Injured Barred Rock- Bobcat injury

[ChickDrmr]

Help! I have my first flock that is 3 months old. I lost one hen today and another is injured by a bobcat. There doesn't seem to be any visible debilitating wounds. When I found her I thought she was dead the way she was laying, but upon further inspection she was awake and looking around a little, not moving much more than her eyes. There was blood in her mouth but I can't tell if it was hers or the bobcats, it hasn't been bleeding since. There is a small scratch to her tail area that I applied Blue Kote to and hasn't bled since.

At this point she cannot stand, she can move her legs, wings and neck but prefers not to. There have been a few clucks througout the day but not much. Her body just doesn't seem right, like it's crooked. I can't tell if she just needs some time or if she has some serious internal injury and possibly brain damage.

I just want to make her comfortable right now and I don't know what the best option is. I have her in a small dog crate, she was on a towel but I removed it because her claws kept getting caught. I replaced it with cardboard for now but don't know if there is a better bedding in her situation.

She took some water earlier today from a dropper but since has turned her head away and refuses. I feel helpless, what do I do?

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you see the bobcat or tracks? So sorry this happened. It sounds like she is pretty seriously injured and you have done the right things so far. I'm sure she is in shock. When I have had an injured chicken from a dog attack they usually won't eat or drink if they are injured badly. If she could sit up without causing pain you might be able to dip her beak in water and offer some scrambled egg or wet feed. But if she is in pain to sit, I would just let her be. Tomorrow morning, she may be better or worse, but I'm not for being real aggressive and causing pain. Some people might recommend tube feeding her, but I'm more apt to keep her warm and calm, and see if she is going to make it. Let us know how she is tomorrow.

 

[ChickDrmr]

Yes, the bobcat came back later this afternoon and was sitting outside the run. They were free ranging earlier when they were attacked and are locked up in the coop now. I'm very confident they are secure in the coop.

 

[Eggcessive]

That has got to make you afraid. I'm glad they are secure. We had two chickens just this week taken in separate attacks--a raccoon got a silkie out a pretty secure pen at night, and something got a speckled sussex that same day. We thought she was swept away in a flash flood, but we found her today after 3 days in some tall weeds. We have no idea what got her, but there are all kinds of predators here, not normally many in daytime though.

 

[Debs55]

I had a hen get attacked. Right after she would just lay down and didn't sit up till the next day. If she is alert I would clean her wounds without moving her as much as possible. Maybe put some scrambled eggs near her beak and let her relax for a few hours for now

 

[ChickDrmr]

Thank you all for your response. She passed away during the night.

 

[Debs55]

I'm sorry for your loss she's in chickie heaven now