crystalsc
Songster
Well, the worst happened. I was working yesterday and heard my free range girls yelling, went outside to find feathers everywhere, Boudica sitting on the ground and a Husky running around my yard. The husky was people friendly and honestly seemed confused about why I was upset. It took me some time to find two of my four girls. Long story short, I had to take three girls to the emergency vet.
This morning, I Made a protein breakfast for my hospitalized girls. Scrambled eggs with black fly larvae and some sunflower seeds. Boudicca is in a extra large dog crate, Tomoe is in the shower (plan to build a crate for her today) and Cleo, who has the worst injuries, is in the brooder (which is is a converted entertainment center.) They are going to need at least 14 days of healing indoors and separated. They each have staples and stitches. Boudicca is limping. They each have deep gashes but Cleo had a chunk of flesh torn almost down to the bone. So she’ll never have a normal tail again. I didn’t count but I wouldn’t be surprised if she has at least 30 stitches. It was grisly and traumatic for me and them. The vet had to cut their tissue back to avoid necrosis. We’re hopeful they’ll heal well. People will question me for spending vet money on my chickens, but I love them. Pets are for life, and it’s my responsibility to take care of them and ensure their wellbeing. I will send a copy of the invoice to the dog’s owner and ask them to contribute to the bill. Hopefully, they will. Lozen is fine -she was in a separate area of the yard. It was so sad to see her sleeping alone last night. I’ve brought her in to see her sisters and she’s currently napping on my lap.
I appreciate any advice on how to comfort them, help them heal and feed them their medicine. They have an oral pain med and a pill antibiotic which we’re wrapping in some bread.
They are still physically able to lay eggs but I imagine it’ll be painful and wouldn’t be surprised if stress halts their production for awhile, if that’s possible.
Not posting pics of Cleo since her wounds are so grisly. Vet recommended a baby onesie for her so she can’t reach her wounds.
This morning, I Made a protein breakfast for my hospitalized girls. Scrambled eggs with black fly larvae and some sunflower seeds. Boudicca is in a extra large dog crate, Tomoe is in the shower (plan to build a crate for her today) and Cleo, who has the worst injuries, is in the brooder (which is is a converted entertainment center.) They are going to need at least 14 days of healing indoors and separated. They each have staples and stitches. Boudicca is limping. They each have deep gashes but Cleo had a chunk of flesh torn almost down to the bone. So she’ll never have a normal tail again. I didn’t count but I wouldn’t be surprised if she has at least 30 stitches. It was grisly and traumatic for me and them. The vet had to cut their tissue back to avoid necrosis. We’re hopeful they’ll heal well. People will question me for spending vet money on my chickens, but I love them. Pets are for life, and it’s my responsibility to take care of them and ensure their wellbeing. I will send a copy of the invoice to the dog’s owner and ask them to contribute to the bill. Hopefully, they will. Lozen is fine -she was in a separate area of the yard. It was so sad to see her sleeping alone last night. I’ve brought her in to see her sisters and she’s currently napping on my lap.
I appreciate any advice on how to comfort them, help them heal and feed them their medicine. They have an oral pain med and a pill antibiotic which we’re wrapping in some bread.
They are still physically able to lay eggs but I imagine it’ll be painful and wouldn’t be surprised if stress halts their production for awhile, if that’s possible.
Not posting pics of Cleo since her wounds are so grisly. Vet recommended a baby onesie for her so she can’t reach her wounds.