Strange Wound - (See Closed Thread) "My neighbor shot at me"

[Then I Will]

So, I'd like other opinions on this strange wound I found on my hen today.
I'm referencing my former thread that was locked for some strange reason -- please refrain from comments that may get it locked down again.
(I intended this post to be in Predators/Pests instead of Emergencies/Injuries/Diseases/Cures, because I do not need help treating the injury-- only diagnosing the cause.)

1. Former thread was not click-bait. Then I Will has been my username for sometime-- in reference to the little red hen.

2. PLEASE read and respond to this thread BEFORE investigating the locked thread.

3. This wound was found on my hen AFTER a policeman showed up at my door this morning. But I suspect the wound was received BEFORE the policeman was called out as I witnessed one of my birds becoming injured as though she was stricken from the sky. I did not call the policeman out. My neighbor did, filing a complaint about my rooster.
I will offer details on how the bird might have been wounded after I receive your thoughts.

Here she is, wrapped up and ready for a second look.

I felt a big hard lump/scab on her head and decided to investigate. I picked the pea sized wad off of her head, exposing an odd hole. (Part of the scab is still attached here)

Here we go-- snip snip away some feathers and we can clearly see the injury now. An odd, back of skull wound- right up against her skull.

Sprayed with VetRx. I saw a flash of grey when I picked the scab off, but I am now uncertain if the foreign body fell out or moved down through her neck under her skin. She moved around quite a bit and I lost the hard, pea sized lump that I had seen and felt upon opening up the scab.

What do you think? 2 legged predator with a pellet gun?? Or perhaps some other freak injury?

 

[Kiki]

I am afraid that we will never know exactly what caused the injury.
Only you could possible know/
It could be any of the above mention things.

 

[Laodicia]

So, I'd like other opinions on this strange wound I found on my hen today.
I'm referencing my former thread that was locked for some strange reason -- please refrain from comments that may get it locked down again.
(I intended this post to be in Predators/Pests instead of Emergencies/Injuries/Diseases/Cures, because I do not need help treating the injury-- only diagnosing the cause.)

1. Former thread was not click-bait. Then I Will has been my username for sometime-- in reference to the little red hen.

2. PLEASE read and respond to this thread BEFORE investigating the locked thread.

3. This wound was found on my hen AFTER a policeman showed up at my door this morning. But I suspect the wound was received BEFORE the policeman was called out as I witnessed one of my birds becoming injured as though she was stricken from the sky. I did not call the policeman out. My neighbor did, filing a complaint about my rooster.
I will offer details on how the bird might have been wounded after I receive your thoughts.

Here she is, wrapped up and ready for a second look. View attachment 1279081
I felt a big hard lump/scab on her head and decided to investigate. I picked the pea sized wad off of her head, exposing an odd hole. (Part of the scab is still attached here)
View attachment 1279083

View attachment 1279085
Here we go-- snip snip away some feathers and we can clearly see the injury now. An odd, back of skull wound- right up against her skull.
View attachment 1279087

Sprayed with VetRx. I saw a flash of grey when I picked the scab off, but I am now uncertain if the foreign body fell out or moved down through her neck under her skin. She moved around quite a bit and I lost the hard, pea sized lump that I had seen and felt upon opening up the scab.
View attachment 1279090

What do you think? 2 legged predator with a pellet gun?? Or perhaps some other freak injury?

I believe I read your other thread before... it honestly could be anything. even a piece of wire sticking out. or a nail/screw. I'm not saying it wasn't an intentional attack, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions either... maybe get a trail cam.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Maybe run her to a friendly vet for an Xray if you think there's a pellet in there.

 

[Then I Will]

I was hoping others would know exactly what a pellet wound looked like. I was watching my birds and yesterday morning I saw one jump and back-flip as though lightning had struck her. They were all stirred up after that and when I went out to investigate I heard another shot but never heard a pellet ricochet.

I looked the birds over and thought they were all fine until that evening when I petted this one on the head and discovered the lump. After picking the scab, I saw and felt a hard lump of grey in the wound when I opened it up but by the time we made it to the laundry room the grey was gone-- so it either fell out or slipped down her neck.
Husband didn't want to spend money on a vet xray to have to prove there is a pellet in there.

An hour after I saw my bird jump, a policeman visited me with a noise complaint from the problem neighbor. I don't think any of this is jumping to conclusions after what I've been through-- I'm just hoping someone has experience on pellet entry wounds in fowl or other animals.

It's pretty sad that animals that are caged in well within my property boundaries can get shot at... and township police act like it's something we two need to work out between us.

 

[Patinas]

Wound could be from a pellet gun but also looks like it could have got snagged on something. It certainly looks like it will heal up nicely so that's the good news in all this.

 

[casportpony]

Insect your pen for exposed nails or wire, and double chech that it's predator proof.

Clean the wound properly and it should heal just fine.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Well, before I even posted on your other referenced thread, from day ONE, I knew it would be shut down before long. That's how it goes on hot button topics, where people are passionate. I think they shut down threads to kinda protect us. Some BYC'ers start on retaliation suggestions and I think it just spirals from there.

I was hoping to see you again! I wanted to mention I think an E fence is great for standard predators but NOT 2 legs. I put up an E fence to contain my roosters. But I wanna KNOW what the experience is if I'm exposing my animals to it. Anyways, in one thread I described it as flick to the back of my hand that might be more effective to the nose of a predator. Someone told me take a shoe off and dip a toe into the grass. It was duck... and it LIT me up! I saw the spark even. Point being it works well if they are grounded but I suspect 2 legged predator (that aren't aerial) would likely be wearing shoes.

As for me... I don't wish to stir things up... If you heard a shot and saw your hen jump like lightening struck, you know the likely culprit. It's TOO coincidental.

Are pellets made of lead? Lead is poisonous.

X rays are pricey and out of my range...

Get your privacy fence up ASAP and plant roses, blackberries, raspberries or some other hellaciously thorny plant on the outside of the fence... and if you're posting a trail cam make it where it can see the neighbors approach as it will never catch a pellet flying past and if it did a pellet doesn't prove that it came form you whack neighbors, IMO.

I hope you find resolve sometime soon.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Agree with above. It looks like it could be a pellet wound, but w/out the pellet you can't be sure. I'd look over the coop/run and make sure there's nothing else... as in eliminate all other suspects.
Did you get the game cam to keep an eye on your birds? Also, I'd maybe get another one that faces the neighbor's, discreetly of course. Or where the shots are coming from.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

(Oops posted too soon then deleted)

My 4 camera system cost only twice as much as a game cam. 140 to be precise. It's wired into a box in my house, has decent night vision, can alert me when I'm away, and has easily solved some worries I had. You can say you can't afford it all day but your problems continue.

The day you whip out your phone and show the police a screenshot of your neighbor pointing a weapon at your livestock is the day they will stop expecting this to quiet down. Then 140 becomes a whole new value. Find the jingle. Ask for an early gift from someone. Sell something you can live without. You won't regret it.

Very best wishes solving this.