Post-hawk attack - what to do with my two girls?

[maryn7]

A hawk attacked my two birds on the back porch yesterday about 1p - very bold. The BR escaped, but the RIR got hit. She lost a lot of feathers, but we thought she was okay. Couldn't find any punctures, and she returned to pecking and hanging out for the rest of the time before bed. Ate and drank and went into the coop with the BR about 445p.

This morning, I went out about 730a and the RIR had come out of the coop, but was laying under it. We've got her in a box in the basement, trying to keep her warm and cozy and doing sav-a-chick dropper to see if she can pull through. She either got too cold without some of her down or - more likely - has internal injuries from the hawk. (it must have sort of awkwardly dive bombed them).

If anyone has further suggestions for the RIR, please let me know. But my other concern is what to do with the BR that is now on her own. If the RIR dies, I'll rehome her asap. But what do I do tonight?

They really get along well, so I'm tempted to bring the BR in also and create a small pen for them. But everyone says to separate the ill chicken. I really don't think the BR will peck or attack her, but I don't know. I'm worried to leave the BR out in the coop alone all night without someone to cuddle with. It'll get into the 20s overnight here. Aside from whatever mess I wind up with in my basement, are there any other downsides to bringing the BR in this evening? We could all do with some comfort at the moment, and I feel bad leaving either of them alone if the RIR makes it to the evening.

 

[Show Sebright]

Keep her warm while she get her feathers back. She should be ok. I don’t have to deal with the cold here.

 

[maryn7]

Do you mean keep the RIR indoors until she regrows her feathers? She doesn't have any bald patches or anything - just some of the underfluff on her sides got stripped. She still looks like a normal chicken.

And, if so, what do I do with the BR on her own?

 

[Show Sebright]

Oh I thought she had like bald spots... I would personally keep a good eye on her. Also you can put her outside and add extra (insert what ever you use for your birds to cuddle in), I usually use pine chips or bedding. If her seems that she is just moping around or keeping herself tight then maybe if you are aloud to (completely up to how you feel about chickens in your house) put her in the house maybe somewhere that is warm. She will act like her life is ending and what she acts like when she molts. Keep both of them together because since they are close they will be more likely to cuddle to keep warm. But we don’t get snow here so I am not that good with cold weather.

 

[Show Sebright]

But she is more likely just making a big deal over it. Chicken like to be over dramatic.

 

[maryn7]

I appreciate the hopeful thought, but she's definitely quite sick/injured and not playing it up. (This sounds absurd, but she's really not the type!)

Our plan at the moment is to wait until the BR goes to bed and then bring her into a little area we've created in the basement. And we'll put the injured bird in there with her so they can cuddle up tonight.

She just drank a ton of water with electrolytes, so hoping she's doing some healing in there. She's also pooped twice (very watery, which isn't a surprise since she's just had a bunch of water and a wee little bit of feed today). It's more yellow than I'd like - but she's clearly trying.

Does anyone want to warn me off the plan of bringing the healthy chicken into the house? I guess there's a chance she could freak out and injure the sick one - but the ok chicken really seems miserable out there on her own. These two really like each other.

Edit: Neither of them laid today. I assume it was the stress of the attack yesterday. They're also on pretty short cycles because they're still pullets (9 months), but there's not a ton of light.

 

[Show Sebright]

Hum, yeh stressed birds don’t lay. Watching out to make sure she doesn’t get egg bound. What is she acting like??? Is she constantly laying down or like she seems drowsy? Give her protein will help her grow her feathers back. Yes you can give her chicken.... cooked and you don’t have to add anything to it. Also COOKED eggs always make my birds happy when they get sick. Dose her poo seem like duck poop? Or like really dry and then really wet. She could have got coccidiosis from hawk.

 

[Show Sebright]

If she has coccidiosis her poop will look like diarrhea. It will be a yellow orange and my have blood. Can be supper watery. You can treat this with the medication called Corid. You can get powder ate your local tractor supply or I know the liquid and powder is on Amazon.

 

[Show Sebright]

Can you send pictures of her poop?