URGENT: predator got in coop, killed 2 chickens and injured 2 others

[Morrigan]

I'm glad she is eating the eggs. I would keep offering her other favorite things -- mealworms, scratch, tuna fish, whatever. It was scratch that finally triggered my injured one to start eating on her own.

 

[glassdragonfly]

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you use some chlorhexidene and water to clean the infected wound? Then wash it off with water. Betadine would also work. Then coat with plain Neosporin. Back in post 17 there were a lot of foods to offer to tempt her to eat. Tube feeding might also be something that you would want to learn as long as her crop is emptying normally.

 

[CindyinSD]

You might consider putting her kennel in the coop if it will fit and you can care for her there. That way she can be with the flock safely. She’d be much happier that way, and may start eating more.

 

[CindyinSD]

Also, concerning her draining wound, is there a cavity or pocket, etc. that you can see, where the drainage exits? I think it could be important to irrigate that pocket with normal saline solution once or twice a day, to help clear out the infection. A syringe might work—an irrigation syringe might work better, if the opening to the wound isn’t too small. If it is too small, I might consider a tiny incision to open it up. Dark, airless cavities are the best friends of pathogenic microbes.

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

You might consider putting her kennel in the coop if it will fit and you can care for her there. That way she can be with the flock safely. She’d be much happier that way, and may start eating more.

That's a really good idea. I might try that tomorrow.

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

Also, concerning her draining wound, is there a cavity or pocket, etc. that you can see, where the drainage exits? I think it could be important to irrigate that pocket with normal saline solution once or twice a day, to help clear out the infection. A syringe might work—an irrigation syringe might work better, if the opening to the wound isn’t too small. If it is too small, I might consider a tiny incision to open it up. Dark, airless cavities are the best friends of pathogenic microbes.

Yes, the infection is coming from some sort of cavity. There's an opening large enough that I can fit the tip of an eyedropper through that I've been using to flush it out with salt water since yesterday, which sounds similar to what you suggested.

 

[CindyinSD]

That should help... I wouldn’t attempt to cover it at all... and you might try a bit of your colloidal silver in the wound after you flush it out. I haven’t ever used it but I’ve heard good things from people I’m inclined to trust.

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

Update: she's doing a little better, I think. She's recently started eating a little by herself. Not enough that I can quit force-feeding her but enough that I think she's improving. I let her outside on Saturday with the other chickens and she tried getting in a dominance fight with one of them (neither of them got injuries from it, don't worry) so, I guess other than the chance that she could have been further injured, I guess that's a good sign. I think the infection is clearing up because I don't really smell it anymore and there's no more fluid sitting in the wound. So, I think it's more than likely that she's going to make it. Thank you everyone for your advice and sympathy, it means a lot.

 

[Morrigan]

Update: she's doing a little better, I think. She's recently started eating a little by herself. Not enough that I can quit force-feeding her but enough that I think she's improving. I let her outside on Saturday with the other chickens and she tried getting in a dominance fight with one of them (neither of them got injuries from it, don't worry) so, I guess other than the chance that she could have been further injured, I guess that's a good sign. I think the infection is clearing up because I don't really smell it anymore and there's no more fluid sitting in the wound. So, I think it's more than likely that she's going to make it. Thank you everyone for your advice and sympathy, it means a lot.

Thanks for the update! I'm so glad she is doing better.