Help, chicken attacked by dog.

[Ese_N_Gracie]

Quick update. She is eating a lot more now. Ever since I started wetting the food her appetite has increased. I also have left the food out in the run area. She tends to eat better when the other chickens are around. Yesterday, she ate about 8 ounces of food. So I put out more today. I'm hoping she'll eat about 12 ounces. I think a chicken is supposed to eat up to a pound of food a day. Crossing my fingers.

You are very lucky! That was a gnarly wound. Happy she is eating well! (and that is a good amount for a "stationary" chicken). I hope you got it put back together with at least butterfly bandages. I couldn't go through all the pages for history/process.

 

[mar]

Yes, She is all healed up. But as the wound healed its making it difficult for her to eat pellets. So I've had to moisten up her feed so its easier for her to eat. Just waiting for the last of her feathers to grow back in. Yeah

 

[mar]

Another update, she has been eating great for a week now. I checked on her yesterday afternoon and she had layed an egg. So i think she is almost back to normal. Yeah.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Another update, she has been eating great for a week now. I checked on her yesterday afternoon and she had layed an egg. So i think she is almost back to normal. Yeah.

Eating! Laying an egg! WooHoo!

 

[mar]

Update for reintegration to the flock. After two weeks of being in her own section of the coop, she has spent the last two days free ranging my yard with the other girls. There has been some pecking but nothing to bad. Her feathers are coming in but haven’t reached the top of her head yet. They other hens chase her a lot or body check her to show her she’s at the bottom. Today they all stayed in the run together which is a little tighter quarters. Some pecking but she has gotten pretty good at dodging. I worried about night time and she snuck into the big coop with no damage. She was able to tuck her head under a nicer hens tail feathers. I hope to have a fully feathered picture of her by the end of the month. This is her about 3 months after the attack.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update for reintegration to the flock. After two weeks of being in her own section of the coop, she has spent the last two days free ranging my yard with the other girls. There has been some pecking but nothing to bad. Her feathers are coming in but haven’t reached the top of her head yet. They other hens chase her a lot or body check her to show her she’s at the bottom. Today they all stayed in the run together which is a little tighter quarters. Some pecking but she has gotten pretty good at dodging. I worried about night time and she snuck into the big coop with no damage. She was able to tuck her head under a nicer hens tail feathers. I hope to have a fully feathered picture of her by the end of the month. This is her about 3 months after the attack.

This is just wonderful news Mar! She has done so well, thanks to your dedication and care It sounds like integration is going pretty good.

I appreciate your keeping the thread going and the updated photos - look forward to seeing her feather out.

 

[mar]

This is another update on my Easter Egger. She is doing awesome. Her skin is all healed except she has a bald patch on her head. Any chance she will still get feathers there. It seems to have stopped growing feathers. She is fine but the others pick on her. Just curious.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

WoW Mar! She looks great

I just don't know if she will every get any feathers on the bald spots.

Do you think the others are picking at her red skin or because she's lowest in pecking order?
Does Blue Kote or Pick No More lessen the amount of pecking she receives at all?

 

[coach723]

She looks awesome mar, you've done a great job! Due to the severity of the original wounds it's likely that there are no feather follicles there, so I have doubt the feathers will grow back. I don't have any experience with them, but naked neck chickens look similar and seem to do ok, granted scar tissue is different than normal skin, so maybe read up on them to see if there is any special treatment or care needed, it would probably be similar. Maybe the redness will fade with time as the skin matures? Not sure, I would think blu-kote would be the best option to disguise the redness and help with pecking, but would watch for irritation long term. I'd be tempted to use something soothing, like coconut oil, but don't know how that would affect pecking. Certainly would not want to mess up the great job!

 

[XanderWiFi]

Fantastic job! It was a harrowing experience and you guys pulled through. Time heals all in my experience (I was supposed to never have hair on my legs where I had 3rd degree burns but they're as fuzzy as ever). However, maybe a scarf or other chicken attire? Or regular blue kote applications?