Help!! My hen was attacked by a Hawk today left a hole in her head!

[pnutty1]

Can I use anything to prevent any infection? She seems to have some other small injuries and is very lethargic.

 

[Aj1911]

where is the hole located on her head?

i had a hen that was cut open from a roosters spurs (her whole side was torn open) i used a iodine solution to keep infection out and she heal up fine.

 

[Empathy]

It depends on how bad/deep the hole is. How is she acting? Chickens can be amazingly tough (and equally delicate, it seems). I had a hen that had half of her comb torn off once, and I thought for sure she wouldn't make it. Her sisters actually pecked at the wound initially, so we separated her from the rest, cleaned her head with saline solution, then kept it covered with neosporin for several days. She healed just fine - it took about 2 weeks. She never looked the same after that (she had a funny head); but we loved her and she was all the more special to us for enduring the ordeal and making it though it.

I've also had to take a hen or two to the Vet from an attack by a dog. The vet stitched them up and they were also fine. Are you lucky enough to have a Vet who will look at your birds? It might be worth a shot if you are really unsure of what to do or if she is difficult to handle.

I hope for your sake she heals and is none the worse for the injury.

All the best to both of you,
Empathy

 

[jjthink]

Quickly get some electrolytes into her for shock - truly her worst enemy at this point. In a pinch use Pedialyte (if you don't have ask someone to get it for you right away - do not leave her - she needs you to comfort her) and either gently dropper some drops along her beak line (so she swallows on her own and doesn't choke) or spritz on something like watermelon if she'll eat. You have to keep her from succumbing to shock or it will kill her. Keep talking to her gently and if she has a best buddy let the best buddy be near her but watch carefully.

If you have or someone can get for you Rescue Remedy (Bach Flower Remedy) put a couple drops in a water bowl and if she's not drinking on her own dropper some drops of the mixture along her beak line. This can be stressful so if you can dropper onto grapes or blueberry pieces and get her to eat those, all the better. RR is often used for its reported calming effect.

Once she's not as shocky you can check the injuries more closely. I really hope she'll get through this.

JJ

 

[Gingersprite]

I hope your girl pulls through and I'll tell you my girl Lily was attacked by a hawk and blinded because the talons punctured one eye and caused the other one to swell so that it caused damage from which her sight could not recover, but she made it through that first night when i kept her quiet and warm, and inside for the next few days. I did get her to the vet who prescribed an antibiotic which probably helped a lot, eye drops, and liquid food which I had to shoot down her throat till she regained her strength and got less, like you said, "shockey." I agree with the previous post, chickens can be amazingly resilient (and delicate) so we'll all pull for the former in this case. As my vet said, if she lived through the attack, you need to believe in her and give her a chance