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Help! This is second dog attack - Coco is not eating

Kir Clucky

In the Brooder
Apr 30, 2025
34
39
46
Thonotosassa, Florida
My husband left the yard gate open 2 days ago and 2 dogs came in and tore my 2 girls, Sugar and Coco (had Marshamellow separated in a different place) out of the coop through the egg flap. Sugar was killed. Coco was torn up all around the entire neck flesh-wise and has a minimum of 3 gashes between her wings on her back and missing many feathers.
I have her quarantined in a medium sized metal dog cage.
Been washing wounds with homemade saline solution.
She won't eat. I got her to nibble a berry I held to her mouth this morning but that's it. She did lay an egg yesterday.

Is it normal for them to not want to eat for a couple days?
What's the length?
Should I allow her to walk around here and there or keep her in the cage?

Currently they (Marshamellow & Coco) are both living in a master bedroom of an uninhabitable mobile home that's on our property. There are 3 windows with screens in there for air, in case you'd wonder

Thanks for help of any advice.

Ps. We recently acquired 10 pallets and plan to build a sturdy run.
 
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Poor Coco! Treat her for shock by giving her some sugar water: 1 tsp sugar, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda in 1 c warm water. Hold it up to her beak so she can drink. Washing her wounds with sterile saline is good, twice aday. Then blot dry with a clean towel and coat with a triple antibiotic ointment that does NOT contain pain reliever (which is toxic to chickens). Leave the wounds open. I'm sorry Sugar did not survive. :hugs
 
Poor Coco! Treat her for shock by giving her some sugar water: 1 tsp sugar, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda in 1 c warm water. Hold it up to her beak so she can drink. Washing her wounds with sterile saline is good, twice aday. Then blot dry with a clean towel and coat with a triple antibiotic ointment that does NOT contain pain reliever (which is toxic to chickens). Leave the wounds open. I'm sorry Sugar did not survive. :hugs
I will try that for sure tonight when I get home, thanks!
I use Celtic salt as it has 82 minerals in it(including 3 different magnesiums) so that is what I will use for her - and its in the saline I made for her too.
As for touching her, she wont let me touch her much she pecks. I have been just spraying and squirting the saline spray all over the wounds. I dont think i could get her to accept the ointment, but she is not out in the elements for bugs and filth to get to her so maybe just the saline will do??
 
for touching her, she wont let me touch her much she pecks. I have been just spraying and squirting the saline spray all over the wounds. I dont think i could get her to accept the ointment, but she is not out in the elements for bugs and filth to get to her so maybe just the saline will do??
Let me tag an Educator and ask about this, they may have a suggestion. I think I would put a towel over her head and see if that helps while treating her but let's see what @Eggcessive suggests.
 
It would be good to put some antibiotic ointment on her skin to keep the wounds from drying out. Does she sleep or roost at night in the dark? When they are outside taking them off the roost at night or just before daylight is the easiest time to treat or examine them.
oh ok, i see. i can try. yes its dark in there, there is no electric in that house, ill have to use a head lamp.
 
Poor Coco! Treat her for shock by giving her some sugar water: 1 tsp sugar, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda in 1 c warm water. Hold it up to her beak so she can drink. Washing her wounds with sterile saline is good, twice aday. Then blot dry with a clean towel and coat with a triple antibiotic ointment that does NOT contain pain reliever (which is toxic to chickens). Leave the wounds open. I'm sorry Sugar did not survive. :hugs
should I let her walk around tonight before putting her to bed?
 
It would be good to put some antibiotic ointment on her skin to keep the wounds from drying out. Does she sleep or roost at night in the dark? When they are outside taking them off the roost at night or just before daylight is the easiest time to treat or examine them.
should I let her walk around tonight before putting her to bed?
After you treat for shock she should eat. Wet her food with water to make it into a gruel. Provide grit and oyster shell.
when you say grit, what do you mean?
 

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