- Apr 10, 2010
- 5
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My 3 month old Ameraucana rooster, Stripe, was attacked by our foster puppies yesterday. I read some of the other posts but I am so new to chickens that I am seeking some suggestions for this particular horrid injury on his rear and wing. Most of his tail feathers were tore out, and a couple of small pieces of flesh were hanging off some of his nearly detached feathers ... it's really raw and painful looking. Feathers are missing from his back, it looks sore as well. His right wing looks badly injured, one layer of skin and feathers gone, almost looks like I can see cartilage or long looking bone between his wing and back, but there's still a layer of skin covering it. His other wing has a small hole in it near that fragile looking area between the body and wing. His wings don't look dislocated, however. He didn't bleed all that much either, which I am thankful for.
When I found him last night, he was laying on his side and looked dead. But when I brought him in the house he stood up fine and let me take care of him. I flushed out all the wounded areas with wound wash saline, using nearly the whole can, then applied antibiotic/pain relief ointment to all exposed area after removing the already detached feathers from his skin. Thank God, his head and neck look fine. I put him in a pet kennel last night. He's popped three times, and it looks normal. He drank a little water and has pecked at some feed a few times that I gave him this morning. He stood up a few times and was cooing a bit, which was nice. We too, are having a problem finding a vet that takes roosters that isn't a gazillion miles away, but if I can take care of him at home and treat him with antibiotics that would be great.
Meanwhile, here are some questions that maybe someone that who has been through this can answer ... which I am extremely grateful for:
--Should I clean the would with saline tonight and reapply the antibiotic ointment? Or is there a different course of action I should take?
--With a wing injury, how much mobility should I allow him?
--How much Gatorade should I dilute with water? Do I add sugar to that as well?
--Does he need a cone for his head so he doesn't pick at his butt? I read on here that someone made one for their bird.
--He never liked yogurt, is there any other recommendation for yummy, safe human food?
Today I plan on going to the feed store for some antibiotic and blue cote spray. I figure that I will clean him up tonight when he's nice and mellow. I am sure some folks from the feed store will have suggestions as well.
Thank you already, Babsie