HEN ATTACKED BY DOG!

[dave_OH]

I have 8 Wyandotte hens that are 10 months old, I used to have 10, but the neighbors dog has killed 2 of them & I am afraid mortally wounded a third.

I don't know what to do. My wife heard the chicken having a fit & went out & chased the dog away, but the chicken is pretty torn up. It isn't dead & seems alert, but it does have 2 pretty good sized open wounds about 2" - 3" long on its back/side & they appear about 1/4" deep and her skin is torn away, all of the damage is in about a 4" area, I really can't tell how bad she is.

Does anyone have any experiance with anything like this?
Should I dress the wound somehow, put some neosporan or what on it? Or should I just leave it be & see what happens?

I picked the hen up & put her in the chicken house in one of the nests where they lay their eggs. This happened about 2 hours ago, I just went out to ckeck on her & she was still alive, but had not moved fromt he nest, I assume she is in shock.

Any suggestions?

 

[gallo34]

I would take her to the neighbors...and show them what the dog did...often the neighbor is willing to pay for damages and/or losses...after all it was their dog...

Well, now that is out of my system...I had a hen, afew years back that got it bad...by several roosters...they ripped her back up...somethin awful...we poured hydrogen peroxide (sp?) on her back and cleaned out the wounds (seperated her) and put antibotic cream, to help stop infection...she's still around the yard, as happy as could be...she's a silkie...I would shes scared to death and pretty sore...watch her and see if she'll eat and drink...ever thought of getting a chicken dog? I have a russell and she get between anything and chickens...

 

[walbarbsa]

I had a leghorn that was shredded to pieces by who-knows-what? I was ready to have my neighbor shoot her since she was laying down and apparently suffering greatly. (I don't own a gun).

Anyway, I had to go to work and my neighbor asked if I minded if she tried to doctor the hen up. I told her to do whatever. Well, that woman put hydrogen peroxide on her and gave her a small piece of valium.

Voila, the girl was standing and clucking. She never had any negative repercussions though she never did grow feathers on her back.

My advice -- put her in a quiet place like an unused dog kennel with water and something that'll entice her to eat like yogurt, corn or scrambled egg, even pasta would work. Cover her with neosporin and hopefully she'll go on to lay many more eggs.

 

[dave_OH]

Thanks for the advice, I shot the dog (just kidding) all of this happened while I was at work, evidently my wife, completely out of her mind, chased the dog away & then went through the woods & across the road to the neighbors house (about 250 yards away) & told the dogs owner what had happened. She said he seemed a little upset appoligized & said he "was going to get rid of the dog". My wife told him if he didn't we would! We don't know what he ment and don't care as long as it doesn't come back.

We went out & sprayed some anti-bacterial stuff on the wounds (like what you would spray on your kids knee if it fell down & scraped it). Doesn't seem like much..... I'll check on her in the AM & see how she is doing.

 

[gallo34]

dave_OH...good luck!

Hope things work out

 

[Byrdj]

Glad she is OK for now. Make sure she is isolated from the other chickens or they will pick open the wounds.

 

[nzpouter]

separate, keep warm cause she will get into shock, antibiotic. Chickens recover well from injuries (external) but you have to get her over the initial shock.

 

[dave_OH]

Here's an update on my hen that was attacked by the dog Friday aternoon.

I put her in one of the nest boxes in the chicken house, sprayed her with some anitbacterial stuff, placed a small cup of peach yogert (my wife said she would like it) & water in the nest box with her. I have checked on her about 5 times on Saturday & a couple times today. I can't tell if there is any improvement or not, she has not ventured out of the nest box, but I ass-u-me she has eaten & drank a little as I had to fill up her little water bowl.

She did lay an egg on Saturday, I couldn't believe it! I wish she would get up & start getting around.

Thanks for the comments, I'll keep you posted.