Snake bit pullet, anything else I can do?

[bayouchica]

At least I pretty sure that's what it is.She's got dried blood between her eye & nostril, not sure if yall can tell from the pic. I can't really see a clear puncture wound.I have been seeing baby copperheads around the last week or so.
Poor girl,this is my Prudy Girl of course a favorite of mine.I noticed this yesterday afternoon,she was fine that morning.Prudy is eating & drinking but needs it placed higher,because I think her wattles hurt or get in the way since they are swollen. I've given her a crushed aspirin in gal of water, is there anything else I can do to make her more comfortable? I've got her in a spare room that has A/C in a dog kennel.
Last year the same thing happened to another pullet,but wasn't swollen up as bad as Prudy is.
Yesterdays pic of her

Took this just awhile ago, now both her wattles are swollen & hot.

Thanks,Miriam

 

[kinnip]

Because copperheads inject an anticoagulant and necrotizing agent, if there's no oozing or tissue necrosis, it may not be a snake bite. It could be from a spider. If she's still kicking after 24 hrs, she'll likely recover. Make sure she stays hydrated! If she doesn't like drinking, drop some fluids on her beak. An electrolyte/vitamin powder wouldn't hurt. Since some tissue necrosis is inevitable with either a spider or snake bite, you might try administering some Tylan 50 to prevent secondary infection.

ETA: If you're really sure that it's a copperhead bite, I'd stop giving aspirin since that too is an anticoagulant.

 

[ruth]

Oh Miriam, I'm so sorry. I hope she recovers. I wouldn't have a clue what to do for snake bite other than trying to keep her comfortable, possibly still and quiet with food and water but sounds like you're already doing that.

Best of luck.

 

[bayouchica]

My little Prudy is getting better

I was worried about her I think she had trouble swallowing food.She's still has some swelling in her wattles but not near as bad. Prudy was very happy to be back out with the rest of the flock.
I could tell she felt better yesterday, she was talkative & was begging for some laptime,lol.

 

[Chicken Boo]

If the snake was biting to defend itself and not for food, Prudy may very well have gotten a "dry bite" having little or no venum. Snakes do not like to waste venum on something they are not going to eat. I have spoken to vets that have had lots of dogs brought in for poisonous snake bites and most of them are dry bites; the snakes just want the dogs to go away. After the way my chickens were about to rip appart an adolescent snake in my garden last week, I would not be surprised to learn that Prudy was the aggressor.

Good luck with your girl. I hope she is better soon.

 

[illinichick]

I wasn't aware that snakes had the ability to choose whether they release venom or not.

 

[mypicklebird]

they do. they inject venom when they want to kill the prey item, or they are being really harassed or hurt. less venom if they are threatening something (or if they recently bit something else)

Do you have hawks in the area, and can they get at the chickens? We have red tailed and sharp shinned here, and when they try to get our chickens, I have seen wounds & bruising to the head like that. If you have hawk problems and can't confine them under netting, and you can have noisy poultry-- roosters and guinea fowl can do a decent job of warning the hens when a hawk is nearby.
jess

Quote:

 

[bayouchica]

We don't have many hawks around here.They have an easier time catching prey out in the hundreds of acres of farmland behind our place.Chickens have plenty of cover if there was one around. We tired the guinea thing,they were way too noisy for us.

 

[kinnip]

I'm glad she's better!

 

[Poohbear]

A poisionous snake strike with no venom? A warning bite perhaps? A Copperhead that doesn't inject poison when they bite? A Moccasin? C'mon now ladies! Either you're trying to pull someones leg or you've been in the Texas grape juice too much. Watched too many Disney movies as a kid didya? You better not try your theory. Wouldn't be too healthy.