Fox bite advice

[valley]

I let my 10 hens outside 2 days ago and sat on my swing while they foraged. After they'd been out for 10 minutes or so, a fox ran out of the woods, ran right past me and went after my hens. I jumped up and screamed and ran at the fox. Before I got to her, she grabbed one of my girls (a barred rock named Pepper) and pinned her to the ground, trying to get a better grip so she could run off with her....luckily, I got to them before she could get a good grip. I tripped and fell flat on my face about 5 feet away and it spooked the fox into dropping Pepper and she ran off. I unhooked my dog and sent her after the fox...(she had no luck catching it because she is overweight)

Anyways, Pepper is alive and I left her alone for a day because she was in shock. She slept that night in the corner of the coop on the floor but the next morning, she was out in the run, walking around veeeery slowly. I finally examined her today, and found a scabbed over puncture would on her lower back/rump area. She also has a bald patch where a ton of feathers were pulled out. She is eating and drinking today but is making low cooing sounds and her feathers are all puffed up.


My question is....should I separate her from the other girls? She seems to be getting back to normal but I think she must still be in pain and I wonder if putting her in a pet carrier in the house would be better for her or if it will cause her undue stress.

This is my first experience with an injury to my girls and i've read quite a bit but I dont want to stress her out if I dont have to. The other hens are leaving her alone so I dont know if I should let her be or move her to a place where she can rest more comfortably without having to worry about the other hens.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Also....although the wound is scabbed over and everything looks ok (no oozing, no blood) should I still attempt to clean it and put some vetericyn on the scab?

 

[valley]

also some more info if it helps....her comb and wattle are nice and red and not faded as i've heard happens in a sick or injured hen. Here are some pictures of her after the bite.

 

[KYTinpusher]

I would leave her in the coop as long as the others are not picking on her. Support her with vitamins and electrolytes in the water, and some extra protein (boiled egg yolks are great) to help her heal. I would clean the puncture wound(s) very well and apply the Vetricyn. Watch the wound very carefully for a few days to make sure there is no sign of infection. Personally, I would probably give her a round of antibiotics to ward off infection. Puncture wounds can easily become infected because they usually don't bleed enough to flush out any bacteria. I am not a big fan of antibiotics unless necessary, but I lost an excellent rooster to an infected puncture wound that I missed from a hawk attack.

 

[Flock Master64]

You could put the chicken in a pet carrier with some pine shavings and just let her rest. Best of luck to you and Pepper

 

[valley]

Personally, I would probably give her a round of antibiotics to ward off infection.

Can I get antibiotics for chickens at tractor Supply or is this something a vet would have to prescribe? Sorry for my obvious lack of knowledge....i'm learning as I go!

 

[Flock Master64]

Yes you probably could

 

[KYTinpusher]

Can I get antibiotics for chickens at tractor Supply or is this something a vet would have to prescribe? Sorry for my obvious lack of knowledge....i'm learning as I go!

Yes, you can get Tylan at Tractor Supply. That is the only one I have used and I used the injectible. @casportpony is more knowledgeable than I am about what is best to use and dosage. I tagged her, so maybe she will check in with some advice.

 

[valley]

Yes, you can get Tylan at Tractor Supply. That is the only one I have used and I used the injectible. @casportpony is more knowledgeable than I am about what is best to use and dosage. I tagged her, so maybe she will check in with some advice.

awesome thanks for the info. If she can't respond, I will research the medication and dosage and how/where to inject it. I'd rather be safe than sorry!