Hen got attacked by fox! Help!

[Smokey2201]

My hen got attacked by a fox and I thought she got eaten but then she came back! I looked at her back and she has a deep big cut on her back and some other small holes! I don't know what to do! Please help! Thanks!

 

[bwauck]

I am sooo not an expert but have done a lot of reading. Corn meal is supposed to stop bleeding. Clean her up somehow. If I was in your position right now I'd give her a warm bath and use some blue dawn dish soap because that's all I have on hand. Wrap her in a towel and sit with her in a safe warm place inside. I imagine she's in shock. I'm hoping an expert chimes in soon for you. I wanted you to know someone had read what you wrote. How scary! But She's a fighter and got away. Bravo

 

[dekel18042]

My hen got attacked by a fox and I thought she got eaten but then she came back! I looked at her back and she has a deep big cut on her back and some other small holes! I don't know what to do! Please help! Thanks!

Put on antibiotic cream or ointment so she doesn't get an infection (After you have washed the wounds) but make sure whatever brand you use does NOT contain any painkillers. They can harm a chicken. I've used Phisoderm (for people) to wash wounds, but that was just because I had it on hand.
Good luck with her. I'm amazed she got away from a fox.

 

[Smokey2201]

Put on antibiotic cream or ointment so she doesn't get an infection (After you have washed the wounds) but make sure whatever brand you use does NOT contain any painkillers. They can harm a chicken. I've used Phisoderm (for people) to wash wounds, but that was just because I had it on hand.
Good luck with her. I'm amazed she got away from a fox.

Thanks I will do that! Do i need to remove any feathers around the wound? I was surprised too! Sadly my other hen wasn't able too get away she had chicks and she saved all her chicks from the fox though.

 

[Smokey2201]

I am sooo not an expert but have done a lot of reading. Corn meal is supposed to stop bleeding. Clean her up somehow. If I was in your position right now I'd give her a warm bath and use some blue dawn dish soap because that's all I have on hand. Wrap her in a towel and sit with her in a safe warm place inside. I imagine she's in shock. I'm hoping an expert chimes in soon for you. I wanted you to know someone had read what you wrote. How scary! But She's a fighter and got away. Bravo

Ok Thanks! I was surprised she got away also!

 

[dekel18042]

Thanks I will do that! Do i need to remove any feathers around the wound? I was surprised too! Sadly my other hen wasn't able too get away she had chicks and she saved all her chicks from the fox though.

I'd wash the feathers good in case they're harboring bacteria, but wouldn't remove them as they should serve as some protection.

 

[gpop1]

if you have a big open cut then clean around it and pull it closed then put a bead of super glue over the cut. Wait a few minutes and the cut should be sealed.

 

[Lotusbud]

I have one hen that has somehow managed to survived 3 fox attacks!

The first one (2 yrs ago) was the worst and she had a few bite holes & rips large enough that it exposed her muscles. We cleaned the wounds with water and put BlueKote liberally around each wound. We thought we'd lose her on that first round but to our surprise she survived and even worked her way up the pecking order to become top hen.

I'm sorry you lost your other hen. She was a very good Mama to give her life in protecting her chicks. Mean ol' fox.

 

[Talithahorse]

When my rooster was attacked by an owl he had deep puncture wounds. I washed the wounds with a little warm water, carefully trimmed away some of the feathers (silkie) since they were sticking to the wound. I then put some SWAT on it to keep the flies from laying eggs in the wound (they actually did in one of the wounds that I initially missed). I kept the SWAT (it is an ointment that you can get at the feed store but it keeps the bugs away and also keeps the wound free from bacteria to allow it to heal.) He healed up wonderfully but did not want to go out where there was nothing protecting him overhead. I also gave him some electolytes/ probiotics just to boost him up. Some extra attention and some strawberry tops and he was on the way to healing.

 

[circesfire]

I have had a lot of experience with bird wounds, you've gotten some good advice. Make sure the area is clean (I would pull out feathers in contact with the wound or at least cut them) and put antibiotic ointment on them. If they are not very deep they should heal well in no time. If you have any deep ones you are concerned about you could post a picture as that really tells a lot about how to treat a specific wound.