Injured 10 week old

[Sagenovese]

I have some 10 week old chicks. I was taking pix to show the hatchery that they sent me more cockerels than pullets. During the photo op, a giant hawk (huge like a red tail but the tail color was more mottled with red so maybe a very large juvenile Red-tail???) swooped down directly in front of me and grabbed a chick. I ran after it yelling and it flew off - talons bare. White feathers on the ground at the attack site made me check my white sultans first and then I found that it was one of the 10 week olds dripping blood. I think he/she is surprisingly ok. Some blood but I think all in all nothing badly damaged. I bathed it, but not sure what else to do. There are punctures from hawk talons but the holes are relatively small. I guess it managed to slip away as it was being grabbed. Do you have suggestions for small puncture wound care?

Separately, I wouldn't mind your opinions as to male vs. female here. I am pretty sure I know two are cockerels (one even crowed this morning!) I am on the fence about the 3rd (this injured one). But the hatchery keeps telling me they are pullets. I am thinking they just don't want to admit error. As, if I am correct, I have 40-60% cockerels in this brood.

 

[coach723]

I use chlorhexadine for cleaning and then either veterycin spray or plain neosporin (no pain killer). I'd just flush them out really well, trim back any feathers if necessary to keep them out of the wound, and use the ointment. Unless there are internal injuries, and barring infection it will probably be fine. Just keep them as clean as possible, and you may need to separate so the others don't peck the wounds. You probably got lucky since you were there to see it happen. Just keep an eye on it and watch for any signs of illness/infection.
I'm not particularly good at sexing, but full body pictures that show them in their entirety are the best so you can see hackles, saddle and comb/wattles. Posting those in the 'what breed or gender is this" forum will get you lots of answers. I suspect that the black one and the speckled may be cockerels based on the combs and wattles, but I've been wrong before! And different breeds can vary the age at which it becomes easy to tell. While I've heard of some hens crowing, I would guess odds are that one is a cockerel. Can't tell from the pics of the injured one.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wow, that's crazy. I would clean it up and see how it does. I generally don't do any wound care except for bluekote.

How old are the birds you are asking about sex of them?

 

[Sagenovese]

Wow, that's crazy. I would clean it up and see how it does. I generally don't do any wound care except for bluekote.

How old are the birds you are asking about sex of them?

They are 10 weeks old.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are 10 weeks old.

Generally anything with big red combs at that age are roosters.

 

[Sagenovese]

After initially washing wounds with soap and water, I have been using a Vetri-cure Wound Care (hypochlorous acid) to try to help them heal. I don't know if I should go buy blu-kote or Chlorhexidine to do a better job. I think it's all ok, but I guess I'd rather not set this little thing up for infection. She has a small hole in her head, one on her shoulder and then two bigger ones--one under each wing.

 

[venymae]

WOW! what a story!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens are really good at healing themselves no matter what you do so do what makes you comfortable. I personally haven't had one get infected after an attack.

 

[coach723]

I think the Vetri-cure is fine, looks to be the same or similar to Veterycin, which is widely used, one of my go-to's for first aid. She looks like she's feeling pretty good in the pics, so I'd just keep up what you are doing. If you think you need a bit more then I'd go with some neosporin ointment after rinsing if necessary.