what pest?

[Sissy]

Taking a break . from cleaning up after we had more rain last night. I lost my baby Buff orp. roo 2 months old .now 4cochins
hens 4 months, I had them in a cyclone dog run and a
coop in side for shelter. just found another hen with its back almost bitten. thru, should Ijust end her misery?
Ihave it in a pet carrier its eating and drinking but just lies there.
we have 3 cats out watching for mice. would Gophers or ground hogs do this? thats the only pests we have seen and got rid of a few.

 

[Bluemoon420]

Ground hogs wouldn't do it, they are vegetarians. They just make a mess of the ground by digging holes. It does sound like a raccoon maybe.

I'm sorry for your loss

Bluemoon

 

[CMV]

Definitely not a gopher or groundhog. They may have opened up a tunnel for another predator to gain access, but that is the extent of their involvement. I'd offer some advice on caring for the wound, but I can't from the limited description. I need more info.
Sorry about your losses.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

No...groundhogs are not meat eaters, probably a racoon (especially if any were decapitated) or a possum.

Do you close the chickens up at night? Just a chain link fence is not going to stop much of anything at night.

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Oops...forgot to add that I have had chickens with awful wounds that healed very well over time. Don't give up on yours. As long as it is eating and drinking it should be ok eventually.

 

[Sissy]

Just came in from checking on my wounded hen she is eating and drinking and doing things as usual but stops when she prines herself on the right side where she has the wound.
I am concerned that the wound is too deep. to put anything on it.
. its just under her wing and looks as tho I can see some inners.
is that possiable?
what can I do to help it heal? or
should I just let nature follow its course. I have a small lock up coop inside the cyclone dog run and I do lock her in at night.
I cleaned her coop with clorax and let it dry.
I cleaned everything up giving her fresh shavings with
a little peat moss and Permectrin mixed in.

any thoughts on what more that can be done.

 

[tash]

possum maybe? I had one dig under a coop once. That's why it's important to fence/board the bottom as well as the top of whereever your flock stays at night.

 

[CMV]

Sissy-
I am sorry. I am usually of the mindset that if you can see organs then your bird is unlikely to survive. The chances that an organ is damaged at that point are very high. Not to mention the risk of infection. Chickens can survive a great many devastating injuries, but an injury where organs are visible is catastrophic. If it were my bird I would put her down to save her a lingering death from sepsis/infection.

If you want to attempt to save her a couple folks here are very knowledgeable in the Emergencies/Diseases/Injuries and Cures section of this site. I recommend posting in there.

Sorry and good luck.

 

[Sissy]

I was out with her for few hours watching her behavior. So I will check her wound again tomorrow morning
and see what is it I was really looking it, is a deep hole.
If its as you say organs I saw I will put her down.I hate to lose her,
but dont want her to suffer . can any infection be carried from her
if she has any ? to her sister that is her roomate?
Thank you so much .

 

[CMV]

No, probably not. She will get an infection because of the wound, not because she has a disease. Her sister should be fine. Good luck.