Need advice on Falcon Attack injury

[Jerrica B]

Hello, I have a young chicken (lav. Orp.) that was attacked by a falcon (we did see it). This happened Monday 16th. She was pretty ripped open on her chest and I wasn't sure that we would be able to keep her alive. We cleaned the wound and layed her skin flap back over as best possible. Then tried to gently wrap vet wrap around to keep bandages in place. We have her in the house in a towel lined tub with a heat pad. It was set a two for the first couple of days and now it is set a one. I started her on antibiotics the next morning. She was just lethargic for the first two days. I kept giving water by little drops and she did try to eat. By Thursday she is drinking water from a bowl, eating and walking around. I took all of the bandages off as they seemed to bother her, but she still has an open wound. The problem that I am having today is that she sounds like she has raspy breathing. I am not sure what is going on now or how to treat it. I have a video, but I don't seem to be able to upload it.

Youtube link:

Any help will be appreciated.

P.S. I wanted to let you know that as soon as we had the chicken in the house and my husband heard what happened, he went and started to cover the runs. We have never had any problems here for the last 8 years. This is the first attack of any kind, minus the neighbor dog who killed one of my hens. The runs are not covered with netting over the entire things (9 feet tall and shade cover in areas. I love my husband and his commitment to taking care of all our pets.

 

[Debbie292d]

If you could post your video on YouTube, then you can post that link here.

You have done amazing with her thus far!!

What antibiotic did you give her and is she still on them?

 

[Jerrica B]

If you could post your video on YouTube, then you can post that link here.

You have done amazing with her thus far!!

What antibiotic did you give her and is she still on them?

I can't post to YouTube, but I can do google drive. Would that work? She is on Amox. I have noticed that when she is sitting, I don't hear anything, but it more when she is chirping. I got a new video watch to the end.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1209S5iu7o1QZL1A1brv-py-rG6BLwNBA/view?usp=drive_link

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. I cannot see the video. Can you upload it to BYC? You can add it to this album:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/byc-members-videos.7430248/add

 

[Jerrica B]

Welcome to BYC. I cannot see the video. Can you upload it to BYC? You can add it to this album:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/byc-members-videos.7430248/add

Done. Please let me know if you can not see it. I can try and make a Youtube account if I need too.

 

[casportpony]

Done. Please let me know if you can not see it. I can try and make a Youtube account if I need too.

I can see it and she does sound strange. Can you post pictures of the wound?

 

[Debbie292d]

I can't post to YouTube, but I can do google drive. Would that work? She is on Amox. I have noticed that when she is sitting, I don't hear anything, but it more when she is chirping. I got a new video watch to the end.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1209S5iu7o1QZL1A1brv-py-rG6BLwNBA/view?usp=drive_link

Amoxicillin works for respiratory infections, too. I doubt she has a punctured lung, as most likely you'd have heard something and seen breathing issues by now. But if she has a respiratory infection, the amox should get rid of it.

 

[Jerrica B]

I can see it and she does sound strange. Can you post pictures of the wound?

 

[Jerrica B]

here is the best I can get by myself. Her chest was exposed. I am not certain, but it looked like there was a puncture to the internal cavity. she is doing better except for that sound. having the bandages off and just using the triple antibiotic ointment has really helped her moving. Moving in my book is great. She is also preening herself. Here are the pictures. She also had some pecks to the head, but that was superficial compared to the rest.

 

[Debbie292d]

here is the best I can get by myself. Her chest was exposed. I am not certain, but it looked like there was a puncture to the internal cavity. she is doing better except for that sound. having the bandages off and just using the triple antibiotic ointment has really helped her moving. Moving in my book is great. She is also preening herself. Here are the pictures. She also had some pecks to the head, but that was superficial compared to the rest.

I didn't see you mention vitamins yet unless I missed it.

I would be giving her Poultry Cell water. The first time, I'd drip a little full strength in the side of her beak. It's amazing how a vitamin boost can help!

Can you leave the bandages off though? You could rinse her affected area with saline solution or Epsom salt bath water if it looks like a cleaning would do some good. Keep doing the triple antibiotic ointment. If she pecks some of it, it won't hurt her. Getting exposed to some air might help it heal faster.