Racoon Attack-Very stressed hen

[playnationnj]

About 5 AM I heard screams coming from the chicken coop. I've had four hens for about six months without any problems and then last night the terrible screams. I ran out and found three OK but very stressed but no damgage. It took me a few minuetes to find the fourth, but she was up and walking. Upon examination in daylight it appears that the raccon went for the head. One eye is open but a bit bloodied. The other eye has the lid closed ant wont open. I have applied warm water. The feathers on her back around her neck are all gone but I don't see any wounds. Comb is ok and beak is fine. She walks slowly, but trembles and does not seem interestesd in eating anything or drinking. Other hens seem to want to attack her so I have quaranteened her. Is there anything I can give her to reduce her stress. I really think I can get her to survive this if she could see better and get less stressed. Any special food I should give her or not give her?

 

[cheeptrick]

Poor dear...I think you are doing all that you can at this point. Maybe offer her a treat or something and keep her in a dark place to keep her calm. Is the eye seriously damaged? Can you open the other one to see if that one is ok?
Hope she is better soon.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Separate her, and make sure that she can get food and water...
Put a baby aspirin in her water and see if you can get some antibiotics and give those to her too.
See if you can flush the injuries to get rid of any germs. You can use saline salution or Hydrogen Peroxide.
Keep her quiet and warm.

 

[jpearsall1482]

Should I be concerned about rabies? I saw a racoon in the daylight hours and it was VERY slow to move. I threw a rock at it and it groweled but didn't exactly run off...it just wondered off.

 

[tiffanyh]

Be slightly concerned about handling the hen. Rabies is passed through saliva but can only live for short periods of time outside the host.

As far as your hen in concerned--but her in a quiet, darkish area. Animals commonly go into shock after something like that and need to get there "vitals" back in check. She needs to calm down and be quiet for a while. I second the aspirin/ AB in eye thing!

 

[silkiechicken]

If a coon is in the day you should worry about rabies... but also, if you are in the city, coons could care less that they see humans and might not care.

 

[DuckLady]

Your hen is likely in shock.
Put some sugar or V&E in her water and keep her in a darkened area. Handle her as little as possible to keep her stress level down. You can rinse out the wounds with betadine or warm saline. If you use hydrogen peroxide, dilute it and only use once. It will start to kill healthy tissue on repeated use. I would recommend a vet visit as well.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[jpearsall1482]

Thank you all for your suggestions: I have been able to get her to take some plain yogurt from a spoon and water if I hold it up to her beak. She hasn't been able to find it by herself. Her right eye is half closed but she seems to be able to see through it. Her left eye remains shut although I see no wound there. I will add a little sugar to her water as you suggest. Thanks again.

 

[chickonaroost]

If her eye has no wound, but won't open, she may have nerve damage from a nearby bite. If that is the case, she may never be able to open that eye. I think if her other eye seems ok, she will learn to work with one, but be careful of the other hens. I had a blind chicken (cataracts believe it or not) and she was very picked on. She did, however, learn her way around the coop, to the water, roost and feed. She used her head a neck like a cane, feeling her way around....good hen. We named her Helen Keller.

 

[dlhunicorn]

for shock you should give electrolytes ... your feed store should have it but until you can get it you could give pedialyte or even gatorade in a pinch.