PLEASE HELP ME MY CHICKEN MIGHT DIE

[BarnyardChaos]

I just got done burying her. I went next door for a minute to get something and I came back and she was dying. I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy to have to watch something they love die and have nothing they can do about it.

I am sorry for your loss. We're here for you, if there's anything we can say to help.

 

[silkielove16]

Thank y’all so much. I’m glad I’ve found people that care about chickens as much as I do!

 

[BastyPutt]

Here's what you do in the event of a predator attack to treat the survivor.

1. Treat for shock as the number one step. Give warm Gatoraid or mix a half teaspoon of sugar into a fourth of a cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. Have the patient drink it all or syringe it into the beak.

2. Flush the wound well with saline. This is better than soap and water as it maintains the PH of the tissues. But warm soap and water will do. You need to wash away the bacteria from the wound.

3. Inspect the wound carefully. If it has a skin flap dangling, keep that. Do not cut it off. Look for bite, tear or puncture marks indicating a puncture wound. If you see this, the patient will need an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. Bacteria from the predator’s mouth can be injected deep into tissue and can kill in as little as 24 to 48 hours. You can order this https://www.kvsupply.com/item/aqua-mox-250mg-capsules-100-count/P06184/250mg once a day for ten days. Or you may be able to find this or something similar at TSC or a pet store.

4. Spray with Vetericyn wound treament and let dry. Use a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or a generic without pain killer in it to coat the wound. If there's a skin flap, lay it across the wound that has just been coated with the ointment. Then smooth on a generous amount over the top of the skin flap to hold it in place.

5. It's useless to try to stitch a wound on a chicken. Don't even try. It's also useless to try to bandage a wound other than on the feet. The chicken will not tolerate it. It will be pulled off faster than you can blink an eye.

6. Clean the wound every day following the above steps. Keep the wound covered with the ointment. Never allow the wound to get dried out or it will not heal.

Is this an article somewhere, or how could we access this easily without having to remember where to find this thread.

 

[Saveria]

Is this an article somewhere, or how could we access this easily without having to remember where to find this thread.

I just marked the post in my bookmarks, but hopefully there is an article, too. And I will bookmark that as well.

 

[BastyPutt]

I just marked the post in my bookmarks, but hopefully there is an article, too. And I will bookmark that as well.

Do you just mean your web browser bookmarks?

 

[Saveria]

Nope, I clicked the little icon that looks like a hanging flag or snake's tongue in the top right of the post. That will allow you to store the post in your bookmarks folder in your profile.

Sorry if you already knew that but were just confused. And sorry for the tangent, everyone. It is still kind of related since it helps us help people, but still off-topic.

 

[BastyPutt]

Nope, I clicked the little icon that looks like a hanging flag or snake's tongue in the top right of the post. That will allow you to store the post in your bookmarks folder in your profile.

Sorry if you already knew that but were just confused. And sorry for the tangent, everyone. It is still kind of related since it helps us help people, but still off-topic.

I had no idea that tool existed. Thank you!

 

[Saveria]

I had no idea that tool existed. Thank you!

I am so glad to tell you, makes our job easier. Also, if you look at someone's profile you can look at their bookmarks, too, even gather some of them for yourself. I'll bet some of the folks that are helping with injuries regularly have some great bookmarks.

 

[azygous]

No, I haven't written an article. I do keep this list of how to treat predator wounds in my email drafts. You can copy it and stick it either on your computer desk top or in your email drafts. Or print it out and frame it in your coop.

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m just seeing the tag after being offline most of the day. Sorry for your loss.