Buff Dadie
In the Brooder
My favorite Red Sex Link was injured on a Sunday morning around 3:30 am by a fox. On her back all the feathers/quills were missing 3x3 inch area. There was no blood, but you could see some bone. Could not find a vet then or during the following days.
I choose to isolate the her in my garage. Gave her normal layer feed and electrolytes in her water. I also sprayed Vetericyn on her several times a day. The injury looked bad but Sunday morning and for the next three days she ate/drank/walked/foraged in the yard (two hours alone) She acted normal, her comb etc looked normal. She layed an egg 3 of 5 days.
Now the bad things......her underbelly was very warm throughout her ordeal. On day 4 she began to limp favoring her left leg. I think she quit eating around then. Day 5 she could barely walk and stopped eating and drinking for sure.. Day 6 she never moved. Day 7 she died. Her last egg was I think Wednesday and she died late Saturday night. After her death I checked her butt area for impacted egg, I think it is called. I don't know what to look for, but there were no lumps or big area. It looked normal.
So I am thinking the warm belly is possibly fever or infection? Perhaps not laying an egg was the problem? I did force her to drink some lemon/blueberry/water liquid. Thanks in advance for any Chicken Doctor advice. I feel terrible. I miss counted my chickens when I secured them for the night and locked my buddy out. It's not my first mistake concerning a fox.
I choose to isolate the her in my garage. Gave her normal layer feed and electrolytes in her water. I also sprayed Vetericyn on her several times a day. The injury looked bad but Sunday morning and for the next three days she ate/drank/walked/foraged in the yard (two hours alone) She acted normal, her comb etc looked normal. She layed an egg 3 of 5 days.
Now the bad things......her underbelly was very warm throughout her ordeal. On day 4 she began to limp favoring her left leg. I think she quit eating around then. Day 5 she could barely walk and stopped eating and drinking for sure.. Day 6 she never moved. Day 7 she died. Her last egg was I think Wednesday and she died late Saturday night. After her death I checked her butt area for impacted egg, I think it is called. I don't know what to look for, but there were no lumps or big area. It looked normal.
So I am thinking the warm belly is possibly fever or infection? Perhaps not laying an egg was the problem? I did force her to drink some lemon/blueberry/water liquid. Thanks in advance for any Chicken Doctor advice. I feel terrible. I miss counted my chickens when I secured them for the night and locked my buddy out. It's not my first mistake concerning a fox.
