What should I do, my dogs grabbed my chicken.

[NancyDz]

Okay so yesterday I was in my coop cleaning it. I finished, closed the gate and went in
my house. My dogs were still out there. I was sitting at my desk when I heard them come in
the doggie door in the house. Well a few minutes later I hear a weird noise..like a low squack. I go in the living room and one of my dogs is looking behind a chair. I look and
my little mille fleur rooster is there! Somehow he got out of the coop area, maybe when I
was cleaning and my dogs carried him in the house through the dog door! I looked him
over and other than being a little wet around his neck area, he appeared to not have any
marks on him. I took him out, put him in the coop and he ran off.

So then this morning I go to let them out of the coop and mille is still up in the roosting area in the hay. He appears to have a hard time getting down but finally does. I go to get some scratch because they always coming running for that, and threw some out. he is hunkered down but does come over for scratch. I notice a slight limp so I pick him up and look over both his legs real good. Other then one of them shaking a bit, they seem okay, certainly not
broken or anything. But of course after looking for 2 months I finally found him a home and
they are getting him TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I decide to take him in the house and give him a warm bath, I thought maybe it would help the leg if it's a sprain or something. He hunkered right down in the water and I let him sit there for 15 minutes, then I blew dry his feathers , looked him over again real good and put him in a box with straw in my bathroom. Is there anything else I should do? He does walk on it. I'm so upset since he's finally going to a home with three little bantams of his own. He's a sweetheart and my standard hens scoff at him. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

 

[flamingauburnmustang]

Shame. That sounds bad.

I would suggest that you make sure it eats correctly and that it gets plenty of rest.

Meantion to the new owners about what happened, and if he continues to get worse, they must take him to the vet.

That's the only advice I can give you now.

Good luck.

 

[rooster0209]

Had a cat grab my little feather footed bantie when she was young. I found a small scratch/type wound on her chest and by her thigh. I rinsed w/peroxide and kept her away from the others till she was able to get around. (a day or two at the most)

She limped for quite a while, seemed like forever to me. Then the limping was only when she walked fast or ran. This also seemed like forever. I just guessed that she was sore and it took time for the muscle to heal.

I dont know much about chickens but if your guy is eating & drinking and getting around, I would say he is going to be fine. I don't know why they hunker down like they do, the neck almost disappears. I bet he is on the mend.

 

[waynesgarden]

I'd keep him a few more days to see if he recovers completely. Then give the bird to the folks.

It's unfair to give the bird away and tell them they have to take it to the vet because of something that happened at your place.

Wayne

 

[silkiechicken]

If there are internal injuries he could have a bigger problem than just a limp. But we can hope he doesn't and it's just a sore leg.

SO... I'd keep him and make sure he is fine before giving him away. If they do come get him, let them know or give them the option to wait an extra week. I personally would not tell them they had to take it to a vet, as I certainly know I would not take mine to a vet as they are livestock to me and would be a meal first.

 

[NancyDz]

Thanks everyone, the people getting him are a few hours away and they just happen to be coming this way today for another reason. I talked to them this morning before I knew, and they are already on their way so I will just tell them and let them decide what they want to do. He is just resting in a box right now, he did drink a little and I took him out again and had him stand up. He just looked around and lifted his foot up and put it back down but did stand on it. I wish he'd crow because then I'd know he was okay hehehehee

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

I have a little Golden Campine Hen that developed a mysterious limp like that, and I was able to take her to a vet. She had hurt her 'Knee', and there wasnt really anything that could be done for her, so we recieved some liquid pain meds, that we give her orally every day, and she is getting better. BUT, it is taking a LONG time. it has been two weeks now, and she still limps. I think the fact that we have two BIG Cochin Roosters, doesnt help her much.

Chances are good, he has got a nasty hurt, but that it will heal given time.

However, your real issue here, is what are you going to do about your dog... Now you need to do some training. Maybe borrow some big full grown rooster to train your dog a bit? I can lend you mine, Our Dane is terrified of him!

Good Luck!

 

[flamingauburnmustang]

A full grown rooster would surely teach that dog some manners.

All of my dogs are terrified of my rooster, even though he's not that big. He will run up to the dog and attack it.

He especially protects the hen against everyone!

I hope all goes well for him.

 

[NancyDz]

Well he seemed to perk up a couple hours after his bath, I took him to the meeting place for his new owners, told them what happened, they said " no problem, we'll be keeping him separate for awhile anyway and they thought he probably just sprained it. They were so nice and their little boy is in 4H and when they saw how friendly the little mille is, they said maybe they'll show him! I was so impressed with them that as I started to drive off... I said,
would you want an Easter Egger roo? hehehee and they said YES! So I drove back home,
got mille's best buddy and gave them him also. Mille and the EE Roo grew up together as the reason I got Mille was to be a companion for the EE who I hatched but seemed to be
stunted and was picked on by the other chicks. So I got him a bantam buddy so they would be the same size. They both ended up being Roo's. The EE when he got bigger would sleep with his wing over his bantam buddy. So anyway... I'm very happy they went to the same good home. When I got back with the EE and put him in the crate with mille... they snuggled up together for the ride. It was cute and made me feel much better about parting with them.


Also going to get updates on them... which is great!