Raccoon attack **warning pictures on page 4**

[PunkinPeep]

Thank you very much, phatchicken, for the explanation on the platelets. That explains a lot and has apparently worked since she is not bleeding at all anymore. Your advice is very helpful. I had kind of decided to leave the leg alone when i discovered that the foot was swollen because that seemed like a sign that the foot is getting life from the body somehow. I'm going to leave it until something is more obvious.

And thank you Akita for the encouragement. She seems so strong that it really seems like she has a chance, even though my husband just stares at me blankly when i say that.

Threehorses, i'm hoping to get my hands on some new batteries tomorrow. If i do, i'll take pictures. I can't make promises.

But i can tell you i'm not looking forward to that photo session. She's going to be very unhappy with me.

On a related note, we are trying to trap the varmint that did this tonight. Keep your fingers crossed.

Forgive me, but i'm hoping for an execution tomorrow. I can't have chicken hungry and chicken feed hungry critters stalking my birds. I won't have it!

And this one obviously has a taste for it.

 

[New adventure]

What wonderful information on this thread! Beth, I hope your pullet will be fine in time. Be brave enough to do what you have to, it sounds like you're doing a great job taking care of her.

BTW, I have BOs the same age and think they are all adorable.

 

[PunkinPeep]

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Thank you for that. Aren't BOs beautiful!

Also, update on trapping the varmint, it got the bate, and it made the trap close, but there's no animal inside. I'm not sure what that means. Does that mean it's so big that it could eat the bate and hold the door open at the same time????

I might have to go sleep out there and just wait for it.

 

[threehorses]

It probably means that it's a raccoon.. THey're amazingly sneaky.

By the way I've heard that raccoons really like jam on bread.

 

[NotTheMomma]

I've no further suggestions other than what's been offered, but wanting to let ya know that I've been following this thread, and am praying for you and ya chick.

Huggles!

 

[PunkinPeep]

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good tip! thank you!

 

[PunkinPeep]

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Thank you SO much!

 

[threehorses]

I'm trying to catch one (or several) here as well. If you have one, you have more unfortunately.

I'll make you a deal - I'll cross my fingers you get yours if you'll cross yours that I get mine!

By the way, I loved your poison ivy killer post. Anyone who is a die-hard chicken-hugger (I'm admittedly one) who has poison ivy on their place needs that info. lol

Cheers!
Nathalie

 

[PunkinPeep]

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[PunkinPeep]

Good evening to my injured chicken support group,

Well, today, my girl started bleeding again, and i noticed that she was picking at herself near her wound. Then later after i saw that she was bleeding, every time i went in the bathroom where she is, she was clucking at me - not like saying hello, but more like she was crying. I had pretty much decided that i would have to put her down - she sounded so pathetic, and she didn't seem to be eating - even the eggs not so much.

And then this afternoon, i went in to take one last look at her before i "took care of things," and suddenly, she was standing up - on her one good leg, clucking around at me and eating eggs like her life depended on it.

I guess it did.

So i decided to give it another day and see.

Also, i'm going to give her another cleaning tomorrow - with the saline solution. I found a good recipe and cleaned out a squeeze bottle (really well). And i'm going to try to bandage her so she can't pick at it and tear herself up. I read some other posts, and one of them suggested using "feminine napkins" to cover the wound, and i think that's what i'm going to do. I don't think the sock will work, and don't think band-aids are going to do a thing. The wound is just too weird. But i think i might be able to pull something off with pads.

I took her container outside for a little while today - so she could get a little fresh air. At first she perked up, but then she just seemed depressed, so i put her back in the bathroom and shut off the light so she would rest.

I do think she's starting to maybe try a little harder to stand on that one good leg.

I don't have the strength to hunt raccoons tonight, but their day is coming.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for praying.