Recovery from Coyote attack

[Eggcessive]

Glad you could see the vet. They are always quite expensive but can be helpful. It sounds good that she is eating a little more. The antibiotic and anti-inflammatory pain med may be making her feel a bit better, and treat anything respiratory. Let us know how she is doing. You sound very dedicated to her and doing a great job.

 

[Oliver_Douglas]

Day 11: Vet visit on Day 10. Fever is gone. Appetite stable but still low compared to healthy. New problem: as she regains strength she is now fighting to be free. Hates the kennel, really really hates the bandage. It's been on for 5 days. Now wondering about the stressing and fighting of having it on, vs. the benefit to the wing...

I'm learning this lesson: it's not just the injury; their flightiness and skittishness makes any treatment and recovery way more difficult.

Should i remove the bandage????

 

[Eggcessive]

I would remove it and see how it goes. You can always wrap her wing in a normal position loosely against her body if necessary with some Kerlix or vet wrap later.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Day 11: Vet visit on Day 10. Fever is gone. Appetite stable but still low compared to healthy. New problem: as she regains strength she is now fighting to be free. Hates the kennel, really really hates the bandage. It's been on for 5 days. Now wondering about the stressing and fighting of having it on, vs. the benefit to the wing...

I'm learning this lesson: it's not just the injury; their flightiness and skittishness makes any treatment and recovery way more difficult.

Should i remove the bandage????

Hi,
Did your vet say how long it would take for her left wing/shoulder to heal or if it would even heal?

 

[Oliver_Douglas]

Hi,
Did your vet say how long it would take for her left wing/shoulder to heal or if it would even heal?

Howdy: Vet wasn't sure about timing--first idea was to immobilize for about a week, and that it might droop a little. As long as it was not fully dragging, that (the droop) would probably be permanent.

Since yesterday, she is really starting to fight us--gaining strength and back to her normal flightiness and feistiness; fights when putting her in/out of the kennel; fights when administering meds.

She managed to mostly remove the original bandage. We re-taped and she set to work removing the new one.

Mostly importantly, the breathing looks much less labored--she is 'mouth open' breathing now only after the fights/panics. Otherwise mostly normal breathing.

So...based on gut feel, a few prayers and and replies from the knowledge people here, especially Eggcessive (thank you!) we decided to remove the bandage/wrap today.

The difference was immediate. We let her go inside the barn where their coop is. She started walking normally, preening, foraging/scratching, drinking. Even heard her voicing--first time since injury.

Then, and this was surprising, she let the others know she was still the boss. Our current boss, a big healthy australorp (Bluebell) walked up, stretched out to show she was taller, and Shaggy gave be a forceful peck/bite. Bluebell tried one more time, same result; Bluebell squatted low, and Shaggy delivered another back-of-the-neck peck, for good measure.

This was all immediately after we removed the wrap! No messing around!

The injured wing droops a bit, and movement appears limited so far.

However, with her activity level, appetite, asserting dominance and improved breathing--we may be approaching a successful conclusion! 11 days in--seemed much longer!

I'll provide another update as things (hopefully) reach a new normal.

 

[Oliver_Douglas]

Day 13: I'm going to keep adding on to this thread, for those who might be interested, because things continue to change, with some interesting dynamics of this small flock of four birds.

As I mentioned, the moment our injured bird rejoined the others, she re-asserted dominance.

However, her wing being damaged, and the stress of it all, means she sits, not stands. And what's interesting is that the other three are sitting as well, mimicking her actions. This is inside the barn, not outside, so they may feel safe enough to do that.

Last night, her first night back in the coop, she slept on the floor of the coop, not the perch. And the others slept there too, on the floor. Not sure why--deference? protection of the injured? Simple case of follow-the leader?

Today, when we opened the barn doors, the other three can't wait to get outside to free range. Shaggy will go outside, but hesitantly, and requiring a bit of encouragement. Still skittish, I guess--understandable.

With her limited movement--she does not forage as actively as the others, nor eat as much--I assume she will eventually decline in strength and vitality, and no longer be top of the order. Not sure how long this will take.

Finally, as mentioned above, I now understand how stress is such a big factor in their recovery. We're trying to help them, but the 'help' can turn to harm if we're not careful.

Yes it would be good for the bone on a broken wing to be set straight, by wrapping it. But if the wrap absolutely drives them crazy, that 'help' might be harmful. With that wrap on, she walked and stumbled, almost as if she had neurological issues. And the instant we took it off, she walked normally; visibly calmer.