Hawk attack. Injured silkie hen, help

[TerrasCritters]

Quote:
Thats the quote I can never remember how its said. But I do agree if you can get it done without anyone knowing!

 

[fallenweeble]

oh my goodness julie c. - what a horrible thing to have to go through!

i'm new to chickens but i have other birds and i think the advice to give electrolytes and warmed "comfort" foods is very good. sometimes i give exact baby bird food (it's a powder you mix with warm water) to my rescued or injured birds (pigeons, doves and parrots) when they are not doing well and they really seem to like it. perhaps this is something you could try? it has plenty of good nutrients and such and, apparently, it tastes pretty good too! you can buy exact baby bird formula mix at most pet stores - it's really easy to find.

NOTE: if anyone here with more chicken experience knows that exact is NOT a good thing to give chickens please do chime in!

the hawk issue is hard. do you have a roo to sound the alarm when a hawk appears? that might be one sort of precaution/protection.

i love all birds and so it hurts me to think about killing a hawk and yet i'm sure i'd feel the same way about the hawk if i saw one of my babies being attacked. what an unhappy situation! i'm so sorry.

regarding the lump under baby's neck . . . is there a cut or anything? if so be sure to gently clean it as to avoid an infection until you can get her to the vet tomorrow. do you have any baytril (antibiotic) on hand? if so perhaps post that info and see if someone with more experience can let you know if it might not be a good idea to give her some and in what amount.

and just another thought . . . because baby is so small and also white in color (easy for predators to see) maybe she could become at least a part-time housechicken? you can buy diapers for them now so that they don't poop on your stuff! it's really cool.
that's what i'm going to do with rubio, my handicapped AGF. he's gonna be an indoor chicken. he he he!

anywho, i'm sending you, baby, and your injured DH - (bless him for risking his own well-being while protecting those defenseless little birds!) lots of postitive healing energy. please post plenty of updates,
f. weeble

 

[Jillylam]

Julie,

I hope Baby is ok. I also have about five acres with a large part of it fenced for my girls. I got lucky for about 10 months or so before the hawks found us. They loved free ranging all day. It's a shame that now I can only let them out when there to supervise. But whenever I want to relax and let them out again for the day unsupervised, my DH reminds me of how I cried when the last two attacks happened.

Please let us know how Baby does. We're thinking of her and also hoping your DH feels better too.

 

[seminolewind]

Sorry about Baby, she'll probably be allright. I know we have hawks around here, I see them once in a while. My chickens are in a covered run, and I let them free range about an hour before it gets dark, while I'm doing some stuff outside. An hour later, they are bringing themselves back to the coop.

 

[Juliechickens]

Thanks you guys. I'm going to look for that Baby Bird drink tomorrow....if she is still with us. It's not looking so good right now. She seems to be taking a turn for the worse, I just posted on another thread. There is now a huge egg size lump in her chest. Not just her neck,,,in her chest. It's very bizarre and I kid you not...it truly feels like an egg!! I know this is a stupid question, but could her egg that she was to lay today (she's a good egg layer) been jolted somewhere where it's not supposed to be in her body??? She is still doing the hick ups off and on movement. I feel she is sort of gasping to swallow it seems. She is breathing fine. She is very hot feeling and I think she has fever for sure. Oh my sweet little Baby,,this is awful not being able to do anything to help her. She is comfortable as much as she can be squatting down in her rest position next to her friend Lovey.
Someone asked if I had a roo and the answer is YES. I have 5 roos and they are all wonderful. 4 silkie roos and 1 bantam frizzle who thinks he's hot snot. All my roosters are very friendly and very protective with the hens. They escort them in the yard. One roo stays with one group of 5 hens while the other roo stays with another 5 hens etc etc. They crow back and forth to let the other roo everything is okay. You are right....the roos are great about giving the warning call when there is an alarm. I am very thankful for the roos for that. None of my roosters are agressive to people or with each other besides the occasional rooster sideways dance they do to keep others in line. So funny.
Anyways...I am seriously thinking about keeping my 2 white silkie hens inside from now on till I get my property fixed for them with a net for a roof for day time protection.
As for Baby goes. I'm now doubting her survival but I have prayed for a miracle so she's in God's hands. I've already thanked her for being such a good girl for us and told her how much we love her. If she has to go then to go in my barn in heaven and wait for me. I've asked God to put all my animals that have passed into a barn in the back corner and I will be there some day. I do not need streets of gold really. Just a simple barn with animals is heaven enough for me

I don't mean that disrespectfully at all. God knows my heart for animals....I'm weird that way!

Anyways thank you guys for all your support and helpful info. If anyone has any idea what the big egg thing is in Baby's chest,,,I'd sure like to know! Julie

 

[dlhunicorn]

you can miss puncture marks... might be a air pocket (or does it feel hard?) good luck at the vet.

 

[TerrasCritters]

Julies Updated Post can be found here:
http://backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26847

Hope Baby is resting right now and will be better tomorrow!!

 

[jjthink]

Hoping so very much that Baby will be alright - sounds like if that pressure is relieved quickly she may be. Praying for her....
JJ