Serious Injuries

[chickenmomma15]

2 dogs got into my flock I am now Chickenmomma12 I have 2 chickens that do not have a mark on them but they just lie on their sides. They are both 16 months old one is a bar rock the other a australian austrolop they can not hold themselves up at first I thought it was exhaustion from the dogs running them. I have checked their wings their legs their feet they can move them. I have them in nesting boxes so they can stay up right. I am syringing water down them and they try to drink one will even try to eat the mushed up corn I am trying to give them. This is my first flock I never tube fed anything so haven"t a clue. I also have one with broken wing and severe lacerations I did wash her wounds used human superglue to stitch her up and immobilized her wing she is doing great. I have
another one who will only stand I found her with blood all around her but I can find no gashes and she is acting very strange she will drink on her own and she tries to eat. Any suggestions my whole flock is traumatized and I am at my wits end. I do not want them to suffer.

 

[boskelli1571]

Hi there - how awful, sorry! Have you added some electrolyte solution to their water? oatmeal with yoghurt, corn mush, etc. They sound 'shocky' to me so keep 'em warm, fed & watered, only time will tell but chickens are quite resilient.
Good job with the superglue, keep wing immobilized for a while - use vet wrap.
Keep the girls quiet for a couple of days, monitor progress, keep fingers crossed

I hope the dogs have been dealt with - it would be terrible to have them return. If it's a neighbor dog, you can try asking for reparation for the lost birds,

 

[chickenmomma15]

Surprisinglythe dogs have disappeared the were 2 chiuahua mix thugs we are still looking. I set them out in the sun today for about 15 minutes feed them more electrolytes they drink alot just will not eat. So I am just waiting, found another girl limping put her in a warm bath and found that they had bit her upper thigh cleaned real good also she has lots of bruising on her underside she is eating just limps real bad.
Do you think aspirin is a good thing to give for discomfort?

 

[boskelli1571]

There is a thread here I just checked on regarding aspirin. It says a baby aspirin 81mg, is ok for large birds. Sprinkle on food or dissolve in water, use a dropper to administer. Check the thread for details. Hope you find those dogs - make sure you keep a gun handy, if they have been by once it's likely they will return to try and cause more havoc.

 

[chickenmomma15]

I wanted to thank you for your help the dogs came back I now have 6 girls left it's been touch and go still have 2 that I am nursing for wry neck. It really has been so busy that this first time I have had to thank you. One of the girls from the second attack was bitten through on her wing now there is just bone there she eats and drinks and baths like everyone else do I need to do anything she will barely let me touch her since I had to do so much to her in the last month.

 

[chickenmomma15]

The dogs came back within 2 days of the attack so I have been doing chicken icy for awhile now

 

[ZoeS95423]

Do you know whose dogs they are? I would be having some words with the owners... call animal control. Something! Your poor girls. That's a lot of stress in just a matter of days. And a shock/injured hen has less of a chance to survive any kind of attack that comes upon them than a healthy one.

 

[Kyzmette]

The dogs won't stop, because they've found a guaranteed source of "fun". Once they get a taste of killing chickens, they'll be back over and over. Put out some raccoon traps baited with meat, if the dogs are small enough.

After my neighbor's demon dachsund came over and decimated my flock, I built a new pen. I used 2x4 fencing, then took 4' chicken wire and laced it 2' up to the fence, so that I had 2' of chicken wire laying flat against the ground on the outside of the fence. He can't go under the fence, and it's far enough out that digging is useless, too.

 

[boskelli1571]

I wanted to thank you for your help the dogs came back I now have 6 girls left it's been touch and go still have 2 that I am nursing for wry neck. It really has been so busy that this first time I have had to thank you. One of the girls from the second attack was bitten through on her wing now there is just bone there she eats and drinks and baths like everyone else do I need to do anything she will barely let me touch her since I had to do so much to her in the last month.

As Kyzmette says, the dogs will continue to return for 'fun'. Trap them if you can, if not I recommend you get a gun and use it. These dogs are killing/maiming your livestock. Keep good records with dated photos of the damage, that way you can protect yourself if the owners turn up complaining you shot their dog!
Building a mobile, predator proof pen is also a good idea, but costs $$. How are your girls doing now?