- Oct 15, 2012
- 156
- 4
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Something got into our chicken coop last night and killed some of our hens and injured our rooster. It looks like a canine bite from a medium sized animal, probably a coyote. We still can't figure out how it got in OR out.
Anyway the rooster has two puncture wounds, one isn't very serious, but another one is. He also has several punctures through his skin that don't appear to have gone into the muscle tissue. The puncture that worries me is also torn a bit down into the flesh on his hip and it's affecting his ability to walk. He can get around, but it's obviously painful and he limps. He's missing most of the feathers on his rump as well. We don't know if he's going to make it, but we really want to save him if we can because he's such a great bird.
I dabbed it off with warm water and a clean sponge then gently patted on some diluted betadine in warm water, and then applied neosporin (the kind WITHOUT pain reliever) liberally. I was thinking of putting on some sterile gauze pads and loosely wrapping it so it stays covered, can drain safely, and doesn't get dirty.
I tried to provide some electrolytes in the form of a leftover strawberry shortcake biscuit (for sodium and sugar) and a banana, both of which he quite cheerfully tore apart like a starving hawk. He also has food and clean water. He was in shock earlier, shaking uncontrollably and felt notably cool compared to normal. This seems to have corrected itself, he is no longer shaking, his body temperature feels normal again (though I have not actually taken his temp) and he apparently felt well enough to stretch his wings and neck.
I've also put a heat lamp nearby, not close enough to make him hot, just to keep the chill away from his naked little rump.
Does anybody have any more advice?
Anyway the rooster has two puncture wounds, one isn't very serious, but another one is. He also has several punctures through his skin that don't appear to have gone into the muscle tissue. The puncture that worries me is also torn a bit down into the flesh on his hip and it's affecting his ability to walk. He can get around, but it's obviously painful and he limps. He's missing most of the feathers on his rump as well. We don't know if he's going to make it, but we really want to save him if we can because he's such a great bird.
I dabbed it off with warm water and a clean sponge then gently patted on some diluted betadine in warm water, and then applied neosporin (the kind WITHOUT pain reliever) liberally. I was thinking of putting on some sterile gauze pads and loosely wrapping it so it stays covered, can drain safely, and doesn't get dirty.
I tried to provide some electrolytes in the form of a leftover strawberry shortcake biscuit (for sodium and sugar) and a banana, both of which he quite cheerfully tore apart like a starving hawk. He also has food and clean water. He was in shock earlier, shaking uncontrollably and felt notably cool compared to normal. This seems to have corrected itself, he is no longer shaking, his body temperature feels normal again (though I have not actually taken his temp) and he apparently felt well enough to stretch his wings and neck.
I've also put a heat lamp nearby, not close enough to make him hot, just to keep the chill away from his naked little rump.
Does anybody have any more advice?
