Injured Chicken, **UPDATE** Chicken passed last night.

[dreamcatcherarabians]

My poor chicken got attacked by a dog yesterday and it looks like the dog got her by the backside and pulled all the feathers out in addition to taking a chunk. I've bathed her and put some Cut Heal on the wounds. Her left leg is bruised and she's not bearing much weight on it, and keeps it contracted up to her body as much as she can. I tried to straighten it and she resisted strenuously. I don't feel a break, so I'm thinking a bad sprain.

She's eating her crumbles and treats, drinking well and I have her in a dog crate in the guest bedroom of the house. She's bright eyed, good weight and 'talking' to me. She seems to really enjoy the bath and the hair dryer, so I'm thinking she's probably going to be ok.

I'm looking for input on what I might need to do in addition or instead of anything I'm doing, any suggestions for speeding her healing or in your experience, is this all a waste of time and I should put her down? She's a Buff Orp, I think. She's a good layer and very sweet.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
You have done all the right things already! Clean the wound and keep it clean, separate her and keep an eye on her. If you have some Neosporin, you could keep slathering that on her a couple times a day. The wound certainly doesn't look like a fatal one, the only thing to be concerned about is infection as dogs have very germy mouths (if he bit that area, that is). Keep an eye on it and keep her in the crate until it's fully healed so no other chickens can peck at it and make it worse.
Good luck. I think she'll be fine.

 

[chickens egg me on]

IMHO you are doing the right thing! You can buy colloidal silver for internal and external use and/or use a comfrey salve for the injury. It looks bad right now but it's great that she's eating and drinking!

 

[dreamcatcherarabians]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the help. I didn't think it looked like all the bad a wound, her vent is intact and she's pooping fine (trust me I found out the hard way

). I wasn't sure how well they came back from leg injuries though, I'd like to think she's going to be fine. LOL, she's all tucked up in the guest room in a dog crate for now, but will be ordering some chicken diapers tomorrow so she can have the run of the house when her leg feels like it. In the meantime, I'm keeping her cooped and putting fresh terry towels in for bedding right after her bath. She seems to relax and like the bath and as you can see from the one pic, she doesn't mind the hair dryer at all.

 

[melodie_a]

Poor baby. Hope she feels better soon. Good luck with her.

 

[dreamcatcherarabians]

Unfortunately my poor hen's injuries were more than she could handle. Poor thing passed last night. darn dogs!

 

[buildingmyark]

I'm so so sorry about your girl. At least you know that you did everything you could for her. I know it's hard.

 

[K9Carrie]

I am so sorry she didn't make it. You sure did all you could. Sending you a hug

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I'm very sorry she didn't make it.

You did everything you could for her.

 

[terrilhb]

I am so sorry for your loss.