Massacre with injuries

[sasshell]

My small flock of 6 hens is now down to 2.5 and I'm not sure what to do.

We had them running free in the backyard (about .5 an acre) and had to clip their wings so they didn't fly out. After clipping them short we woke to 1 missing, 2 dead and one injured.

The one who is injured won't eat, won't open one eye and has lost her spunk. What should I do? The ones that are left have stopped laying and refuse to come out from under a large tree. We are closing them up in the coop at night, but they seems shell shocked.

I feel like the worst chicken mommy. I don't have any idea what could have done this or how to prevent it from happening again, short of leaving them penned up, which I don't want to do.

Any words of wisdom?

 

[Sherris Backyard Beauties]

I know how you feel, About 2 months agoI lost 4 of my ducks to some unknown creature. Found one stuck trying to get through my fence to get away. It didn't make it. 1 made it out of 5. Here in South Florida we have a lot of traffic on the US1 road and My 1 duck had been scared off by whatever got the others and I found her a couple days later running across 5 lanes of traffic. Anyways she's fine. But to your problem, I found that about 7oclock when the sun goes down my chickens and duck run in their coop so all I have to do is go close them up for the night and let them out in the morning. I have not lost any since.

 

[dlhunicorn]

could you describe the wounds/injuries? They should all have a couple day on electrolytes/vit in their waterer (you can find this at feed store)

 

[ronbo]

we do animal rescue and removal in central fla first i would sujest vitimans you can get from a feed store or tractor supply if they will not drink the water i would make a thick soupy paste put into a suyringe and force feed it back it up w/ tetracycline and around there pen spray a soullation of 2 cups cayanne pepper 1/2 cup dawn dish liguid and 2 gallons of water put in a lawn sprayer and spay around pen in and out chickens even like the pepper it will deture most animals from attacks after 25 years of trapping animals you learn little tricks where are you located at ron

 

[sasshell]

The injuries were to the neck and eyes. My one who is just barely hanging on has blood on her comb and her left eye is completely shut. The creature also tore many feather out at the roots.

I went out this morning to see if I could hold her and make her feel better, but it didn't work. I did manage to hold her and pet her, but she didn't want to eat.

I'm in Charlotte, NC, about 15 miles from the downtown area in an old subdivision (30 years). I've been told there are coyotes around-does that sound right? Would the pepper spray work on them?

I'll head to the feed store for the meds. Thanks.

 

[dlhunicorn]

it really is important you add electrolytes to her waterer... ask for this at the feed store...
In a pinch childrens ORS solution (like pedialyte or so) or even gatorade will work in a pinch. It is crucial she drink (lukewarm not cool) >dribble along beak and keep doing this every hour if she is totally refusing to drink on own...birds in shock and ill will often refuse to drink and this will kill them quicker than any infection.

 

[DuckLady]

Contact Jennifer Gordon of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue at
[email protected]
She is in Indian Trail, NC
She can get you in touch with some awesome avian vets.
Good luck!

 

[sasshell]

Quote:
THANK YOU! That is just down the street!