My sweet Leghorn attacked badly

[ShellyLynnW]

Hello community, I'm writing this with such a heavy heart. We came home last night from picking up my daughter, to find feathers all over, we found another huge pile elsewhere. After searching, my neighbor came & told us he found our sweet girl in his dogs mouth. He put colloidal silver on a rag, and fed her a little sugar water. I finally got her home, and she's as he set her up, on hay, covered in a rag with silver on it, covered in more hay, b/c of the massive feather loss. I'm terrified to hurt her, I meant to be up most of the night w/her, but my pregnant body had different ideas. She seems to be breathing slowly, & hasn't moved. Should I be lifting her head to a cap of water to drink? Sugar water? Or should I use the vitamins, electrolytes pack I have, or something else? Should I take her and wrap her up? With gauze under the wrap? I'm sorry, I've just lost too many girls, (6) to neighbor dogs. My flocks at 14, including 2 bantam roosters, but more chicks on the way. Also, I'm desperately trying to find a Maremma. I was given the name of a fantastic breeder last year on this very site after losing my sweet Silkie Lucy , and I'm working on saving money to one day buy from this kind man, but I cannot afford the price he's asking at this time, and would love to have more peace of mind! We have a Great Dane (last night's offender), 3 golden retrievers, 2 labs (who took the 6), +more dogs that aren't well kept restrained in the area! Plus another blood thirsty dog who's been taking anything he can get from neighbors! We unwittingly, but thankfully stopped an attack on our neighbors beautiful Peafowl & female turkey just the other day. Sorry for rambling, I'm just feeling overwhelmed by fear, it's my duty to protect these precious animals! And I'm praying my current flock does not lose a sweet member.... Also, should my girl pull through, is there something I can do to help her not be uncomfortable with feather loss?? Will she need extra covering???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your hen

When you have time, photos of the wounds would be good.

If the wounds have not been cleaned, then you will want to do that. Flush the wounds with saline, diluted betadine, soap/water. You can trim away any feathers that might be in the wound. I don't know much about Colloidal Silver so can't comment on that. Some people do use that. You can also use triple antibiotic ointment or vetericyn. A lot depends on the wounds, but usually they do not need to be covered with a bandage.

Do what you can to get your girl hydrated. If you have electrolyte/vitamin packs that would be good. The main thing is to get water into her. Once she is drinking then worry about food.

Breathing slowly and not moving, she is likely in shock and in pain.

If she pulls through, you can use a chicken saddle to give her some covering after she has healed. If the feathers were ripped out, they will likely grow back in while she is healing.

If you have photos of your set-up/coop/run we may be able to give you some suggestions to re-enforce your area to help prevent predator attacks and future losses. A secure run coupled with electric fencing is an effective way to keep a flock safe.