Help please

[Saphire123]

Please help. My dog got out of his fence and got a teenage looking chicken that roams free with it's family in the forest next to our house. My children and I have been carrying for it in a basket. It seemed to be injured the first day and didn't move. Second day it is walking around eating and drinking. It seems to have spots of missing feathers. We have fallen in love with this chicken and want to do what's best. We live in Hawaii and chickens survive all the time on the side of the road. I'm thinking of putting her back with in the forest where I think her family is. But I'm worried that they will peck her and not accept her. I don't know if she is still inured. I would love to find a home for her with someone without chickens so there is no chance if being pecked. Don't know much about chickens but want the best for this one. Please help.

 

[SunriseChickers]

Welcome to BYC!

If I were in your shoes I'd look it over for surface injuries then clean them and put antibiotic ointment on any broken skin. Next I would make sure it's got proper food and water, with ACV in the water. I would also try to leave it alone in a quiet, dim area to help it recover from any shock. But keep in mind I'm not a pro and I'm only on my first batch of chickens, so others can give you much better advice than I.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Welcome to BYC!

If I were in your shoes I'd look it over for surface injuries then clean them and put antibiotic ointment on any broken skin. Next I would make sure it's got proper food and water, with ACV in the water. I would also try to leave it alone in a quiet, dim area to help it recover from any shock. But keep in mind I'm not a pro and I'm only on my first batch of chickens, so others can give you much better advice than I.

I'm no expert either, but this sounds like good counsel IF there are no open wounds or red, scraped areas and the hen seems to be eating, drinking and breathing okay. Let's see if wiser heads agree.

@coach723
@oldhenlikesdogs
@aart

 

[SunriseChickers]

I'm no expert either, but this sounds like good counsel IF there are no open woulds or red, scraped areas and the hen seems to be eating, drinking and breathing okay. Let's see if wiser heads agree.

Oh good, I finally did something right, lol.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh good, I finally did something right, lol.

Oh golly, I meant wiser heads than ME!!! Talk about open mouth, insert foot! I'm going to go stand in the corner now. I was actually agreeing with you! I'm so sorry!

 

[coach723]

If it has no open wounds and it's eating and drinking, then it will likely be fine. The first day was probably shock, that should be over now. You can either put her back where she came from, or find someone who wants to take her and provide all that she needs. Her flock would likely take her back unless she's been gone a long time. I understand there are a lot of feral chickens in Hawaii, so I don't see that it would be wrong to let her go back, if that's what you want to do.

 

[SunriseChickers]

Oh golly, I meant wiser heads than ME!!! Talk about open mouth, insert foot! I'm going to go stand in the corner now. I was actually agreeing with you! I'm so sorry!

Now I'm confused, I think we confused each other. I was joking and there's no need to apologize.

 

[glassdragonfly]

And you are very kind to help this chicken! They are very easy to get attached to!

 

[Eggcessive]

I had a chicken injured similarly, but had no deep wounds, just scrapes and missing feathers. She limped for a few days. I just sprayed her red areas with BluKote to hide her red bare skin, and left her with the other chickens.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x @coach723 @Eggcessive

Yup there are alot of "feral" chickens roaming the streets as there are pigs. Depending on the area you're in, majority are "fighting" chickens that have flown the coop and many are also released when no longer wanted. I'm not seeing as many in the select area, thinking DLNR starting to trap again.