Treating a hen attacked by a fox - help please

[CarolinaCrazy]

I'm a first time bird owner. My flock of four 12 week olds got hit by a fox 48 hours ago. I lost three birds completely. We found one girl, Kevin ("Kevin's a girl?" - from the movie Up), hiding under a bush. She was in shock and in definite pain - could hardl stand up or move around. We found one visible wound under her left wing that looks like it could be a bite mark - it wasn't bleeding much. I have put Polysporin on the wound. She favors that side and hardly moves around. She's definitely in pain, but I can't see any visible injuries. I can not feel any broken leg bones, but can't feel much under her feathers so there is probably something i'm not seeing.

I have had her in her coop for the past 2 days - she huddles back in the nesting box avoiding contact. She just sits there, hardly moving, and not wanting to be touched (she never really did) She coos a litte when i approach and squaks if I try and handle her - I've only picked her up 3 times since we found her, hoping to minimize any further injury. Weather is warm here (low 90s) so she's comfortable, maybe even too warm?

I've put water with some sugar in it in a shallow dish right in front of her but she doesn't appear to have drunk much. twice I got her to drink a few sips by putting the water under her beak and dipping her beak in, but not much and I fear she may be becoming dehydrated. She isn't drinking on her own I don't think.

Yesterday we gave her watermelon, her favorite, but she hardly pecked at it. This morning, I gave her some scrambled egg and she would take it if hand fed, but wouldn't eat off the small dish I put in front of her. I'd estimate she's eaten just a teaspoon or two in the past 24 hours. She did poop after she ate which is a good sign.

So it's been 48 hours, she's eating a little, drinking very little and can hardly move.

I've thought about
- Just wait and see...keeping up the treatment as best I have, given my naivety.
- Bringing her into a small temporary box in my garage where I can get at her more easily, it's a little cooler and I can hand feed her more easily
- Putting her out of her misery.

The stress of not knowing if she can and will recover is what's eating at me. If she's in pain, and wont' recover, I need to end it. On the other hand she has taken some food, so maybe she can get thru it?

What other signs should I look for?
How can I get her to drink more?
What other treatments should I consider?

Thanks for your help.

cc

 

[Stiggy]

chickens can go through awful things and still survive, they are hardy creatures. unfortunately there is very little you can give her pain med wise that's safe for chickens. sounds like she is in shock, she will need to be kept warm as their body temp drops when in shock and she will need somewhere dark and quiet. you will need to keep the wound clean and dry so it can heal, and it is quite possible that she has internal injuries. you may have to hydrate her with a needle-less syringe with some electrolites but the sugar water should be ok for now. make sure its warm when you give it to her

 

[mtnchickie79]

Reading your post is heartbreaking, and unfortunately, my husband and I have experienced this first hand about a week ago when a stray dog killed 7 of our 9 chickens. Every situation is different, and we are beginners, as well. Our two survivors were in shock for the first couple of days. One of them was actually in hiding over night, but she came back home the next day. Both had pretty extensive external injuries. We started them both on penicillin g (procaine) 0.5ml, given in the leg muscle. This has seemed to help with the healing process, and hopefully, ward off infection. We have also been applying bacitraycin ointment to their wounds, twice day for the first few days, then just once daily. We have also used a bacitraycin wound spray. One of our girls is doing really well, and took her first dust bath yesterday! The other is struggling, and we're not sure whether she's got broken ribs or worse. Both love to be held, so we're doing our best to give them lots of TLC. I don't think either have been eating as much as they normally would, so I got some freeze dried meal worms today, that they absolutely loved. Anyway, please pray for our little ones, and prayers are heading your way as well. Any advice or helpful tips are greatly appreciated!