Help, chicken returned 24 hours later after being carried off by??/

[gretchenhau]

Help, my lovely black alstrolop was carried off by something big, canine yesterday about 4:00 we tracked to the end of the property in the mud but lost the trail, over4,000 feet, tonight the chicken showed up in the coop, wounded, a couple of puncture wounds, between the shoulders raw skin and no reathers,I picked the feathers out of the wounds, also no feathers and raw skin on the side of the shoulder.

What do I do, I rinsed in warm water, tried to confine her in a tub, but she kep jumping out, so I put her in the corner of the shed, where she wants to be. After dark I will put the heat lamp on, need to go get another cord.

WWhat do I do, what can I put on it, neosporin, My hubby is laid off so a vet is out of the question, Help.

I don't want to loose her. She is 11 months old and just wonderful.


Gretchen

 

[chickensioux]

Keep her warm and quiet. If you have povidone iodine that is good for the wounds and won't burn her skin. If you can keep her inside and make sure she is eating and drinking, she probably will be ok. I'm a vet tech and these things should work for you if she is not too traumatized. Let us know.

 

[PortageGirl]

NO neosporine that has the painkiller in it!!! Very dangerous for chickens!! Plain neosporine is OK.

If she's as active as she sounds, just give her dark, quiet, water with electrolytes if you can, since she's got some punctures, try to get some antibiotics and give her. They will have them at the feed store, not cheap but cheaper than a vet visit. You can inject yourself, read instructions carefully, there's guidance here that is pretty clear too...

I'm sure others will respond quickly too with better answers for you.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Initially cleanse the wound with hydrogen peroxide. this will help remove bits that you can't see, Follow that with iodine or betadine diluted with warm water so it looks like tea. Put this in a clean container with a top you can squirt. For instance a mustard or ketchup container or a syringe. Squirt this into the open wounds for a day or so, then change to saline solution (I warm it up). Make sure you dry your bird thoroughly.
Keep a close eye on the the wounds, chickens often end up with deep puncture wounds that are difficult to see. Look for swelling and bruising. It is important to keep the wounds draining, if you notice swelling or puss (sometimes this looks like a greenish swelling under the skin), it is important to get it to drain. You may have to open up a scab!
Keep your chicken in a warm enclosed place. You might consider putting it in a laundry basket and keep it in the house somewhere. It is easy to cover a laundry basket with a large towel or small blanket. Keep water available and high protein food. I have put aloe vera on my chickens to help with the healing and soothing affect it has on the skin.
You might also give your chicken aspirin for pain relief. Per Mississippi State Extension Service: Aspirin Solution: Dissolve five (5 grain) aspirin tablets in one gallon of water. Offer this solution free-choice to the bird for the duration of an illness. The solution aspirin equivalent to 25 grains/gallon or 324 mg/gallon of drinking water. The dosage rate is about 25 mg/lb body wight per day.
I usually just scrape a little bit of aspirin onto a grape or other yummy and feed this to my injured bird.
If you chicken develops a badly infected wound you might want to seriously consider a vet. They can prescribe the specific antibiotic needed in the correct dose for you chicken.
I have access to a good poultry vet and have taken several of my injured chickens to him. This is where I get my information for the most part. I don't take every injured chicken to my vet either. He tells me stuff, so I can take care of my birds on my own.
Chickens have an amazing ability to heal from wounds such as this.

 

[gretchenhau]

Sorry so long to get back to you. It wasn't a coyote, but a large bard owl, huge.

She is still hanging in there, won't come out of the coop. I pulled feathers from down deep where the tallons were. Used peroxide, neosporin without pain killer.

She eats a small amount, drinks. And I gave her her favorite treat, italian bread cubes. She hides when she comes into the coop. But is coming out a bit more.

 

[chickensioux]

Thank goodness she is coming around. Poor little stressed out baby. I hope she will continue to flourish. She sounds loved. Good luck.

 

[CityClucks]

Wow! She is lucky to have survived - I know you'll do your best to take care of her. Keep us posted!

 

[JennsPeeps]

Glad to hear that she's recovering. since she's lasted a week, it's a good chance she'll keep gaining health and strength.

nicely done, nurse!

 

[BarkerChickens]

Your chickens injuries sound similar to what had happened to two of our hens last fall. Below is my post from then and it states what I did (plus pics and others recommendations). Our hens are back to 100% now! I am glad to hear that your girl is doing well so far!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=101365

 

[al6517]

Sounds like you caught it in time, you did a great job bring her back to health, she will not forget it.

AL