My Chickens Were Attacked By A Canine... Need Serious Help...

[Monkeyfister]

Last Thursday, a large canine with a 4-1/2" long foot print blew through the electric fence, and tore into my chicken tractors while I was at work.

10 of the twelve were either dead when I arrived, or needed to be put down. Broody Mama the Buff Orphington hen is the only one unscathed. My Brahma Rooster has a wicked wound on his back. Yesterday, I thought he was coming around. I've been giving him antibiotics (prescription for two-gallon feeder) to keep out infection. I've never had to tend to a wounded chicken, and have no idea what to look for for signs.

Yesterday, he was getting around, seemed alert, moving very slowly...

Today... Bad. Ants in his wound. The wound is dry, but ants doesn't seem a good sign. He's not getting around. He seems to be coughing, and spitting up clear liquid.

Is it time to put him down, or is there some hope?

--mf

 

[FiveHens]

Sorry, I have no experience...but so sorry about your flock!

can you figure out what dog did it?

 

[Monkeyfister]

No idea about which dog, yet.

Thank you for your concern. It's been a bad few days.

 

[Imp]

Here's some good info for wound care. Be sure to check out post #16. Keep him quiet and warm and get the ants off. Chickens can recover from some pretty serious wounds. Good luck

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=203024

Imp

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Can you post pics?
Try a search for older threads dealing with nasty injuries, lots and lots of info here, sorry I cannot be of more specific help to you....you must be so devastated....what are you dressing his wounds with?

 

[robin416]

Take your boy off the antibiotics, put vitamins and electrolytes in his water. Add some unsweetened Kool Aid to mask the flavor of the V&E. Try to get that part of him rebalanced.

Rinse the wound, my preferred rinse is betadine. It will flush the would and deliver some antibacterial protection. Put a thick coating of antibiotic ointment on his wounds. Keep him up, you've got to protect him from flies getting in to the wound.

If he's not wanting to eat make him some oatmeal, you can add a little of their feed to it for balance.

Chances are he's pretty sore.

If he begins to infect then injectable antibiotics is the best approach. PennG, .10 cc in the breast or .20 cc's under the skin at the base of the neck for four days. Try not to inject close to the same site each time.

 

[Monkeyfister]

Vet told me to keep the wound open to air to dry it, as it didn't penetrate to inner cavity.

I have no idea how to dress his wound with the feathers and scabbing.

I don't have pics, but I'll try to get some by 5:30pm tomorrow... if Ol' Poppy is still alive.

Is a mild saline solution as a wound wash a good idea to keep the bugs away. Betadyne?

Sad way to make introductions... Sorry, good folks.


--mf

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Can you move him to a cage inside? I've had two with horrible wounds (one gashed open by dogs and one pecked to the skull). If you can move him inside that will help with the flies. With the head wound, I washed it daily with warm water and then gooped on the neosporin. We followed that routine for weeks, but slowly his head skin grew back together.

Keep him hydrated and fed. Treats might encourage him to eat (scrambled eggs, yogurt, sunflower seeds, tuna, etc). The injectable antibiotics are great. My co-op carries both the Penn-G and the syringes to inject it. It was easier to inject it than I thought it would be. Scary at first, but not near as hard as I imagined.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Once you get this guy stabilized and can think about something else, please consider reporting the deaths to animal control. The dog's owners are responsible to reimburse you for your loss.

 

[Monkeyfister]

Take your boy off the antibiotics, put vitamins and electrolytes in his water. Add some unsweetened Kool Aid to mask the flavor of the V&E. Try to get that part of him rebalanced.

Rinse the wound, my preferred rinse is betadine. It will flush the would and deliver some antibacterial protection. Put a thick coating of antibiotic ointment on his wounds. Keep him up, you've got to protect him from flies getting in to the wound.

If he's not wanting to eat make him some oatmeal, you can add a little of their feed to it for balance.

Chances are he's pretty sore.

If he begins to infect then injectable antibiotics is the best approach. PennG, .10 cc in the breast or .20 cc's under the skin at the base of the neck for four days. Try not to inject close to the same site each time.

I'll stop ABs in the morning. Fresh water. I have betadine 10% (Povidone Iodine) solution in quantity. I have purified water in quantity. I have hydrogen Peroxide in quantity. I have an antibacterial ointment called "StaphAseptic:" Benzethonium Chloride 0.2% Antiseptic, Lidocaine HCL 2.5% Numb, Tea Tree Oil, White Thyme Oil, Castor Oil. My Good Neighbor Friend is going to have to do the job, as I MUST work, and can't get out for a chicken.

This is the best I can do for the morning. Are these medicines safe for Ol' Poppy?

I have no idea on how to dress and wrap a chicken to keep flies out in the Mid-South, where temps are already in the 80s. I have three cats, live alone. Ol' Poppy is at my neighbor's new "Supermax" Chicken run. It's just him and Broody Mama. She seems to be helping him with the flies. She couldn't help him with the ants. Wish my Mint was grown enough...

After this initial cleaning, then what? Every day? Every few hours?

Can I get the vitamins from the local CO-OP?

Bare with me. I know I am asking a lot. While I am forced away at work, the kid who's helping me nurse Ol'Poppy to health is 18, and

--mf​

 

[robin416]

I stopped reading when I saw lidocaine, no caine drugs at all for chickens. Ever. It can and most times is deadly.

The saline will not provide any bacterial protection so you really should apply antibiotic ointment on the wounds. That will also serve to keep the bugs out of the wounds. Sort of a shield.

Not plain water, vitamins and electrolytes. Chickens can go in to shock fairly easily, not knocks electrolyte balance off. By giving it to them you help rebalance and put them back on a more level playing field.

No, you are not asking a lot. By listing what you do have so far its helping guide you on treatment.

I had a scalped newly hatched chick. She is fully recovered and has raised her own and she has a full head of feathers.