My chicken got attacked by a hawk

[Ch8ckenhelp]

My chicken got attacked and her wing is injured. I'm waiting for my friend to get here to help her get fully cleaned up but I've wiped off some of the blood and I'm pretty sure it's clotted by now. She seems to be okay but her wing is hanging really low so I think it might be broken or dislocated, but I'm not sure. I've never had to treat an injured chicken like this so I'm looking for some tips. She only has one wound on the top area of her wing and I don't think it's that deep, since it's stopped bleeding. My chicken has been seperated and she is inside. She's pretty calm right now and she is eating and drinking.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm not sure how to treat a broken wing if that's what happened, but for the wound trim the feathers back a good amount so they don't overlap the wound when she moves or turns her head. And then flush it with a homemade saline solution or epsom salt wash. There are other things you can use, too. I'm sure others will chime in and give you some good suggestions.

As for a topical treatment, raw honey (not pasteurized) will work wonders. Just coat the wound and leave it unbandaged. My rooster was attacked by a coyote five weeks ago. He had very deep and serious wounds and they're all healing beautifully thanks to honey. I used Manuka honey, but local raw honey would work great for your hen's injury.

Keep us posted on how she's doing, and please post a photo when you get a chance.

 

[lazy gardener]

Clean the wound with saline, You might need to remove any feathers in close proximity to the wound. Put some triple antibiotic on it, cover with a gauze pad. I would suggest that you use some vet wrap to bind the wing close to her for a few days. Do a figure 8, around her abdomen, being sure to keep the other wing free of the wrap. Clean, check, and rewrap every day till you decide it's no longer necessary.

Beware, the hawk will be back, and most likely will stake out your flock for an easy meal.

 

[Ch8ckenhelp]

Thanks for the help! Went to the store and got some saline and some gause. I'm gonna wait until tonight to put the gause on but I've cleaned her up and she is now safe and resting. At first I thought the wound was on her wing, but once I got it cleaned up some, I found a small gash on the underside of her wing, about the size of a quarter. I haven't found any other wounds so I think she got lucky.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thanks for the help! Went to the store and got some saline and some gause. I'm gonna wait until tonight to put the gause on but I've cleaned her up and she is now safe and resting. At first I thought the wound was on her wing, but once I got it cleaned up some, I found a small gash on the underside of her wing, about the size of a quarter. I haven't found any other wounds so I think she got lucky.

@lazy gardener is right that hawk will return even if you just use thread criss cross the top of your run to protect the rest

 

[Ch8ckenhelp]

@lazy gardener is right that hawk will return even if you just use thread criss cross the top of your run to protect the rest

My chickens are free range and there's not much I can do to cover their entire area. My only real option is to keep a close eye on them. However, they have a lot of cover from trees and bushes. I have a place to sit and watch them, so I've been keeping a close eye out.

 

[pennyJo1960]

My chickens are free range and there's not much I can do to cover their entire area. My only real option is to keep a close eye on them. However, they have a lot of cover from trees and bushes. I have a place to sit and watch them, so I've been keeping a close eye out.

check and see you ordinances if you can shoot a bird of prey

 

[microchick]

So glad she isn't injured worse.

The only thing I would add is to give her some nutri-drench, Chick Saver or Rooster Booster Pro Biotics and vitamins to stave off shock. She may look fine but she underwent a horribly stressful experience for such a small creature.

The honey @CarolinaSunshineFlock mentioned is highly recommended and did a great job healing up her critically injured rooster. That and a lot of TLC.

And X2 with @penny1960. Mr Hawk will be back. I would definitely pen my birds if that happened to my flock and cover the pen with netting. We have a flourishing hawk population around us along with Great Horned Owls and Eagles. My run is netted and I will still have Birds of Prey circling overhead checking out the buffet table. That is when I get my husband to come outside with one of his large RC planes and chase off the intruder. They hate having a 'larger' bird over them when they are flying and take off the moment he gets a plane over them.

















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[Sunshine Flock]

Do you have a brand of netting you recommend? I get stuck on indecision and don't know which one to buy. Then I get lost reading reviews and end up doing nothing. Meanwhile my flock is at risk, and for now hardware cloth over the run isn't an option.

 

[Eighty806]

I have free range chickens before then I lost 2 to hawks and 4 to bobcats. We saved a rooster from the bobcat but eventually the vet had to put him down. We don't free range anymore. They now live in a very large run between 2 coops. It's just too sad to lose them. I'm attaching 2 photos both from the backyard. One we scare the hawk away and he takes off from the wall. The other is the bobcat watching the chickens from the patio but can't get to them because they are in the run.