Opossum attack!!

[ashsmitty]

I had a opossum attack my 4 chickens this morning. It was able to kill my cinnamon queen and was dragging my buff orphington into the woods when my husband made it outside and scared it off. Since then the buff has not been eating. The other 2 chickens (black sex links) are attacking her. I've tried wet non medicated chickens starter with rooster booster and electrolytes to see.if she would eat that and nothing. She is drinking water but breathing like she is super hot. It is 82 degrees with a real feel of 87 degrees. I can't find any puncture wounds. I don't know what else to do. I am at a loss. Please any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Eggcessive @azygous @Wyorp Rock

 

[azygous]

If she isn't drinking the electrolyte solution, you need to syringe it or tube it into her or you could see her die from shock. Organs are seriously affected when a chicken is in shock. Effects from shock can last weeks and even months after an attack.

Panting and beak gaping are both signs of extreme stress, adding to the effects of shock.

I prefer to mix my own electrolyte solution in order to be sure the shock victim is getting the amount of glucose and minerals they require. Mix one teaspoon sugar into one cup warm water and add a pinch of salt and baking soda to supply the necessary minerals.

 

[ashsmitty]

This is what I have mixed with the water.

 

[ashsmitty]

How long should I allow my chicken to go on like this? She still won't eat. Barely drinks. She acts like she is in a daze. She just stands there with her mouth open like she's hot and closes her eyes for a moment then looks around again. My chickens are in a pen by the way

 

[ashsmitty]

So here is an update. I have found a (what i think) is a huge wound on my buff. I have cleaned it with saline spray. What else should I do?

 

[ashsmitty]

 

[MarlaMac]

You should clean the wound with clorhexidine solution (mixed according to label). Dry the wound and apply plain triple antibiotic ointment. Do this 2x daily for a few days to make sure the wound is cleaned/sterilized. After 2-3 days you can skip the daily washing and just apply the ointment 2x daily until wound heals (from the margins in) and falls off. If there are feathers getting in the way of the healing, cut them away as long as they are not pin feathers.

As for eating/drinking. Are you offering sugar water? Will she drink that? If not you will need to syringe it in as stated earlier. You can also offer her watermelon. Watermelon is loaded with electrolytes and is, of course, mostly water.

Offer her things she loves to eat. Boiled eggs or wet feed are usually big hits. If she doesn't start eating on her own, you may have to tube feed her to get her started again.