Skunks-help

[browntraci2]

Sat nite something ate 1 of my silkies- last nite i heard a noise and i went out to find a skunk eating my american hen! Went in to get a bb gun and came out to find it eating another american hen! Well we thot she was dead but she wasnt- her face is pretty badly injured- i pray she makes it- Thot we fixed the hole he got in thru but at 430am i heard a chicken and went out to find my barred plymouth rock dead! Shot the skunk w bb gun this time but he got away- my question/concern is since the one hen has been chewed up by the skunk and if she makes it- r her eggs ok to eat? Is she ok to be round the others? How do i know if skunk has rabbies and my chicken, will she have rabies?? Please help---i need to know what to do

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry about the skunk attack. They can be brutal. You need to keep the surviving hen in a cage by herself to heal, but within the flock. If she is still in shock, you need to add heat to keep her warm. Shock causes them to deeply chill. You need to use neosporin, (without the pain killer) on her wounds and get some blu-kote as well on the wounds after the skin heals over. These will help prevent infection. Keep the bedding clean in her cage so she stays clean. You might also get her on antibiotics as puncture wounds do get infected easily. If you can do penicillin injections, this would be best. If you can't, you might try some amoxicillin in her water fro 7 to 10 days. This supportive care will get her thru this traumatic experience.

She probably won't be laying for quite sometime and will no doubt show extreme nervousness for weeks and even months to come. So don't force her out into the run or even to free range. Let her decide when she is ready. When she does start laying her eggs will be fine to eat.

You can also post this in our emergency section for more help..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck and try to get your coop and run all buttoned up. I hope this hen makes a full recovery.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about your hens, TwoCrows gave you some good advice about treating her, hope she recovers. There is a nice article in the Learning Center on skunks and some suggestions of how to deal with them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/skunk-chicken-predators-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-skunks

 

[gander007]

So sorry but you need a little shotgun sounds like ....

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! So sorry to hear about your skunk problems and your poor hen. Hope she recovers.

 

[drumstick diva]

I believe only mammals can be infected with rabies. Please head for the predator section and find out how to beef up your coop and run, so the poor chickens don't end up as skunk dinner. When they find easy pickins the predators will just keep coming back till your entire flock is wiped out.

PLEASE don't let that happens.