Two of my hens are severely injured Monday morning by a determined dog that managed to get into the run (literally bent up the chain link!). Both hens are JG hens...not exactly tiny. We will not put them down at this time until we are certain their quality of life will be permanently affected.
Hen 1)
One hen was fine later that day...walking around, eating and drinking normal, etc. I brought her inside and cleaned her wounds with dilute iodine, packed with neosporin and put her in the dog kennel in our dining room. She laid an egg for us yesterday.
Now, she is still eating and drinking, poo is normal, but she won't stand unless she absolutely has to. If I go to touch her, she pecks at me. I am hoping that she is just really sore. Her wounds are on her back and primarily cuts and shallower punctures than I would expect. No infection can be identified (or smelled), no pus or drainage, but definitely bruised in a number of areas along her back. While I am aware that internal injuries are a possibility, her surficial injuries lead me to believe that it is probably not internal...at least, not serious. She lays there with her eyes closed UNTIL we put a tomato in front of her...then watch out! She tears it up!
Hen 2)
This hen was under the coop with her leg pointed behind her. It does not appear to be broke anywhere, dislocated, no swelling and no apparent slipped tendons. Given her size, she can't walk at the moment. her thigh is functional, her lower leg is not (though warm, so clearly has blood flow). However, she has two puncture wounds on her thigh and, while speaking with someone, I have been told that it is possible that a nerve to her lower leg may have been damaged, but such injuries can recover (unlike paralysis from a back injury). It may take a few weeks to see any changes, but it is possible that, if that is the case, she can make a full recovery. A slow process, but nonetheless, someday walk again. She is feisty and alert, normal poop (obviously I clean her regularly), eat and drinks and talks a lot (cooing). Her back has a large injury...skin and some muscle missing. I cleaned with dilute iodine and covered in neosporin. I have also given her Pen-G for 3 days (~0.3 ml once a day). She is trying to be more active...trying to prop her self up, etc. Today, I am noticing a slight odor from her back. I think it is infected (no pus, no discharge...maybe just me being paranoid) and am wondering if I should put her on a stronger antibiotic (especially since Pen-G is suppose to be for 3 days only anyway).
Any opinions or suggestions on either hen?
Hen 1)
One hen was fine later that day...walking around, eating and drinking normal, etc. I brought her inside and cleaned her wounds with dilute iodine, packed with neosporin and put her in the dog kennel in our dining room. She laid an egg for us yesterday.
Hen 2)
This hen was under the coop with her leg pointed behind her. It does not appear to be broke anywhere, dislocated, no swelling and no apparent slipped tendons. Given her size, she can't walk at the moment. her thigh is functional, her lower leg is not (though warm, so clearly has blood flow). However, she has two puncture wounds on her thigh and, while speaking with someone, I have been told that it is possible that a nerve to her lower leg may have been damaged, but such injuries can recover (unlike paralysis from a back injury). It may take a few weeks to see any changes, but it is possible that, if that is the case, she can make a full recovery. A slow process, but nonetheless, someday walk again. She is feisty and alert, normal poop (obviously I clean her regularly), eat and drinks and talks a lot (cooing). Her back has a large injury...skin and some muscle missing. I cleaned with dilute iodine and covered in neosporin. I have also given her Pen-G for 3 days (~0.3 ml once a day). She is trying to be more active...trying to prop her self up, etc. Today, I am noticing a slight odor from her back. I think it is infected (no pus, no discharge...maybe just me being paranoid) and am wondering if I should put her on a stronger antibiotic (especially since Pen-G is suppose to be for 3 days only anyway).
Any opinions or suggestions on either hen?
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