HAWK!!! Just happened!

[countrygirl4513]

I was in the coop when I heard my roo taking on I ran out to see a huge hawk on Sweetie my brahma hen. He took off but left injuries. I fear she won't make it but I've got to try my best. There are talon wounds on her side and a deep puncture on her breast area. But the worst is the upper breast it's ripped wide open. I've cleaned the wounds with saline solution and bluekoted the ones that could handle it. I cleaned the worst wound but I didn't want to put the bluekote on it since it is such a big open gash. I put her in the coop and she is resting. Is there anything else I should do?
I know I read a thread recently about someone stitching up an area like that, but I'm afraid it would stress her more than needed. I don't think there is enough skin for me to stitch, in all honesty. Is there anything else I should do? If I should decide to stitch it how do I go about it?
I've been through this mess before with the dog, but never a hawk. She's my best layer, I feel so awful. If only I had waited 1 more second before going in the coop this wouldn't have happened.

 

[countrygirl4513]

just bumping my post.

 

[dutchman]

So sorry to hear about your girl. I sure hopes she makes it. You try every thing you can to protect them, but it still happens. I lost Whitey and about 15 others in about two weeks time to coon and hawks.

 

[jeaucamom]

the most important thing is to clean the wound with either warm soapy water or sterile saline. I have had good success with liquid bandage for wound if there is not enough skin to stitch. I have seen some amazing chicken wounds heal even without stitching, but if you have the gumption, you could try with a needle and thread.

Just keep her warm and calm in a dark place, and maybe either some avia charge or some polyvisol to keep her energy up. Also warm oatmeal and dunky eggs will cheer her up. If she seems like she is in pain, you can dissolve an aspirin.

Hopefully Dlhunicorn will show up here quickly, she has tons of good info. Good luck and keep us posted. I'm praying for you and her!

 

[ZuniBee]

I'm sorry to hear this happened...it is my worst nightmare.

When we raised ostrich we used a technique that worked real good. Instead of stiching up the wound, use super glue. Clean the wound real good and then push it together to close it. Take tweezers and pull the skin together. Then put a dab of super glue and hold the skin together with the tweeezers until the glue dries. It dries within a minute or two. It will hold the wound closed and help heal. You must make sure you get it real clean before closing.

We have done many large wounds on ostrich this way with success.

 

[hcammack]

I am sorry this is also one of my fear I have been known to run out of my house yelling with an airsoph gun (only gun I have) and shooting at a hawk not very affective but they always leave. I need to go to lowes and get some blueberry net for the top of the fencing (the run for the new girl's is covered. I have no roo so this makes me even more nervous. I havent seen the hawk around but I am still nervous about him.

Good Luck
Henry

 

[FlightsofFancy]

I am so sorry to hear about this and to have it happen while you were right there is so hard! I just lost my sweetest chicken to a hawk about a month ago. It really sucks! I saw the whole thing happen from inside the house and by the time I got outside the hawk had her torn to shreds. It was awful! The hawk even tried to fight me for her. I had to throw a chair at it and then it only flew to a low branch. My girls are never out uncovered now with out my supervision.
Again I am sooooooo Sorry. I hope evrything goes well with her.

 

[FlightsofFancy]

The super glue works great on all animals. Use a new bottle and it will be sterile.
Again, Good luck!

 

[justusnak]

IM so sorry to hear about your hen. First...she needs to be seperate from the others. They will pick on her, knowing she is injusred, and will most likely kill her. Clean the would really well...and apply neosporin. I have the neighbors hen here still, from a dog attack last summer. Her insides wer...well..outside. SHe is now laying an egg a day. She will need to be kept warm, in a dark area...and electrolytes. I always give starter crumbles to my injured hens or roos. High protien, and easy to make a mash if needed. Good luck with her....she is in great hands!

 

[krturpie]

we have serious hawk problems. they're brazen and everywhere. they've been known to sit on people's porches just to watch for what might run out from under the house. one swooped down just 3 ft in front of my DD and grabbed a 1 mo pullet. now, no chicken here goes out of the run, which is covered with a steel wire grid on a wooden frame.

the hawk had dropped the pullet, but the poor lil girl had one sucking puncture in the chest and possibly some broken ribs. probably some internal bleeding too. her wing was hanging oddly, probably twisted by the hawk. it was hard to tell the extent of the damage. she was in shock at first, but then grew weaker within a few hours. we went to a vet that could deal with chickens. he didn't think that she'd make it through the night, but he kept her in a temp controlled tank with an oxygen lead. she barely made it that night. but after a few days she slowly came back. vet and DD would tube feed her, and then later DD would feed her with dropper or a syringe. she had to have a tube inserted into the chest wound to drain, which was removed a couple of weeks later (a talon had punctured an air sac but missed the lung apparently). we kept her indoors during those two weeks, after which she was returned to the flock. she was kept on anti-biotics the whole time. it was grueling time and a miracle that she made it.

the things that got our chicken through it was DD's persistence and prayer... and perhaps an over-the-top affection for this chicken. we also had a vet or DD making sure she got nourishment, water, and medication, several times a day, even when she wouldn't eat. (DD also actually fasted from chicken meat and eggs until the bird was stable).

i don't know if any of this helps, but know we know what you're going through. i pray that your hen recovers and wish you much luck.