Graphic!! Care for chicken after bad Raccoon attack

[virgkeeley]

I actually just wanted some support from other chicken owners. And if you have any suggestions that would also be great. And I'm sorry about the graphic nature of the pics.

As you can see in the pictures one side of her face and the back of her head is bad. Scalped on the top and back of her head. She does still have her eye on the bad side, although the pictures make it hard to tell. The other side of her face is completely unharmed. She is an Ameraucana mutt - an easter egger. This girl never had a name. But if she does live, which I am very hopeful of, she will be being christened (at 5 years of age) Harvey Dent. Tasteless maybe, but apt.

Here is what I have done to treat so far - and I would like to first state that I did do an initial assessment of her condition to decide whether she should be put out of her misery or rehabilitated. She was looking around, still interested in being with her hen pals. Curious about the world. Not just hunkered down and depressed looking like a previous one I had that was attacked by a raccoon (more extensive injuries on that one too).

Yesterday I sprayed with hydrogen peroxide, but not near her eye. I sprayed with an iodine solution, once again avoiding her eye. I then spread neosporin (caine-less) all over the wounds and open skin. I don't know what to do about the skin near her eye to clean it. I don't want to get anything in her eye obviously.

Today I gave her a bath to try and clean up the blood and gunk around her neck. I also took her outside in the shady part of the yard for a bit and stayed with her and made sure no flies got on her.

I then sprayed her wounds with Blu-Kote.

Until about an hour or two ago she wouldn't eat or drink, and I can't grab her wattles and open her mouth by force and syringe the food in, because her wattles are somewhat mangled, and I do think that would be painful. So I have been slowly dripping a mix of gatorade, asprin, chicken vitamins and/or poly-vi-sol on the very tip of her beak and she does drink that. After she had had some water that way I was able to also eyedrop a watery mix of her chicken food, poached egg, vitamins and she did drink that too. I am worried that I am making the food and water go down the wrong way, but if she is actively opening her mouth and drinking and eating should it be ok? She is not tipping her head back. She is not eating or drinking much either, but some is going in.

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know! Including, am I being cruel not putting her down? How do chickens express that they are suffering extreme pain? This one isn't making a peep of noise in complaint. I have attached pictures, that are hard to read but it gives you an idea.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Your hen is lucky to belong to someone who doesn't freak out from blood and is willing to treat instead of cull (although at times that is the right thing to do).
I had a Barred Rock rooster that got attacked by a fox, all the skin on his neck was ripped off, yet he lived (for me) to tell the tale.

Regarding treatment, so far you've done well but you should administer antibiotics to battle all the pathogens from the raccoons teeth and saliva.

 

[Shezadandy]

I would strongly recommend VETRICYN for Poultry. My bottle says safe for use IN AND AROUND the eye- check the label on whatever you find to make sure. Vetricyn is like magic in a bottle. It is spendy - but it doesn't take much and works for SOOO many things. I wouldn't do any more peroxide after the initial cleaning. Lots of times the farm stores stock Vetricyn and 35ml feeder-syringes.

Now- if you can get your hands on a "puppy feeding tube" and a 35ml syringe, you can tube feed her some poultridrench, molasses, and even add in some baby parrot food which can be mixed nice and thin (think cream of wheat) - very easy to digest and it will go through the puppy feeding tube too. The baby parrot food (kaytee brand) and probably the puppy feeding tube can be found at PetSmart- just depends on your local store. Otherwise valleyvet has good deals.

Sometimes they'll peck and eat watermelon when they're not willing to drink water.

Anywhichway- check to make sure she's emptying her crop before you add any more. It's meant to get her over the "hump".

 

[virgkeeley]

That occurred to me just tonight, that I had forgotten about the antibiotics! I can't remember what I have used in the past. Any suggestions, of something easy to get a hold of.

 

[virgkeeley]

I would strongly recommend VETRICYN for Poultry. My bottle says safe for use IN AND AROUND the eye- check the label on whatever you find to make sure. Vetricyn is like magic in a bottle. It is spendy - but it doesn't take much and works for SOOO many things. I wouldn't do any more peroxide after the initial cleaning. Lots of times the farm stores stock Vetricyn and 35ml feeder-syringes.

Now- if you can get your hands on a "puppy feeding tube" and a 35ml syringe, you can tube feed her some poultridrench, molasses, and even add in some baby parrot food which can be mixed nice and thin (think cream of wheat) - very easy to digest and it will go through the puppy feeding tube too. The baby parrot food (kaytee brand) and probably the puppy feeding tube can be found at PetSmart- just depends on your local store. Otherwise valleyvet has good deals.

Sometimes they'll peck and eat watermelon when they're not willing to drink water.

Anywhichway- check to make sure she's emptying her crop before you add any more. It's meant to get her over the "hump".

Thankyou! How do I adminster the food in the puppy tube? Do I force open her beak? I'm not sure i can

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

That occurred to me just tonight, that I had forgotten about the antibiotics! I can't remember what I have used in the past. Any suggestions, of something easy to get a hold of.

Whatever you can get your hands on.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Thankyou! How do I adminster the food in the puppy tube? Do I force open her beak? I'm not sure i can

There is an abundance of information on tube feeding here on byc, but personally I would hold off for a day or two before starting. It is not risk free and you will have to apply pressure on the wounds which will be counter productive.
As long as she is drinking I wouldn't worry about eating yet. If you can administer nutri-drench to the beak, that would be good, if not you can add some to the drinking water.

 

[virgkeeley]

There is an abundance of information on tube feeding here on byc, but personally I would hold off for a day or two before starting. It is not risk free and you will have to apply pressure on the wounds which will be counter productive.
As long as she is drinking I wouldn't worry about eating yet. If you can administer nutri-drench to the beak, that would be good, if not you can add some to the drinking water.

Right, yes, I have read those, i thought you meant something different that didn't apply pressure to the wounds. Thanks!

 

[tjo804]

Sounds like you are doing all you can around the eye I would use saline and I know they make an ointment for the eye but it escapes me right now sorry

Does she have a favorite treat or mine really like hard boiled egg yolk they just can't seem to refuse that. After an attack she may need some time I would keep her inside away from flies make sure food and especially water are available. If you can stand the extra laundry I would put towels in a box or crate for her so no bedding debris can get in her wound.

So far you are doing everything I can think of, she is lucky to have you! Watch for signs of infection and keep her calm you are doing great!

Good luck

 

[Shezadandy]

There are great instructions about tube feeding on this site - yes, her beak will need to be opened- obviously avoid the wattles - if you've got something of a fingernail, you may be able to just work your way into her mouth that way.

If it's too big a fight -- just wait. No need to stress her out- she was probably eating and drinking normally right before she was attacked.

Molasses is one of my go-to add-ins for injured birds, so if you continue with your current feeding method and you like that idea, add some to what you're giving her.

There are probably good youtube videos about tube feeding - by now I do it by feel so I'm not great at communicating the "how-to"s.

If you do decide to tube feed her (if her appetite isn't picking up by the morning), the baby parrot food can be mixed nice and thin- the important part is water and some easily available nutrients from something like Poultridrench- and I always add in molasses (unless it's a sour crop bird).

If you do the baby parrot food- I would mix it up in a cereal bowl, then use the syringe to suck it up. You can do a quick experiment over the sink with the feeding tube on the syringe and make sure as you push the syringe, the mixture comes out the holes- if it doesn't- the mixture is too thick.