went to Walgreens & Feed Store for First Aid materials.
Cleaned her with a saline solution & peroxide, applied Triple Antibiotic & Neosporin cream and sprayed a wound dressing, No bandages, I let her air dry, kept her warm, held her like a baby for a couple hrs, NEVER thought she would live thru the night, put her back in the plastic tub w/towel to lay on, and one to cover the top of the tub.
Next morn, gave her Pediatric Electrolite liquid w/cooled cooked Raman Noodles..alternated Triple Antiobatic & Neosporin w/BAG BALM and sprayed wound dressing when necessary.
But I think the best medicine was some short walks outside with me, for about an hour, so she could see flock buddies,kept her inside 3 days returned her to her flock on the fourth day. She was a little wobbly for awhile, but went right to the water w/ACV. After 3 weeks, she's recuperating but
I noticed this morning her back feathers are almost all grown back. She kind of stays with a her B.O. hen buddy that also got bit on her back (one hole) Treated the same way.
I wouldn't of tried to First Aid a hen if it wasn't for the advice I gathered on the forum.
You're right!! they sure can take a lickin and keep on ticking. I'm glad I got a chance to practice my doctoring skills on these two,
If any other injuries happen & I think the bird isn't in alot pain, I'll try and help them survive.
Now when they come in the coop to roost @ nite, I still put a little Bag Balm on their sores.
p.s.While "Angel"was in the clothes tub she laid an egg!!!

 

[ReiMiraa]

it will survive on its own.

i got free chickens once and the day before i recieved them a dog attacked them and ripped the chest off of one bird.

all it would do is stand around with its eyes shut.

the wound turned green and hard.... then it started to heal... though there meat on its chest never returned..... it was lucky its crop wasn't punctured... after 3 months of healing it laid an egg. i called it dino chicken. it laid huge green eggs. i couldn't close the carton....

it was a hardy chicken..... it died in december either from homicidal chickens on the roost breaking its neck, mouse poision, or just sudden death...

let it live.

 

[Miss Sebright]

She's up and movin in the house eating and drinking. I cleaned her up as best I could, the wounds had already scabbed up since we couldn't find for almost 24 hours after the attack. She doesn't smell that great, I'm hoping the wounds aren't getting infected.

 

[chickenzoo]

Something we always do with wounds is soak a rag in warm epsom salts and apply to the area for a few min. It always worked wonders.

 

[Miss Sebright]

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[Miss Sebright]

Oh my gawd, there was another hen named Hopi who we thought was dead. She showed up today! Still checking on how extensive her wounds are.

 

[juliachick]

Wow that is awesome another one showed up. We've had a rough couple weeks...first a neighbors dog attacked our rooster who lived w/just losing a bunch of his pretty tail feathers then a fox and her three little ones had a feast while we were at church last Sun. They vanished w/5 including two silkies, a bantam americauna, a bantam buff cochin, and a barred rock. Left behind a beheaded sex link, and one black jersey giant showed up a few hours later w/massive amounts of skin removed. Husband culled her immediately as she seemed to be struggling to breath well. Then two days ago I caught one of the fox cubs taking off w/another barred rock. Today the Mom fox came and attacked my buff cochin. She dropped Angel and took off. Poor Angel has a big hole in her back that I'm attempting to treat but don't know if there are internal damages at this point. Really hoping not. It's pretty warm out so I am not bringing her inside yet but have her separated inside the coop in a cat carrier. I rinsed it w/saline solution (that I made) and put antibiotic cream on. If she's still alive in the morning I will go get her some oral antibiotics right away. I wish I hadn't had my husband cull the one the other day. I thought she had to much skin missing and the way she was breathing...I just hated seeing her suffer. Now though after reading what some of these other chickens have survived she may have made it after all. I really hope that our Angel makes it. Hope you make out good w/the one that just came back too.