Traumatized hen - suggestions?

[BonDEEroo]

The neighbour's enormous Rhodesian ridgeback cross Mastiff got in among our chooks yesterday afternoon when they were free-ranging. We managed to get there in time - no fatalities or injuries, apart from Jemima the australorp who was hiding under a bush panting. She was missing a few feathers and had a little blood on one wattle, but had no other external wounds or damage. The dog had grabbed her back - it was wet with saliva. She calmed down very quickly when I was holding her and she even let herself be turned over onto her back to be looked at.

We put Jemima in a box and she spent the night in the house in the warmth (it's mid-winter here and gets down to freezing overnight). She ate a little piece of roast pork and drank a little water.

When I put her out with the other chooks this morning she just stood there and wouldn't eat or move around. So I took her back in and she seemed happy and relaxed in the box. She enjoyed a tiny bit of cheddar and some fresh sweet corn. Her droppings seem normal and she doesn't fuss when handled except clucking when I touched her back where the dog got her.

I think she's just bruised, sore and needs some quiet time. I'm wondering if she needs any more care?

 

[hahmmy]

Perhaps she is just really scared. One of my australorps..who is more like a dog than a chicken was terrorized by a hawk sitting on top of coop screaming and slashing at window. She would not leave coop even to go into enclosed run for three days.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

missing a few feathers and had a little blood on one wattle......dog had grabbed her back - it was wet with saliva

Check under her feathers really well for any puncture wounds - this will be a good time to see what the extent of bruising would be as well (look for greenish colored skin). Dogs tend to squeeze, so she may just have bruising or worst case, some internal injuries.

Offer some poultry vitamins in her water and see that she is eating well - see if she will eat her normal feed, along with a few extra goodies like the pork, some egg or tuna.

Let us know how she is doing.

 

[chickens really]

Put her back with the flock...Chickens hate change and she is already stressed out.....
Sounds like you saved them in time.....

 

[BonDEEroo]

Thanks, I have found one puncture wound under her right wing, which we have washed and disinfected. Will see how she's going and put her back later today (she was hand-raised from a day-old chick so she is very comfortable with her human flock too and lets herself be picked up and handled)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad you found the wound.

Getting her back with the others does help with stress. Keep watch on the wound daily to make sure that flies have not gotten to it.

I hope all goes well

 

[BonDEEroo]

As of yesterday, Jemima's back with the flock. The wound is healing nicely; it's cold and there are no flies. She is eating her regular feed but most of the time she just sits quietly under a bush. The other chooks sit with her and keep her company, including the two 12-week cockerels who used to keep out of her way. I've not noticed any pecking or aggression so I hope she's not going to be victimized.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I had one get grabbed by a hawk. It took a long time for her to get back to normal.
She his in the coop for days and very slowly got comfortable being in the run.
I think she always kept an eye on the sky after that.

I think given time she will be OK. Just keep that wound treated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the update!
I'm glad she is healing well, I hope she continues to recover

 

[BonDEEroo]

Thanks, she's a sweet and trusting girl and we feel bad she had such an awful experience.