Hawk Attack on month old chick, right breast muscle gone, advice needed *graphic pic*

[MrsCadenhead]

A chicken miracle!! So glad to see a happy ending for your rooster!

 

[Nebraskagirl]

WOW! I just read the entire thread and that was nothing short of amazing!!!!! That is just awesome. It made my day.

 

[tashpotato]

Wow! What a handsome chap he is!
He's very lucky x

 

[aoxa]

Oh my dear god. This is a real miracle. I can't believe it. Amazing. Nothing short of amazing.

 

[aoxa]

Also, what a gorgeous rooster. I love the girly waterers lol

 

[PHILMAN]

Bless your heart for wanting to save it. If it were my chicken and I wanted to save it I'd take it to a vet because there is too much we don't know about the missing anatomy. Other than that, I'm in the "euthanize" it camp. Sorry can't be of any help here.

Poor chick.

I second that .

 

[LaBella]

All I can say is wow.
Bless our heart for giving him a chance, I think I would have put him down. But look at him now, so proud and handsome!

How well did the area that was missing heal up, other than the crop? It doesn't look like any bare skin or lack of feathers. That was truly a gruesome wound and it just shows how strong the will to live is.

 

[VioletBlueIvy]

All I can say is wow.
Bless our heart for giving him a chance, I think I would have put him down. But look at him now, so proud and handsome!

How well did the area that was missing heal up, other than the crop? It doesn't look like any bare skin or lack of feathers. That was truly a gruesome wound and it just shows how strong the will to live is.

 

Next to the crop issue that was my biggest worry. There was no skin at all left on the left side of his breast, or around it. It was either torn away or pulled back way beyond the wound, and seperated from the intact flesh in places. You could see all the muscle under the skin, when I put the neosporin on I squirted it under and rubbed it around in there too. It was just bits of muscle clinging to bone, I think there were some ribs broken off. I didn't know how bare bone was going to heal. But, the skin reattached along the borders first and just kept on growing over the wound. It is normal healthy skin with normal feathering, just like nothing happend! You can feel all that's missing underneath, his breastbone in particular. It was really amazing to see.
I think he has an indomitable will to live. He was taken by a hawk, partially eaten alive, somehow made it home the next morning dragging bits of himself with debris stuck to him. It was really horrible. He couldn't get up the step into the coop, I had to help him and my hands were covered in blood and fluid. But he went in and drank and ate and then went over under the roost and fell asleep. He kept on his feet and kept eating the whole day. Laying down to rest occasionally, but got right up when he was rested or needed to. I dont know how well he can fly but he gets on and off the roosts by flying just like the others do. He is breeding with all the hens now, and taking a bit of a chastizing from them for it too
Thank you for the nice comments, he did turn out to be one pretty guy! His name is Hawkeye

 

[PAchickenlover]

Good for you

I am so glad he made it! I LOVE the name! So fitting.

 

[tellynpeep]

Chickens are truly the Sherman Tanks of the avian world...

I have had chickens heal from some absolutely horrific wounds. Some of which I have posted about on this forum. The most recent (this fall) was a pullet who was attacked and partially eaten by an owl. Her back muscles on one side were completely gone, and the wound was so deep it was into an airsac or lung (the bird was actually breathing through the wound, and bubbles would well up in the blood with every breath!)

That girl is now living outside with her sisters, and just started laying....

If they want to live, give them a chance; you'll be amazed at how a chicken can heal from devastating wounds...