Hen missing back feathers, slightly red and irritated skin [w/ pics]

[puredelite]

There is also a tar-based product that is sold at most feed stores specifically for picked-on areas like this. Great too for problems when chicks in a brooder start picking and eating feathers. Stuff must be really foul ( no pun intended) as it does stop the pecking .

 

[62058]

Oh… oh my god. The bird I just posted abotu a few hours ago was just dragged off into a field by a fox. I ran after and it dropped her in time. doesn't look too badly hurt, just a bloody leg. Helping her now. Might need advice later…

Would you try to take her to a vet? Are they just gonna say, 'why don't you just put her down'?

NEED ADVICE!!

 

[Emmalion]

Quote:
It has helped a lot with the whole scalping incidents I have had with a few hens. Clean them up spray and let dry. They get the royal treatment too. They get to stay in one of my spare bedrooms

What do you mean by "whole scalping incidents"?

Something like this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=462845

It happens from time to time. Either my hens go after each other or the Roo does it. They always heal up so you can't even tell.

 

[62058]

Quote:
Leg doesn't look to bad. Cleaned it up, wrapped her, got her in a warm place. Gonna see a local vet just to be sure. This girl is having a rough week.

 

[Emmalion]

Aww that poor girl. Is the leg broken or just cut? Make sure to splint it if it is broken. You don't want it to heal all funky.

 

[chicken_crazy93]

Dang, she is havin a rough week. Best of luck to you & her & it may be time to lean the old .22 Long up next to the back door. Thats where one of mine stays, lol.

 

[valley ranch]

The Fox must go where bad Fox go. The Fox might be what happened to her feathers in the first place.
Good thing you saw it.
We electricfied our fence with 9+ joule charger, Will stop a Bear much less a Fox. The charger cost just over $100.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please keep us up to date on how she is doing,

 

[62058]

Thanks so much for your advice everyone! What a wonderful community. I'm happy to report that Marybell seems to be doing well. The vet gave her a tongue-depressor splint and a shot of penicillin, all for a reasonable $40. Surprisingly, he said: "Now I gave her the shot in the breast meat, so if you're going to eat her wait at least a month." And I'm thinking, if we were going to eat her I wouldn't have even brought her in here in the first place…

For the curious, here are some recovery photos: http://bit.ly/g6Jo7Y