Hen attacked by possum, help on how to save her?

[troyle]

So my serama chicken hen escaped in the morning while i was still asleep. I keep this in an enclosed area as of fear of something like this happening. She got attacked by a possum. I was able to get it off as it was attacking her face. I been giving her nutri drench as she won’t eat and i been hand feeding her water because she won’t drink. It’s a wound on top of her head where the teeth sunk in i guess. She has this giant thing in her nose. It looks like a giant dried snot ball. She wobbles around once in a while but she can’t really see. Her eyes are always closed and if one does open it’ll be a small crack. Her right eye does not open at all. Sometimes she lies there neck twisted or head looking up at the sky. Anything i can do to try to save her? This is my favorite chicken. I know they all die eventually but i don’t want it to be like this.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Try putting some blue kot on her wounds, any chicken vets near you? Maybe try getting the snot ball off?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The most important thing right now is to treat for shock. Keep her somewhere dark, warm (only if it’s not hot already there) and quiet. Offer her some electrolytes or some sugar water. I would put some terramycin on her injured eye to prevent infection. She most likely will not eat for a day or two so don’t force her. Her nose actually looks like a nose canker.

 

[troyle]

Try putting some blue kot on her wounds, any chicken vets near you? Maybe try getting the snot ball off?

no chicken vets here at all

 

[Themellowyellows]

Okay, have you ever seen the snot ball on her before?

 

[troyle]

Okay, have you ever seen the snot ball on her before?

no, this is the first time one of my chickens have survived an attack and this is the first time i ever seen a snot ball on a chicken. Honestly i forgot they had nose holes

 

[Themellowyellows]

Haha, are you sure its a snot ball? Maybe try doing a epson soak to relax her muscles.

 

[ChicNmom]

I would clean and rinse the wound. Blue Kote is more to keep others from pecking so if she is separated that shouldn't be an issue. Plus I have found it hard to clean wounds once the Blue Kote is on.

It looks like there is swelling around the eye. Could you wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and hold it on there to try and get the swelling down.

Can you see how deep the teeth went in on top of her head? Did it puncture her skull or just rip the skin.

I would be concerned with a head neck injury causing some kind of neurological problem.

I've never seen the snot ball thing. Is it a hard or soft mass?

If you don't have meloxicam you could try a low dose aspirin to manage any pain and help her feel better.

Keep her hydrated with electrolytes and maybe offer some soft food like scrambled eggs.


Poor chicken. I hope she pulls through.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Ooh ok I thought it is like a disinfectant.

 

[WoDia]

So my serama chicken hen escaped in the morning while i was still asleep. I keep this in an enclosed area as of fear of something like this happening. She got attacked by a possum. I was able to get it off as it was attacking her face. I been giving her nutri drench as she won’t eat and i been hand feeding her water because she won’t drink. It’s a wound on top of her head where the teeth sunk in i guess. She has this giant thing in her nose. It looks like a giant dried snot ball. She wobbles around once in a while but she can’t really see. Her eyes are always closed and if one does open it’ll be a small crack. Her right eye does not open at all. Sometimes she lies there neck twisted or head looking up at the sky. Anything i can do to try to save her? This is my favorite chicken. I know they all die eventually but i don’t want it to be like this.

I’m so sorry. I would be crushed if one of my tiny Seramas was attacked. @HollowOfWisps has already given you good advice… treat the shock. I have just one thing to add. The head wound does need rinsed, disinfected, and triple antibiotic (non-pain relief) applied asap. Keep it clean and packed with the antibiotic. Don’t try to cover with a bandage. You can evaluate the level of possible neurological trauma later. Treating shock (doing what @HollowOfWisps recommended) and fending off potential infection from the bite are top priority. I hope she can recover.