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Mauled and Lethargic - Help Please

Discussion in 'Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures' started by Cherterr, Jan 21, 2014.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 21, 2014 #1
    Cherterr

    Cherterr In the Brooder

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    May 24, 2013
    Lake Somerville, Texas
    I'm just not sure what to do or if I should leave 'well enough alone'.

    Last night one of my PR hens was mauled by my dog (Who up until NOW wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole - that darn Dachshund was probably the instigator).

    I caught then and stopped it before any skin was damaged, etc. She lost a few little feathers, but no other obvious injury.

    We tried to get her but could not, so she spent the night under my storage building; and thankfully was out this morning. I led her back to the the coop/garden area where she usually is.

    I'm just worried... I've cheked her several times today. She's moving really slow, kind of acts like she's forgotten how to eat.. but did take some water. One time I found her in nest and SHE LET ME PET HER!! I KNOW she feels like crap from that cause' normally, she'd try to take my hand off! :)

    Last trip out there, she was in the coop and looking at the bottom brooder silkies. I reached in and got the chick waterer, and gave her some. She only took a few drops.

    Do you think she'll recover, if I just leave her alone? I want her to feel 'normal' and I'm worried scooping her up and taking her inside would be too weird for her.
    OH.....THE BIG THING:

    I threw out some meal worms.. RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER.... nothin'! She watched the others eat a few feet away, and then she just walked off. Her poor little wattle (oh.. forget name of thing on head!) is at half mast....

    WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK??????
    (And yes.... I clobbered the dog!)
     

  4. Jan 21, 2014 #2
    Country4ever

    Country4ever Songster

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    Have you given her a good once-over? .....crop/abdomen/vent, etc.?
    Chickens can get very traumatized. I know when I had a coon get into their run and kill 2 of them, the rest were very withdrawn for quite awhile. Just give her a little time. Did you see it happen? Did the dog shake her badly? If so, she could have suffered a brain injury. Can you keep her in a small dog crate and watch her for a few days?
     
  6. Jan 21, 2014 #3
    cafarmgirl

    cafarmgirl Crowing

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    Chickens can go into shock after an attack like that. I agree with checking her over carefully for injuries and then keep her in a warm, quiet, semi-dark place and let her just rest. A cat/dog carrier with a towel over it works good and provide a little heat. In the absence of any obvious injuries I would do that and just keep an eye on her and see if she perks up by the next day.
     
  8. Jan 22, 2014 #4
    Cherterr

    Cherterr In the Brooder

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    May 24, 2013
    Lake Somerville, Texas
    Thank you sooo much for your answers.

    She is still alive on (now) Day 2/40 hrs. after attack.

    What can I feed her? I just don't think she's eating. I was able to pick her up and take her to the water (after her walking out of the coop on her own, but she didn't drink.

    One of my other chickens is trying to pick on her too, but I think it's just an old 'rivalry', so for now I've separated them.

    Main question: FOOD??? Can I mush up some chick starter w/water and use a syringe? I don't want to mess up her digestive track TOO.

    THANKS
     
  10. Jan 22, 2014 #5
    ten chicks

    ten chicks Songster

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    You need to bring this girl inside home,check her over again for wounds,look under wings,lift up feathers,look around vent. Shock can and does kill. Keep her warm keep her quiet and stress free. Give electrolytes for shock,offer some of her favourite foods to encourage eating. Try and get her to drink as chickens can become dehydrated very fast.

    Something is wrong,she is either still very stressed or she has injuries that have gone undetected.

    For future reference always separate/bring inside a bird that has been mauled,they need to be monitored for these very reasons.
     
  12. Jan 22, 2014 #6
    cafarmgirl

    cafarmgirl Crowing

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    Mar 24, 2009
    California, central valley
    If it's been nearly two days and no improvement I'd suspect she has some injury, either something undetected or something internal that you can't see. But dehydration and not eating don't help either, hard to say. They can get into a quick downward spiral if they are shocky and don't eat or drink, they get dehydrated, feel crummy and still don't want to eat or drink even after the shock has passed. You need to get food and especially fluids into her but you either need to tube her to do it or do it with great care so she doesn't aspirate it. It's hard to syringe in enough fluids to keep them going if they aren't drinking. Casportpony has some very good info and instructions on tube feeding. When my rooster was sick the vet gave him sub-Q fluids and it was amazing how much he perked up. Good luck with her.
     
  14. Mar 4, 2014 #7
    Cherterr

    Cherterr In the Brooder

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    May 24, 2013
    Lake Somerville, Texas
    Just wanted to update:

    She was a little woozy and weird acting for a few days. I did not bring her inside because.. well.. that's just not her lifestyle and I thought it might add to her stress.

    Her comb took about two weeks to get upright again.. it was just droopy.

    As of a couple of weeks ago, she was picking on the other younger chickens and acting like her old self, but a little mellower.

    Thanks for your input, advice, and caring!:)
     

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