My bird was attacked by a raccoon about a week ago.. have some issues and questions. Please help.

[rinanina]

Hello, I'm new here and I could really use some help. A little background: We picked up 4 chicks in February of this year, and everything was going well until a few weeks ago. First, my cat was attacked by something, which resulted in a huge abscess on his butt and the cone of shame. With him inside, we lost our ameraucana to some random varmint about 4 days after he was stuck inside the house. Everything was going fine until late night last Friday.

I was awake working on my computer, and then I heard a scream. I thought it was my cat by the noise, but I ran out to the coop and found a raccoon INSIDE! I was very angry, screamed some very colorful language and managed to get him out of there (followed by a 4' long 2x4 chucked in his general direction). I called my birds, two of them came out of the coop completely fine. The third was squatted down in the corner near me, I shined my flashlight on her, and she had blood coming from her comb, a puncture wound on the back of her head just behind her comb, a scratch down her eye, some feathers missing from her neck, and a scatch on her waddle. We took her out of the coop and brought her inside for safe keeping and so we could start helping her.

The next day we started her on antibiotics and electrolytes, some vaseline for her comb, and she seems to be getting better somewhat. No more panting, etc. She's still pretty slow, and very off. She can open both eyes, but only one of them halfway. She seems to be eating a little bit, not much though. Yesterday, I noticed that she has some yellowing on her comb, like on the top of it, and today it seems to be around the back of her head near the wound, and a spot on her eye. She's still very disoriented, but just a little bit ago, when we had her outside, she made a few noises. We're sure her eyesight is impaired, perhaps her hearing somewhat as well. We think there may be some brain damage, but not 100% sure.

We really don't want to have to put her down, but if it's going to be the best thing to do, we will. Does anyone have any advice or tips? Any information is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Haunted55]

Hello, I'm new here and I could really use some help. A little background: We picked up 4 chicks in February of this year, and everything was going well until a few weeks ago. First, my cat was attacked by something, which resulted in a huge abscess on his butt and the cone of shame. With him inside, we lost our ameraucana to some random varmint about 4 days after he was stuck inside the house. Everything was going fine until late night last Friday.

I was awake working on my computer, and then I heard a scream. I thought it was my cat by the noise, but I ran out to the coop and found a raccoon INSIDE! I was very angry, screamed some very colorful language and managed to get him out of there (followed by a 4' long 2x4 chucked in his general direction). I called my birds, two of them came out of the coop completely fine. The third was squatted down in the corner near me, I shined my flashlight on her, and she had blood coming from her comb, a puncture wound on the back of her head just behind her comb, a scratch down her eye, some feathers missing from her neck, and a scatch on her waddle. We took her out of the coop and brought her inside for safe keeping and so we could start helping her.

The next day we started her on antibiotics and electrolytes, some vaseline for her comb, and she seems to be getting better somewhat. No more panting, etc. She's still pretty slow, and very off. She can open both eyes, but only one of them halfway. She seems to be eating a little bit, not much though. Yesterday, I noticed that she has some yellowing on her comb, like on the top of it, and today it seems to be around the back of her head near the wound, and a spot on her eye. She's still very disoriented, but just a little bit ago, when we had her outside, she made a few noises. We're sure her eyesight is impaired, perhaps her hearing somewhat as well. We think there may be some brain damage, but not 100% sure.

We really don't want to have to put her down, but if it's going to be the best thing to do, we will. Does anyone have any advice or tips? Any information is appreciated. Thank you.

My first question, can you post pictures? My second, how is the raccoon getting into the coop?

What antibiotic did you use for treatment and since this was 6 days ago is she still on it? Do you have Blu-Kote? Do you have any poultry vitamins?

 

[rinanina]

Sorry bout the delay, she's actually getting much much better. We've brought her outside during the day for the past 4 days so she can have some natural light. She's eating and drinking on her own, and is getting quite a bit more active. I'm at work right now, and I can't remember the name of the antibiotic off the top of my head.
The raccoon, we assume, was able to open up the top of the coop and get inside. That problem has been fixed, the coop is now a fortress of some sort. We are getting a new coop from a friend of ours and it should work much much better. It's also going to be moved further away from the compost bin, so that should help some.

I appreciate your response, and I don't have pictures on this computer, but she is doing much better. This is the first time I've dealt with something like this, and I think I had a bit of a freak out.

All in all, things are looking up, and things are good. Thanks again.

edit: The yellow discoloration on her comb is fading, and it's returning back to normal color.

 

[Haunted55]

Sorry bout the delay, she's actually getting much much better. We've brought her outside during the day for the past 4 days so she can have some natural light. She's eating and drinking on her own, and is getting quite a bit more active. I'm at work right now, and I can't remember the name of the antibiotic off the top of my head.
The raccoon, we assume, was able to open up the top of the coop and get inside. That problem has been fixed, the coop is now a fortress of some sort. We are getting a new coop from a friend of ours and it should work much much better. It's also going to be moved further away from the compost bin, so that should help some.

I appreciate your response, and I don't have pictures on this computer, but she is doing much better. This is the first time I've dealt with something like this, and I think I had a bit of a freak out.

All in all, things are looking up, and things are good. Thanks again.

edit: The yellow discoloration on her comb is fading, and it's returning back to normal color.

I am so glad to hear it! I just had a similar situation today. My ducks and geese were out ranging with me aas I was working on laying out the back wall for a new building for my chickens. Not 40' away from me a big fox grabbed one of my pekins. I couldn't believe it! Right in front of me! Needless to say, the fox let the duck go when it found out I meant business. Usually it's the hawks that are the problem.