Turkey hen attacked by fox

[Bnuuy]

Graphic Images Ahead!

Hi guys!! I’m looking for advice amongst more experienced poultry owners, but yesterday our hen was attacked by a fox. It was too early in the morning for me to really understand what was happening before I got my rifle and scared the fox off with a warning shot.

I thought our hen (8 months old) had died, but she was just in shock. I put her in one of our spare crates to protect her from getting bullied by our flock after cleaning her wounds, but the vets are/were closed since it was the weekend and now it’s holiday and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do for her myself. or if there’s I need to buy at a feed store?

I really want to help her!! It’s been 24 hours and she’s eating and drinking with assistance but I want to know if there’s anything I can do to manage pain or treat her wounds.

The first image is from the day of the attack and the second image is her today.

 

[Evadig]

Graphic Images Ahead!

Hi guys!! I’m looking for advice amongst more experienced poultry owners, but yesterday our hen was attacked by a fox. It was too early in the morning for me to really understand what was happening before I got my rifle and scared the fox off with a warning shot.

I thought our hen (8 months old) had died, but she was just in shock. I put her in one of our spare crates to protect her from getting bullied by our flock after cleaning her wounds, but the vets are/were closed since it was the weekend and now it’s holiday and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do for her myself. or if there’s I need to buy at a feed store?

I really want to help her!! It’s been 24 hours and she’s eating and drinking with assistance but I want to know if there’s anything I can do to manage pain or treat her wounds.

The first image is from the day of the attack and the second image is her today.

I’m sorry about your turkey! Make sure flies don’t get on her. Maybe you could wrap her in gauze so she doesn’t peck at her wounds herself? Hopefully someone more experienced will be along to help .

 

[Bnuuy]

I’m sorry about your turkey! Make sure flies don’t get on her. Maybe you could wrap her in gauze so she doesn’t peck at her wounds herself? Hopefully someone more experienced will be along to help .

I’ve been very attentive with her when it comes to insects. Doing everything I can to prevent them from getting on her, especially ants! As for gauze, I am not sure I can wrap half her wounds. I heard it’s better for birds to not wrap them but I’ll see what I can do! I’m currently heading to a feed store for supplies. Thanks!

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Graphic Images Ahead!

Hi guys!! I’m looking for advice amongst more experienced poultry owners, but yesterday our hen was attacked by a fox. It was too early in the morning for me to really understand what was happening before I got my rifle and scared the fox off with a warning shot.

I thought our hen (8 months old) had died, but she was just in shock. I put her in one of our spare crates to protect her from getting bullied by our flock after cleaning her wounds, but the vets are/were closed since it was the weekend and now it’s holiday and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do for her myself. or if there’s I need to buy at a feed store?

I really want to help her!! It’s been 24 hours and she’s eating and drinking with assistance but I want to know if there’s anything I can do to manage pain or treat her wounds.

The first image is from the day of the attack and the second image is her today.

Welcome To BYC

Hopefully others that keep Turkeys can chime in. @casportpony @Huntmaster @Molpet @R2elk

General care is to clean the wounds. You can use saline, Chlorhexidine, Betadine or similar. Apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds or some find that using Vetericyn spray works well. I prefer Chlorhexidine and triple antibiotic ointment for most things.

Do not cover the wounds with anything unless she starts picking at herself, then if necessary, put a cotton t shirt on her to help deter picking.

Work on getting her hydrated. Sugar water or electrolytes would be good. Sounds like you are assisting her which is fine, she's still in shock so getting a bit of sugar into her can help bring up glucose levels. Giving food is good if she's willing to eat.

As for pain, you could give some aspirin, but she's suffered injury, bleeding and perhaps may have suffered internal injury as well. Meloxicam would be a better choice. For me, I'd hold off on aspirin for a day or so and see how she does.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would get some tubes of triple antibiotic ointment at Walmart or Target, etc to apply to the bare skin. Saline or Vetericyn wound spray can used to spray on and clean wounds. Hibiclens (chlorhexidene) disinfectant can be used as well and then rinsed off with water. Some use weak Betadine as well. Saline is simply 2 tsp of salt dissolved in a quart or 32 ounces of water. It is near the pH of body tissue so doesn’t sting.

She looks to have some puncture or fang wounds, and those can abscess, so watch for that. Is her crop open at all with a bite?Their lungs on up on the back, so watch for any escaping air there. Aspirin 81mg low dose is okay to give orally twice a day for 2-3 days for pain. A lot depends on if she has any internal injuries to organs on how she recovers. I would offer mushy wet feed plus some egg daily, and keep her drinking plenty of water. Feeding her or keeping her close to food/water are important. Let us know how she gets along. She is pretty lucky that you rescued her.

 

[Bnuuy]

she’s much livelier right now,

Welcome To BYC

Hopefully others that keep Turkeys can chime in. @casportpony @Huntmaster @Molpet @R2elk

General care is to clean the wounds. You can use saline, Chlorhexidine, Betadine or similar. Apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wounds or some find that using Vetericyn spray works well. I prefer Chlorhexidine and triple antibiotic ointment for most things.

Do not cover the wounds with anything unless she starts picking at herself, then if necessary, put a cotton t shirt on her to help deter picking.

Work on getting her hydrated. Sugar water or electrolytes would be good. Sounds like you are assisting her which is fine, she's still in shock so getting a bit of sugar into her can help bring up glucose levels. Giving food is good if she's willing to eat.

As for pain, you could give some aspirin, but she's suffered injury, bleeding and perhaps may have suffered internal injury as well. Meloxicam would be a better choice. For me, I'd hold off on aspirin for a day or so and see how she does.

Thank you! I used Vetericyn earlier today. I didn’t even think about internal injuries though! She seems a lot more lively than yesterday and stands up when she sees me. I think that’s a good sign but Ill have take her to the local vet when they open tomorrow. Do you think it would be too stressful to transfer or move her in this state?

 

[Bnuuy]

She looks to have some puncture or fang wounds, and those can abscess, so watch for that. Is her crop open at all with a bite?Their lungs on up on the back, so watch for any escaping air there.

Her crop isn’t open no, or at least I don’t think it is. The skin around her neck is pretty severed and it seems it receded up from where it’s supposed to be since her wattle seems to be higher than it was. As for air escaping from her back; I have not noticed anything so far, the teeth punctures reached her muscle in a lot of places but I don’t think it’s reached any further. All her bleeding (from wounds she didn’t reopen) has stopped from what I’ve observed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she’s much livelier right now,

Thank you! I used Vetericyn earlier today. I didn’t even think about internal injuries though! She seems a lot more lively than yesterday and stands up when she sees me. I think that’s a good sign but Ill have take her to the local vet when they open tomorrow. Do you think it would be too stressful to transfer or move her in this state?

Hard to know how stressful at trip would be on her. If she's used to being handled, it may not be too bad, you just never know how a bird is going to react.

It's good that she's more lively though. If you can't see the vet, just keep working on hydration and cleaning the wounds as needed and applying your ointment or vetericyn.

 

[Bnuuy]

Hey guys! It’s now been 3 days and she’s still here she started chirping this morning and was acting restless in her pen. I decided to move her indoors due to the weather, but she walked (with guidance) all the way there.

I can’t imagine healing from this smells pretty, but she does now have an odor, I’m wondering if that is the start of infection? Once the rain calms down I’ll be going to the vet todays to see if I can get her some oral antibiotics.

Thanks for all the help yesterday!