Wounded chicken from fox attack

[PlatzPav19]

I had a hen get snatched by a fox yesterday evening around 6pm and drug into the woods. By 8pm she was running into the side of the pen wanting in...she escaped the fox! We let her in and locked her up.
When i let her out today I noticed she had quite a few feathers missing, reached for her and when she put up her wings I noticed her back had blood. She doesn't let me close enough to look at it or apply anything.... shes always been skittish. I also noticed after wor today she was limping. Shes walking but hesitant. She got in her perch, she laid today and she ate spinach when I threw it in.
My husband wanted to put her down? I feel like 24 hours is a bit fast for that- he doesn't want to see her in pain but I hate to put her down if she just needs a few days to heal and recover from the shock.

Thoughts?? Anyone else had s chicken survive a fox attack?

 

[Kiki]

You really need to grab her and look at her injuries, the sooner the better.

 

[blackandtan]

X2
Check her thoroughly and post pics if you can

 

[glassdragonfly]

Hi and Poor girl! Yes chickens can survive some serious injuries. She might need to be caught and checked over. Wounds should be cleaned and have antibiotic put on. The leg needs to be checked,might be just sore might be more. She might just need a few days rest in a small cage in a quiet area. Some pics would help. Is she eating and drinking?

 

[casportpony]

Thoughts?? Anyone else had s chicken survive a fox attack?

Welcome to BYC!

Many can survive a fox attack. Catch her now and check her for injuries.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Night is the best time to grab them, off the roost when they are sleeping.

 

[blackandtan]

Hello OP?
Did she pass? If so, I’m sorry.
I’m hoping that she hanging in and you didn’t find any injuries

 

[PlatzPav19]

Hello OP?
Did she pass? If so, I’m sorry.
I’m hoping that she hanging in and you didn’t find any injuries

She still hasn't let me grab her - I did get her to lift her wings up another time or two so I could see better and no punture wounds! She is still limping but it has improved - she is eating and seems to be slowly getting better

 

[Bocktobery 10]

No need to put her down, chickens are quite resilient creatures. Even if there’s no treatment she most likely will pull through if she’s very healthy. But it could get rough for her...

Yeah, but you do need to have a good look at the wound. I’d suggest washing the wound area with benadine soap (it’s the red stuff surgeons scrub up with before surgery) ...you can get it at any pharmacy. This probably should’ve been done first thing, but I’d still do this ASAP... like someone said, if you can’t catch her, get her when she’s sleeping at night. If the wound is deep (and not profusely bleeding) I’d also suggest epsom salt soak. (Epsom salt is also available on most pharmacies...I got a big bag at Walmart. If you are in the UK it might be a little more difficult to find it- I had trouble finding it when I was there) Obviously your hen is not profusely bleeding (or she’d be dead by now) so doing a wash with benadine then doing an epsom salt soak will help her fight off infection. That’s your biggest threat right now. Keeping that area clean is important. She would most likely be fine though...as I said you’d be amazed at how resilient chickens are with wounds.

I had a hen that got cut open on her sides by a mating rooster’s spurs. I didn’t even see it until days later. She was acting totally normal and did end up mending just fine. I think I just filled her wound holes (already starting to heal at that point) with neosporin. I suspect your lucky hen will be the same. However watch for infection... smelly wound, oozing swelling wound, wound turning a putrid gangrene like color, or your hen getting a fever (head/comb will be hot to the touch) and acting lethargic ...with these things she may need oral antibiotics plus the washing of the wound with benedine and Epsom salts.

Good luck and let us know how she’s doing. Best wishes to you and yours.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Oh...I just read latest post after I wrote all that. It’s great there’s no puncture holes, so it sounds like she’s just bruised up and will just need some recovery time. I’m surprised the fox didn’t sink it’s teeth in somewhere, but perhaps she got away before that occurred. Lucky hen!