My hen was attacked by a hawk, I need help determining if intestines are exposed where skin is missing. (graphic image)

[Wyorp Rock]

Should I still be giving her antibiotic ointment in addition to taking antibiotic tablets?

Ointment is topical for wound healing. So yes.

 

[applepie_chicken]

Thanks. We bought some non painkiller neosporin and will rub on wounds.

 

[applepie_chicken]

She has been eating a little bit this morning. We poured some food powder around the walls of her temporary box and she eats from that. She is really slow at eating and not interested in food we present to her by hand or dish. She did eat some chopped up tomato bits but very picky with those aswell, only eating the really small bite sized chunks without skin.

 

[applepie_chicken]

Update: 2nd pill administered. We also let her walk outside for a bit to “foraging” where she ate some grass and pecked at dirt. The antibiotic and neosporin ointment must be making her feel better because she violently devoured a raw whole cherry tomato. Fingers grabbed as well!

We were very worried when she stopped eating and are very relieved that she seems to be doing better and has more energy!

Thanks for the support and we will keep giving updates.

 

[chickfused]

How's your girl?

 

[applepie_chicken]

She is more energetic today. We gave her the spray and ointment on her wounds this morning and her pill. Right after, we let her forage supervised with one of our gentle hens. She probably does not like the isolation of the brooder box. The hens have alot of interest in her rear wound and we do not let them peck at it, but this requires constant intervention and diligence. She has been eating some of her pellet food but is a very picky eater! She will take a sip of water when presented and will usually drink about 10-13 times before not wanting any more. One of our other chickens had a standoff with her through the hardware cloth, but most of the hens are peaceful with her.

Her wounds are looking a little better. The skin seems to be closing in. I will post updated pictures later when I have a chance.

she pulled off the skin tag herself from the rear wound so looks a bit raw in that spot.

 

[Tonyroo]

If you need her to eat more give her a raw yolk once a day in the morning. It gives her protein and also helps coat her throat so other foods can pass easily down to her crop.

 

[applepie_chicken]

@Tonyroo :
We tried to give her some steamed egg and she was not interested. We might try the raw egg later, but dont want her to start eating raw eggs. I think the reason for not eating is more boredom or loneliness and not sore throat. She is picky and only eats what entertains her. She will eat food pellets if they are scattered on the floor or other places, just not from the hand or food dish now. She also now reacts negatively to the towel since she knows it means wound dressing time :/ Smart girl!!!

10/6 Update.

We gave her an extended walk today (~1-1.5hrs) with friends (locking up bottom chicken in pecking order who was aggressive towards her and our new pullets to avoid battles). She foraged most of the time and ate lots of grass and lush fertile dirt(dirt has always been one of her favorite foods to eat! Lots of vitamin B12 in her eggs!) She is not too interested in water now, but her poop seems the same wetness as our other chickens so she might be drinking when we are not watching. We did feed her half of a cherry tomato today as well.

She is still spunky, and when eating from the community feeder with the other hens, one of the pullets got to close to her and she pecked the pullet in the beak.

We completed antibiotic treatment yesterday and no more pills were given today. I was wondering if treatment should be continued till the major wounds close, or if it is more aimed towards the contamination from initial puncture wounds. She really hates taking pills, and we also would like to minimize damage to the good bacteria in her system.

Face hole wound completely closed and looks almost completely healed. Picture from yesterday before the scab fell off. 3 Days ago there just a big hole (about 3/4 the length of the scab in picture diameter) no blood or scab. it started closing quickly after the neosporin was rubbed on it.

The under-wing wound is looking a better than before. There is still some gravy colored fluid in the gash area

We are still concerned with the wound on the tender rear fatty meat that still has not closed, but might be making progress.

There was a smaller wound on her rear that is almost completely closed now. Before and After shown below!

The slash wounds on her back still look about the same as last time, but they were scabbed over many days ago and look alot better than the initial wounds.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

We have been going through this with a hen who was attacked by a possum. We thought she was going to die. Her entire thigh had all the skin removed and she had similar wounds to her rear end. We are continuing to apply Neosporin to all of the unhealed wounds, especially the denuded thigh. Slowly the skin is beginning to heal from the outside in and the gashes are healing from the inside out. It will take along time to complete the healing process. We gave her unflavored pediolyte for the first few weeks and continued to give her a layer pellet omelet in the morning and free choice layer pellets at all times. we keep her inside and talk to her while cooking, doing house work or just chatting with my husband or daughter in the den. She chats a bit, but mostly purrs when petted or getting attention.
Keep up the good work and make sure to keep any places that may not have skin covered in Neosporin. We did not give oral antibiotics, but she did nibble some of the topical Neosporin when it was applied. That does not seem to have hurt her in anyway. She seems happy and gets better everyday.
Good luck with your girl, just continue to care for her and be patient.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The wounds look to be healing and if there's no odors, you're doing good.
Give it some time.
Her getting out and moving around a little is good for her. If she gets some dirt in the wounds, just flush with saline and reapply your ointment.

You're doing good!