Hawk attack (again)

[Big Cluck]

Hi folks,
We had a hawk attack again. One of our hens got grabbed, but not taken. She has a wound under her wing, doesn't seem to be any punctures, but her skin is torn. We started her on clamavox and used neosporin on the wound as well as blue Cote. The skin is torn and, as my daughter says, her chicken is showing. It's now been a few days since the attack, she is doing well, seems happy and in bothered by the wound, my question is should I stitch the skin? Will it heal on its own? is it to late to stitch now?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hi folks,
We had a hawk attack again. One of our hens got grabbed, but not taken. She has a wound under her wing, doesn't seem to be any punctures, but her skin is torn. We started her on clamavox and used neosporin on the wound as well as blue Cote. The skin is torn and, as my daughter says, her chicken is showing. It's now been a few days since the attack, she is doing well, seems happy and in bothered by the wound, my question is should I stitch the skin? Will it heal on its own? is it to late to stitch now?

Did you see the attack? Do you have a rooster where she is at? How old is she? How wide is the wound open?

 

[chickens really]

Not sure if stitching her up is a good idea?...The area if infected will still need to drain out..I would wash with Epsom salt daily and put on a antiseptic spray...Keep him a clean area till it heals ..
As far as Hawk deterrents go...Decoy Owls help..Hiding places for the Hens to run too...Can be as simple as plywood nailed together to form a V like a tent to run into and hide...

 

[Big Cluck]

Not sure if stitching her up is a good idea?...The area if infected will still need to drain out..I would wash with Epsom salt daily and put on a antiseptic spray...Keep him a clean area till it heals ..
As far as Hawk deterrents go...Decoy Owls help..Hiding places for the Hens to run too...Can be as simple as plywood nailed together to form a V like a tent to run into and hide...

Thanks, we have deterants, we were right there with them, hawk came for one of the ducks, while we were chasing it off and gathering the flock to safety the hawk came back and grabbed the hen. So I didn't actually see it, but I was right there. Hawk came 4 times in about 5 minutes. We have been washing the wound and keeping an eye on it. Her behavior is good, she looks good, but there is defiantly some infection in the wound. Hoping the antibiotic will clear it up. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. Vetericyn wound spray is very good to use on deep wounds, and plain Neosporin or Bacitracin are good to apply in place of that. BluKote is more for abrasions. If the wound needs cleaning, use saline daily. I would not recommend stitching, but let the wound heal from inside out. The tissue will slowly granulate in and heal over a couple of weeks. I had a half-blind polish hen decapitated through a chainlink fence last year when 2 hawks ran her into the fence and then ganged up on both sides. They removed the head, and left the body.