Predator attack

[carolwfuller]

Hello !
One of my hens was attacked by a predator today
I thought she had been taken from the front yard
I found large areas of feathers In the oceanfront yard leading toward bushes.
Later in the day she reappeared, very submissive. I picked her up and found a large area of pulled feathers and down, right down to the ribs, mid back, with small red/bleeding
She is resting in my AC house. She will take water from my finger but I am afraid to put her back in the coop with the other 7 until she is better
Any treatment I should do to the back or just take care of her and wait and see if she survives this attack.
Sad for me, a helpless creature and my first flock
Any advice?

 

[leadwolf1]

The best thing you can do for her is to put her in a safe, quiet, darkened place to rest. Keep food and plenty of fresh water for her to take as she will. She is probably in shock and needs time to recover. Does she have any bite wounds? If so, you need to clean her up with a 50%peroxide solution and then apply some antibiotic ointment or spray.

Without any further complications, she should be just fine.

 

[carolwfuller]

Thank you so much,
No, I did not see any bite marks. Just pulled and violently pulled off feathers
I have her in a box in my FR with food and water.
I will check again tomorrow and use your remedies if needed. I have the peroxide and bactroban available.
I was worried about the other hens pecking her. She is not bleeding but does have some oozing redness at the feather attachment to body in the area closest to shoulder ( or whatever it is called )
Thanks again!
I thought she was gone!

 

[Suzierd]

Wow very lucky to still have her. I would watch for what ever got her to come back.

 

[carolwfuller]

Yes, lucky
I examined her this am and saw just pulled feathers.
I put her down in the grass and she did start To walk around just fine and the peck.
However, she walked into the bushes and just laid down.
I thought she might be heading for the pen but no.
After letting the other 7 out and calling them and listening for her I finally found her sometime later. I decided you needed more rest in the crate and took her back inside. She is resting
The other hens are all sitting here with me having had some treats and doing some grooming in the front yard.
I am keeping an eye to the sky.
Could it have been crows or sea gulls? That is all I have seen around lately.

 

[leadwolf1]

Crows and seagulls wouldn't attack your hen. I'm thinking a ground predator..dog, cat, etc. Something that would grab and get a mouth full of feathers. A hawk wouldn't do that.

 

[carolwfuller]

Yeah, it was my do
I thOught I wrote last night
Too sad to tell the whole tale

 

[carolwfuller]

My dog whIch has sat with me for the last 60 days happily watching them, roaming free with them and eating their food and poo
Unbelievable