hen attacked by a dog yesterday help please UPDATED RIP :(

[freetodream]

I have a hen that was attacked yesterday afternoon by the neighbors beagle (grrrr I could rant about people keeping hunting breeds of dogs trained and home but I'll spare you..) I caught it early and the hen is alive and doing so so. She's got an area a little bigger than a silver dollar on her back that's ripped open enough so that I can see the underlying fat layer. I cut away the feathers right around it so they weren't matted in the wound and put some ointment on it (natural no 'caine additives and I've used it before on chickens) she's of course in the house in a big 150 gal rubbermaid tote with straw etc so she's warm and comfy. Yesterday evening she wasn't interested in layer pellets but was more than happy to eat a bit of whole wheat bread, mealworms (we grow them), and later she ate some raw milk kefir and drank water as well and then as i was going to bed she was picking at her layer pellets a bit. This morning she even laid an egg! I was amazed I figured with the stress alone she wouldn't be laying but she did. I'm a bit concerned though this afternoon because she won't eat anything not even the meal worms I gave her and seem to be depressed/mopey. The wound doesn't look infected but should I be concerned about infection? I was less concerned about internal injuries when she was eating/drinking yesterday and then laid today but perhaps that was premature? There are no vets here that see poultry and if they did it'd be a fortune I'm sure. She's a 2 yr old golden sex link and she's in excellent condition otherwise and is one of my best layers. Any suggestions? thanks
Kjersti

 

[CityClucks]

I so sorry this happened! It sounds to me like you're doing the right things for her - leaving her be in a dark quiet place, keeping her wound clean, offering clean water and food - I hope she gets better. Good luck.

 

[Kittymomma]

This is the best article about wound care that I have found. Best of luck with her.

Second post down the thread and it's by threehorses.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=213146

 

[SaltyMomma]

I'm just beginning to learn about chickens and will be getting my 1st ones in May so the following is definitely not expert advice.... It sounds to me like you're doing everything correctly and my guess as to why she's a bit mopey is that she may be missing her friends. I sincerely hope that's all it is and that she recovers quickly. Good Luck!

Edited to add: Don't put her back with her friends... I was just saying that may be why her mood changed

 

[Higins00]

I have had my hen attacted as well, mine had ups and downs like yours is having. I fed mine what ever she wanted to eat and gave her some chick starter that was medicated soaked in a little water. What ever you do don't put her with the other hens because they will peck at the wound and make it worse. I bet she will purk up after another couple days. Good luck

 

[freetodream]

she's a bit better this evening. REALLY liked the kefir I gave her and ate some layer pellets. She perked up a bit when I moved her tote to the kitchen in the sunshine coming in the window. I know i know I baby her too much probably lol, doesn't matter the animal I love them all. Good grief we even had a week old calf that had really bad scours in January so I brought him in the house and put him in the bathtub to scrub all the poop off and then blow-dryed him before putting him in a sick pen in the garage with a heat light. My family still laughs over that one but he recovered and is now 300lbs of healthy sassy calf so whatever we do is worth it. Thanks for the suggestions though I'll be keeping her in the house till she's healed for sure. Our chickens free range(or they did, may have to change that if the stupid dog shows up again) so I don't have that problem for the most part but I've heard a wound gets them going so we won't be making that mistake
Kjersti

 

[Mystic Chix]

You might want to try some mix of food that may be more easily eaten. Mine was attacked by a dog as well (and I have her in with us right now). We put her on cooked scrambled eggs, plain yogurt, and pellets all mixed together with vitamin water... she was not interested in her pellets but this mix has her eating well. I feed her 3 (or more) times per day and she eats about 1/2 - 1 cup of food each time...
good luck..

 

[freetodream]

Well our little hen died about 10 min ago. She started gasping/ratteling with every breath and shivering and in the ten minutes it took me to get some penicillin in a syringe I came back to see her go

really sucks. She must have had some internal injuries that couldn't be seen. We did the best we could and she was comfy as possible. Neighbors need to keep their darn dog home that's for sure. Thanks for the help and suggestions.
Kjersti

 

[NonnasBabies]

SO sorry to hear this!!

Missi

 

[Harrietsmum]

So sorry. You did everything that you could for her.