Hawk attack first aid

[rubyred]

Hi all,

My 6 month old bantam hen was just victim of a hawk attack. I'd let them out to roam in the yard over lunch break and went to answer the phone when I heard the giant sqwack and was able to throw a boulder at the hawk to make him release her (after dragging across the yard). She doesn't seem to be bleeding anywhere but he had her around the neck with claws and I suspect he must have punctured her eye (she's closing it; it's running). She's also in shock.

Does anyone have any advice about how to treat her for the shock and the eye? Anything else I should look out for from a hawk attack. They will not be going out of the run anytime soon, that's for sure since the hawk is still sticking around (resistant to hose spraying, rock throwing).

I'm a newbie to chickens so this is all most traumatic.

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[chicmom]

Hi Ruby-

What I would do is take her and put her in a quiet place in a carrier or box, and just let her rest and recover from the shock. I would put food and water within reach. As far as the eye goes, you can try and open it to see if it looks damaged. There is some ointment that you can get at the feed store if you think you need to treat it. (I do forget what the eye ointment is called, but I believe it's in a tube.)

There may be injuries you cannot see, and so it's possible she might not make it, but the best thing for her is rest and quiet for now.

Sharon

 

[Sjisty]

Ditto ... and keep her warm.

 

[rubyred]

Thank you both for such quick and helpful replies. She's in her nesting box resting with a friend. I hope she'll pull through though I suspect she may have internal injuries. Do you think it better to treat the eye now while she's still shocked or to wait until I see whether she pulls through? I don't have anything to treat it with anyway so I suppose I'll wait.

 

[Judy]

You can put a little ordinary Neosporin ointment on it. It will help her feel better, take some of the pain away. You can also give her a baby aspirin. For now I'd just smear a little on the closed eye. A little bit will work its way inside.

Best of luck!