hen attacked by??? Cat? Need info....

[The girls and me]

I had a bad morning by being woken up to one of my girls screaming. At 5 am I am not the most alert but yelled out the window to "go away" or something to that extent. I ran in my robe and boots to see what was up and to make a long story short found one of my girls alive (thank you God) but her butt is missing feathers and raw but not bloody. It is between 20 - 30 F at night here and today is warm and sunny..maybe 50 or so. I need to know how to treat her. Do I keep her inside and treat the wound or keep her with the other girls? They are kinda ignoring her now and she looks to either be in pain or shook up. Saw her drink but don't know if she is eating or not...

 

[#1California Chick]

Welcome to BYC!!!

I am sorry that one of your first posts has to be about an injured hen.

I would bring your hen inside and put her is a warm, quiet place. Then you can watch her and make sure that she is eating and pooping properly. You should also put something on her bare backside so that the other hens don't pick it (Blu Kote??)

Good Luck!!

Cindy

 

[The girls and me]

Thank you sooo much. I will put her in a large dog crate with food and water to keep an eye on her. I will look for Blu Kote at the Tractor Supply where I buy their feed.

 

[jjthink]

Hope all will be well!
If you can, get Bach's Rescue Remedy (health food store or good pharmacy) and put a drop or two in her water (good for relieving stress), following the suggestions in the above post. When she has calmed down check her thoroughly for the possibilities of any puncture wounds because if she has any she may need oral or injectible antibiotics.
If she is in pain, a day or two of aspirin in her water may lift her spirits enough so that she eats and drinks..important. But best to feel confident that she doesn't have internal bleeding going on as aspirin would make that worse.

Do your birds have a coop? 5 a.m. - predators abound when dark.
JJ

 

[The girls and me]

Thank you for your info. Yes, my girls have a coop with a roof and all. This one particular evening I didn't put them up (they free-range during the day). Wouldn't you know this is what would happen... I am definately going to make sure they are ALL roosting and tuck them in every night and lock them up.

 

[jjthink]

I don't dare shut my feathered friend's door even a few minutes after dark as I know that darn Murphy's Law RULES THE EARTH!!
JJ