Hen attacked by dog, not eating or drinking. Advice

[Cadnfar]

About two/three days ago my neighbor's dog came racing to our house and caught one of my chickens. Neighbor came over and dragged him off and I found the injured chicken an hour later (I'd thought she had crawled into the bushes and died until then, I was looking for a body to bury). She was responsive when I picked her up, screamed like I was killing her, and then was unresponsive when I had her in the bathroom to seal up her wounds. She's got a chunk missing on her underside, above the legs but close to them, and I only know because it fell into my hand when I was putting neosporin(original, not with the pain relief stuff) and petroleum jelly on her. Other than putting goop on I haven't been handling her wounds to avoid stressing her out and hurting her more. She perked up a bit when I moved her outside into a separate coop that's set up for brooding hens. She has food and water that I've checked on, but hasn't eaten the food at least for a few days. I'm not certain on the water, she has spilled it a few times so I assume she's going to it. She's one of my less socialized hens, there was a rooster in the batch that we took a bit to remove and he wouldn't let us near the hens. I've seen someone on here that said they tube fed their hen, what would I feed her and how to do that? Also how long can she go without food before it'll be a big issue since I'm not sure she'll let me hand feed her? She's been pooping regularly and laid two eggs since the attack (I suspect just because she'd already had them ready though). Her poop this morning was green and runny.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm sorry this happened, it's too common of a problem, but I'm glad your girl survived. If she's not eating she could still be in shock. Mix up a batch of sugar water: 1 tsp sugar water, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda in an 8-oz cup of warm water, stir to dissolve. Put some in a small cup and dip her beak in it. See if she will drink some. If not, try putting a drop on your finger and touch it to the crease at the side of her beak. Wait till she swallows and repeat. Repeat till she refuses. A dehydrated hen cannot eat. Wet her regular food till it is like oatmeal, that will also help hydrate her. If you have some plain yogurt, stir in a little of that, it will help her digestion.

You are on the right track keeping her wounds moist Original Neosporin is very good. You can mix up some sterile saline and wash her wounds with that twice a day, put it in a spray bottle if you wish. Hibiclens is also good. Do not use hydrogen peroxide. After washing, gently blot dry with a clean towel and apply the antibiotic ointment. Do this twice a day. Keep us posted on how she's doing. Chickens are tough. She has a chance. You can post pictures of her wounds.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I believe @Eggcessive or @azygous can teach you how to tube feed. They say it is easy.

 

[MarlaMac]

You can also try to offer her some of her favorite treats. When my girl was attacked she readily ate watermelon which got her eating and hydrated her at the same time. Poached/boiled eggs are a favorite, you could try that. Wet feed, as mentioned, seems to be a favorite with chickens (it is how my flock prefers it all the time), and the sugar water will help to keep her electrolytes in balance (the watermelon will too).

It is important to wash the wounds. Dog mouths carry a lot of bacteria. Wash, dry apply ointment 2x daily initially. Once the healing starts, you can omit the daily washes and just keep the wound moist with the 3x antibiotic ointment.

Hope she pulls through for you.