Severe bobcat injury- any chance for survival?

[Illz]

A bobcat jumped my electric fence just as I was arriving home. Scared it off but it left one hen with a serious injury. I was able to grab her right away and clean the wound and stop the bleeding, but it took a huge chunk of skin off the side of her neck. Any chance she is going to make it? There are no avian vets in my area.

 

[FowlProtector]

A bobcat jumped my electric fence just as I was arriving home. Scared it off but it left one hen with a serious injury. I was able to grab her right away and clean the wound and stop the bleeding, but it took a huge chunk of skin off the side of her neck. Any chance she is going to make it? There are no avian vets in my area.

Yes, with proper care, there’s a good chance she can make it.

 

[FowlProtector]

Wow, that was intense! You handled the situation like a pro by quickly reaching her and stopping the bleeding. Although a chunk of skin taken off her neck is serious, it’s not necessarily a death sentence—though it will need a lot of care and monitoring to give her the best chance of recovery.

You’ve already kept the wound clean, but keep an eye on it to make sure it stays clean and dry. Rinsing the wound daily with saline solution could be helpful, as long as it doesn’t cause any more irritation. Preventing infection is super important, so if you can find antibiotics for chickens (even at a farm supply store), that could be a lifesaver. Chickens can feel pain, and while specific painkillers for them might be hard to find, talking to a local vet could give you the best advice.

It’s crucial to keep her separate from the rest of the flock to prevent her from getting pecked or stressed. Make sure she has a quiet, warm place to rest and easy access to food and water. Keeping her stress levels low is key.

Keep an eye out for signs of infection, like swelling, redness, pus, or fever. If you notice any of these signs, you might need to up the treatment. It’s also a good idea to get advice from a regular vet, even if they’re not experts in avian care.

The next few days are super important. With proper care, she has a chance of recovering, but it might take some time, and there might be some long-term scarring.

 

[FowlProtector]

Wow, that was intense! You handled the situation like a pro by quickly reaching her and stopping the bleeding. Although a chunk of skin taken off her neck is serious, it’s not necessarily a death sentence—though it will need a lot of care and monitoring to give her the best chance of recovery.

You’ve already kept the wound clean, but keep an eye on it to make sure it stays clean and dry. Rinsing the wound daily with saline solution could be helpful, as long as it doesn’t cause any more irritation. Preventing infection is super important, so if you can find antibiotics for chickens (even at a farm supply store), that could be a lifesaver. Chickens can feel pain, and while specific painkillers for them might be hard to find, talking to a local vet could give you the best advice.

It’s crucial to keep her separate from the rest of the flock to prevent her from getting pecked or stressed. Make sure she has a quiet, warm place to rest and easy access to food and water. Keeping her stress levels low is key.

Keep an eye out for signs of infection, like swelling, redness, pus, or fever. If you notice any of these signs, you might need to up the treatment. It’s also a good idea to get advice from a regular vet, even if they’re not experts in avian care.

The next few days are super important. With proper care, she has a chance of recovering, but it might take some time, and there might be some long-term scarring.

Tag Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

Pictures of the wound would be helpful. I would sure give it a try to save her. Saline or a wound spray, can be used on wounds, and then I would apply plain Neosporin ointment twice a day. Trim away feathers that can get into the wound. Leave it open to air. Wounds can fill in over several weeks. You are fortunate to interrupt the attack. We lost our 3 remaining older hens to a bobcat in mid afternoon. She came back for each body to carry them off, and that is how we knew what attacked them.

 

[Illz]

Here’s a pic of the wound. Still has some of the blood stop powder on it. I’ll rinse it with saline spray once she’s a little more calm. She’s safe in a dog crate in the garage at the moment but still seems on very high alert.

 

[FowlProtector]

Tag Debbie292d she online now!
Do you know how?

 

[FrostRanger]

I would also look at ways to stop the bobcat from getting in again as it will almost certainly be back again. I'd look into covering the run

 

[Illz]

I would also look at ways to stop the bobcat from getting in again as it will almost certainly be back again. I'd look into covering the run

Yes it is an ongoing mission out here. Today is the first nice day after a long stretch of snow and storm so I think it was extra desperate today too. We are getting an lgd soon and hopefully that will help.