Trouble in the backyard

[CityFolk]

Last night sometime after midnight some critter knocked my gate down and got after the girls. I did not find out until this morning. I went out to let them out and saw feathers all over the back yard. All 5 hens were still alive, but I did not have time to examine them much before work. I plan on reinforcing the gate closure tonight and setting a live trap tommorow outside of its door. What can I look at to try and see if the hens are hurt other than being shaken up?

 

[HennysMom]

heads, bellies, wings, feet - just the entire chicken really.

Hardwire cloth is a good thing to have if you're going to reinforce your coop / run. I dont know your set up but make sure you run it out or dig it into the ground at least 12 inches so nothing can burrow in.

Sorry your birds got attacked.

 

[CMV]

Some Bach's Rescue Remedy, which is actually marketed for humans so you can find in the nature section of grocery stores or at a health food store, might be in order for its calming properties. Stress can sometimes be just as bad for birds as actual injuries. Especially in the heat of the summer when they are usually already a little stressed.

 

[jjthink]

Gonna have to examine them closely head to toe. If there are any puncture wounds you'll likely need oral or injectible antibiotic, and quickly. Neosporin (without pain relief ingredient) for surface wounds. As noted above, Rescue Remedy - a drop or two in their water - for stress. A bit of electrolytes as well, for stress or shock.
If anyone got injured to the point of reluctance to eat or drink, you may need some aspirin water - cross that bridge after you check everybody out and observe.
JJ

 

[CityFolk]

Update: I had a rough time tonight. When the sun went down the chickens did not go into the pen/coop for the first time. I could tell the were agitated as they were making more noise than they ever have. I think the trama of last night made them afraid of the coop. I saw two of them jump onto the chain link fence for the first time ever. I did not know they could get that high. It was fully dark and I was getting upset as I was thinking now they would get lose in the neighborhood. I called that neighbor and told him what was going on and he let me back there to chase them into my yard. I had to push them off the fence cause they would not jump off on their own.

Once in my yard, 2 had gone in the coop themselves and I chased one in. The other two I had to catch by hand and drop them in over the coop fence. I am going to clip their wings for the first time in the morning as they obviously need it. They were born april first so I guess they are of flying age now. I have a live trap now set at the door of the coop pen with a can of cat food in it and I have heavily secured the gate. Getting them back in the pen sure was a relief. The noise they were making just made me sick to my stomach as I could hear it inside through the door to the backyard so I knew the neighbors could probably hear it to.

I will let you all know how the wing clipping goes in the morning.

What kind of height can a chicken get to with clipped wings?

 

[Imp]

Just a thought, and I don't want to scare you. But if the chickens are afraid of the coop, you should check out the coop to make sure there's nothing in it. A couple years ago my hens were afraid to come down off the roosts and eat. I started moving things around and found a rat nest in the coop.

Good luck,
Imp

 

[CityFolk]

Well I got them clipped this morning. Sadly during my catching of the chickens two of them must have hit their heads on the chicken wire as the very back of the red things on their heads got injured. One of them was haning off a bit. Does that grow back or will it just lose that part of the comb?

 

[GaNewChick]

Doesn't clipping their wings take away their survival chances of being able to get up and away from anything after them?

 

[redhen]

Yeah, i dont think i'd clip their wings right now, so they can fly away from whatever is trying to get them.

**oops, i just saw that you clipped them already. Sorry. **

 

[cmom]

I hope you catch whatever was after your birds. I didn't have much luck with a live trap but did catch a possum in a leg trap. I checked with my local Game and Wildlife and ok to dispose of so I did, so it was bye bye possum. Now I have electric wire (6000 volts) around my coop, run and yard.