What bird tried to kill my chicken - video

[DianaG59]

My run door is broken and 3 birds escaped while I was away at work. This attack happened 20 minutes before I arrived. Constellation is in emergency surgery in 45 minutes.

What bird is this? Video has sound. Don't watch this if you don't want to witness and hear.

Not necessarily looking for care advice, I hope the vets know what they're doing and she's going to stay with us...

View attachment 3946933

Looks the same as a Coopers Hawk thats been worrying my hens and roo for the last few months! THey are a sneaky silent predator and have dive bombed me in my yard when I was outside with my hens!.

 

[AnniM]

Rumor around here (So CA) is that this hawk species can see a lizard on the ground as they fly around looking for food. If they spot a chicken, esp a smaller one, they will try again. We lost 3 to hawks before we installed aviary net over the area. Sorry for your loss.

 

[payton360]

I'm so sorry your hen was attacked. I lost one last year to a hawk attack. Found her dead against the fence. I had never had any problems in 9 years of keeping chickens. So very sad. She was 9 years old and still in great shape. The two younger ones were so traumatized that they would not come out of my coop for days. I have put heavy netting over the reduced chicken run. I use bird tape on top of the net. Hawks and birds of prey are beautiful but I want them to stay away from my yard!

 

[Fowl Explorer]

My run door is broken and 3 birds escaped while I was away at work. This attack happened 20 minutes before I arrived. Constellation is in emergency surgery in 45 minutes.

What bird is this? Video has sound. Don't watch this if you don't want to witness and hear.

Not necessarily looking for care advice, I hope the vets know what they're doing and she's going to stay with us...

View attachment 3946933

Hawk. See the barring on the wings?
B

 

[WindyCityCoop]

One suggestion: your yard isnt that big so you can easily and economically string fishing line across your yard and it will probably keep all flying predators off your yard. watch this video:

 

[Seaslug]

Sarah--sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Hope you find that your chicken is doing well when you get home.

 

[SarahLadd]

Sarah--sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Hope you find that your chicken is doing well when you get home.

It has been a challenging day.

Constellation is back home with me. Her caretaker did very good work. My bird is healing and she is spry. I will take pictures in the morning.

I have been up since very early in the morning to handle traveling across the country to pick up all my exotic charges. I've had people taking care of my dog and reptiles, my injured bird, and the rest of my flock in so many directions, and I've taken the whole day to collect them, and I still need to cry at some point.

 

[Kblais]

I need reassuring. They were not able to close this wound. The doctor said the skin was too tight. I have been doing wound care as prescribed. She is indoors being kept on paper towel with food and water and a perch pole. She is getting an antibiotic, painkiller and chlorahexadine swabbed to the open wound twice daily and otherwise kept dry.

Please help. Should I bring her back?

My hen was attacked over the summer by a dog, I kept her in a dog kennel away from the others, and kept her wound covered, I would change the dressing every other day and use lots of neosporin, try using ever ready first aid to hold the dressing on, you can actually wrap it around her. Make sure she drinks plenty of water and eats some food, the kennel I used was an easy way to keep her calm and relax not moving around much.

 

[FiveMileCreek]

I need reassuring. They were not able to close this wound. The doctor said the skin was too tight. I have been doing wound care as prescribed. She is indoors being kept on paper towel with food and water and a perch pole. She is getting an antibiotic, painkiller and chlorahexadine swabbed to the open wound twice daily and otherwise kept dry.

Please help. Should I bring her back?

I'm sure more familiar people will be less stressful.
I agree with the suggestion on using triple antibiotic ointment (aka Neosporin), squeeze some of the tube in the wound till it gets filled. This will help it heal from inside out. Vet told me this to treat dog teeth puncture wounds. I've treated chicken wounds with pure iodine (10%). It helps heal fast and prevents bacteria and scavenger bugs from being interested in the wound. No need for a perch, that would be exhausting energy. I'd offer a soft bedded nest type option, so she can feel safe. Best of luck!

 

[catballou]

One suggestion: your yard isnt that big so you can easily and economically string fishing line across your yard and it will probably keep all flying predators off your yard. watch this video:

That would injure any bird that tried to fly thru it.