Pullett injured by Raccoon, need some help

[dmdhart]

Last night a raccoon payed me a visit and killed 4 of my young pullets. I have a young pullet, maybe 5 weeks old that survived but is injured (her leg has had the skin partially pulled down, exposing muscle. I have brought her in and washed it off and put neosporing on it. I am at a loss as to what to do next. What kind of antibiotics can I give her? I don't have the money for a vet. I am on a VERY small fixed income and won't have anymore money until the first. I have keflex here. She is on medicated chick starter. I also have sulmet. Also have access to injectible penicillin. Any ideas would be more than welcomed. Also, off topic, I have a sick goat. Is there a good goat forum that any of you know of that could give me ideas for her?
Thank you for any help.

 

[chickensioux]

Sounds like you have it pretty much under control. So sorry for the loss of the others.
Keep an eye on her leg. Watch for infection. You can clean it daily with an iodine/water solution and keep applying neosporin (non pain relieving). As long as it doesn't get infected, you really don't need oral antibiotics.
If it is something you feel strongly about doing I'm sure you can get an antibiotic powder at your local feed store.
Keep her clean and quiet and away from the other chickens as they will pick at her wound.
Good luck but I think she will be fine.


What kind of symptoms is the goat having?

 

[dmdhart]

She's been losing weight (alot). I have over the past 2 months wormed her twice with safeguard, twice with the pelleted goat wormer and last night with ivermectin. She gets goat feed, and good hay, plus I've been supplementing her with treats that she likes (spaghetti, oatmeal, bread, crackers, anything I can think of.) I bring her out everyday to eat fresh grass and leaves, but she's very picky and doesn't eat as much as I would think. If I leave her tethered she just cries and won't eat. So I have to stay with her. I can mangage to do that about an hour a day. I've recently noticed too that she has lost some hair on her ears and on her face. Her stool is normal.

 

[Schultz]

Quote:
The only thing I would add to that is to say, make sure she stays hydrated and eats and also not to use peroxide.
Good luck, sounds like she is on the right track!

 

[chickensioux]

Quote:
Can you post a pick of her? It sounds like she should be good and healthy with all you are doing. I was going to say that there are so many things that are poisonous for goats to eat. You would be surprised at how many things they are not supposed to eat. Look up what plants are toxic to goats and just see if yours is eating any of them. If her stool is normal though...???? Can you take a stool sample to a vet and just see if she has coccidia or some other type of parasite that perhaps your dewormer is not getting.
If that's not it, she may have some underlying issue that needs to be diagnosed by a vet. Sorry and good luck

 

[dmdhart]

Update, the peep is still alive, but I'm very concerned, she can not use her leg. She's is eating well and drinking well, but can't use her leg at all. I clean it twice daily and am keeping neosporin on it. I've also sprinkled Mexcana on it to keep the flies off.
I'm not sure if keeping her alive is a good thing or not. Can a chicken survive with only one working leg?

 

[chickensioux]

Sorry no response until now. Maybe it's leg is so sore it doesn't want to use it right now. It can live a long full life with one working leg. As long as it eats and drinks and behaves normally, it will be fine.
How's the goat?

 

[dmdhart]

Thank you for your concern. I gave the peep/pullet a bath this morning and submersed her in warm soapy water. She actually seemed to enjoy it. I figured that it feels good when I'm hurting to soak in a tub..............

Goat Goat's appetite has improved since I wormed her with ivermectin. She ate almost a whole bale of hay yesterday. That's a good sign. ( I hope that it's ok to give her that much hay) I've been grinding vitamins and mixing them in her feed. She's been wanting more grain. I've been giving her legends 12, which has a higher fat content than the other grain. I don't have a scales, so I can't really tell if she's gained any. But she seems bright and alert. I'm getting ready to bring her out to let her eat along my fence line. I don't have a digital camera, but I might be able to borrow one to post a picture. It's deceiving to look at her. She's pretty wooly, so unless you run your hands over her, you wouldn't think that she was as skinny as she is. You can actually feel all of her ribs (well difined) as well as her hip and leg bones. - shudder- When I first got her she was very very thin, but I got weight on her and she looked great. No more. I wish that I could get a vet in here, but I just don't have the money.