Injured Hen:(

[charity lawson]

Hi there, I'm super new to this blog and raising a flock! My chickens (2 of them) were attacked by a racoon and one of them was killed I have had issues in the past of racoon snooping around but now it has found away to get to my chickens while they are in thier coop... My Orpington has a gash on her head and now it seems as though she is blind she won't let me get to close and she won't drink or eat for me it happened this morning and I have been keeping a close eye on her. We are putting up traps tonight but I don't know what to do or how to help her She really wants to free range with the other ones but is having trouble balancing and seeing. any suggestions or information would be wonderful!
Pictures attached!
Thank you!!

 

[Chicken lover 123]

I don't know much about chickens but I think you should probably take her inside your house in a cage or a dog crate for a couple of nights so she heals faster

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @charity lawson Welcome To BYC

When you can, separate her so you can monitor her more closely.

Flush her head wounds with saline, diluted betadine or soapy water (saline is better around the eyes).
For the eyes, try to open them and flush with saline to get any debris out.

Check her over well for any other puncture wounds, cuts, gashes, etc that may be hidden underneath her feathers (head to toe and underneath her).

Apply triple antibiotic ointment or vetericyn to the wounds. For the eyes you can apply Terramycin eye ointment, Vetericyn eye gel or some people have used plain neosporin.

Get her hydrated. If you have them add some poultry vitamins to her water. Once she is drinking make her normal feed available along with some chopped egg or tuna for protein.

fwiw - Orpingtons can "grumble" when not feeling well or they are hurt, but once you start to gently soothe and take care of them, they usually come around. Even if she makes a fuss, you need to continue to do your best to get her seen to.

Keep us posted.

 

[WildCHILD400]

Welcome to BYC!
I'm newer too and already love this website! I would also recommended taking her inside in a big dog crate to monitor her more closely. When my chickens get cut I push aquaphor on their cuts. (It's a miracle worker for pets and humans) she needs to stay hydrated maybe even use an eye dropper or syringe if needed and rinse out her cut with a damp cloth no soap! Best raccoon bait or bait for anything would be smelly or sweet foods such as peanut butter, marshmallows, oranges, even cat and dog food will do the job (wet or dry). happy hunting

 

[chicks are life]

To me it may be just the angle of the pic but does she still have eyes?

 

[charity lawson]

To me it may be just the angle of the pic but does she still have eyes?

Well we opened her eye lids and it just looks like fluid??

 

[charity lawson]

Thabk

Hi @charity lawson Welcome To BYC

When you can, separate her so you can monitor her more closely.

Flush her head wounds with saline, diluted betadine or soapy water (saline is better around the eyes).
For the eyes, try to open them and flush with saline to get any debris out.

Check her over well for any other puncture wounds, cuts, gashes, etc that may be hidden underneath her feathers (head to toe and underneath her).

Apply triple antibiotic ointment or vetericyn to the wounds. For the eyes you can apply Terramycin eye ointment, Vetericyn eye gel or some people have used plain neosporin.

Get her hydrated. If you have them add some poultry vitamins to her water. Once she is drinking make her normal feed available along with some chopped egg or tuna for protein.

fwiw - Orpingtons can "grumble" when not feeling well or they are hurt, but once you start to gently soothe and take care of them, they usually come around. Even if she makes a fuss, you need to continue to do your best to get her seen to.

Keep us posted.[/QUOTE
Thank you so much!!! When I lift her eye lids it just seems like there is fluid covering them, can't even tell that there was an eye there. I'm going to bring her in and we are gonna try and clean her up! Thanks I'll let everyone know!! Any suggestions for poultry vitamins?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you have a Tractor Supply they usually carry Poultry Nutri-Drench and Rooster Booster vitamins either of those will be fine.

 

[chicks are life]

So her eyes are gone?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The swelling will need to go down before you can tell if the eyes are gone.