Racoon attacked both eyes injured (graphic desciption)

[Ecowtent]

We have an electric door that closes at duck. A raccoon must have come through the door before it closed and attacked the chickens. One I really beat up. It attacked her head an di think she may end up blind. We have washed and applied salve. Trying to get her to eat and drink, but she is having a hard time since her eyes are swelled shut. One eye is bleeding and one is weeping. Raccoon chewed its way out. I have had the coop since last summer. Raccoons have gotten more brave about eating their food so I moved it inside. I feel awful.

Any suggestions on how to get her to eat? I don't know if she will make it much longer if she doesn't eat soon.

Thank you.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How long has it been. Initially after an attack most will be in shock and they won't move. Drinking is more important than eating. They can go a while without eating, drinking is generally a few days. I usually just set them up somewhere warm and quiet. If it survives the first night it has a chance. It should start to improve by day 3.

I had one last year that the pup grabbed. It damaged both eyes merely by squeezing it around the neck and it ended up totally blind, and we ended up culling. It took a few days for the eye swelling to go down.

If yours begins to improve after a day or two and it doesn't start looking for water you may need to drop sugar water into it's beak in small amounts using a syringe without the needle to give it energy and to keep it hydrated.

 

[Ecowtent]

Thank you. It has been 8 days and she is no better. Won't eat and only drink by dropper. I added aspirin into it for pain, but she hasn't Improved and is less energetic. How long can a chicken survive in sugar water with no food? I even tried to get her to eat from my hand.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is probably time to consider culling. Usually you see some improvements within a week. Without any the prognosis isn't good. If she is blind than she won't eat or drink without assistance.

 

[Ecowtent]

Thank you so much. I was beginning to think it was time that she showed improvement

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry, it's never easy to make the final decision.

 

[biophiliac]

Sorry Ecowtent. She was comforted by your care I'm sure.