Help! 3rd day with chickens ever and dog bite. 100% novice

svttakedown

In the Brooder
Jan 8, 2019
23
46
36
I'm brand new to owning chickens i just got 6 hens a few days ago and one snuck out of her area 2 nights ago. She got into the other half of my yard where my dog was out. he got her in his mouth and i instantly told him to drop her. he listen and she ran off. She ran away at a good speed and it took 2 of us to catch her. we thought we checked over her wounds rather well and there was almost no blood and she wasn't minding us messing with her wing. well tonight I decided to pull her from the roost to check on her on whim. She was on the floor of the roost ( she isn't getting picked on by the other hens but she cant walk up to roost she needs to be placed and i had to work from 3pm to 9pm so i couldn't place her) I grabbed her and she smelled like slightly rotten meat. I took her inside and gave her a luke warm bath and inspected her again because apparently i sucked the first time. this time i saw under her wing had 2 inches of feathers missing and a fairly large wound. it smells slightly off so i know its infected but i cant see any discolored flesh or an obvious infection. She lets me move her wing around with no fuss so i don't think its broken. I washed the wound right away then put 3% hydrogen peroxide on it 3 times (about 1 min between soakings) before washing it again. i then placed her in my living room in a large dog crate with all sorts of bedding (towels, moss, long grass, hay, pine tree clippins) in it as well as: water bowl, live meal worm bowl, oat bowl, and a bowl of scratch. Then finally put a large blanket over the crate. She ate and drank today but wouldn't walk around much. she would hind in the bottom of the roost for most of the day. a few times i caught her pecking at the ground and being semi social with the other hens with no fowl play. I don't know what else to do for the wound or what to give her in her water to help her heal. i plan on putting her back with the other hens tomorrow morning because they havn't been picking on her at all (Ive watched them all day almost) Any help or advice would be amazing Im super worried about her. should i keep on using the hydrogen peroxide? or would iodine/ointments be better for her? I can give any details you need and The only reason I did not post a picture of the wound is because she was starting to peck at me the last time i rinsed her off and i just wanted to get her in her crate to calm down for the night Side note I live in hawaii so im not worried about the weather but i dont think there are any vets out here who take birds but im going to try tomorrow.
 
Hi and welcome :frow
Sorry to hear about your poor chicken, but you did right by keeping an eye on her and checking her over a second time. Don't use the hydrogen peroxide any more, it's good initially to use but can prevent healing if you keep using it. It would be really great if you can take a few pictures of the wound and the whole bird to show how she is standing also, just in case. People here will be able to better assess the situation and extent of damage with pictures.

The infection is the problem. Do you have an antibiotic cream or ointment of any sort on hand? If you have, can you post photos of that here also and we can tell you if it's safe to use or not.

She will need antibiotics to help her fight that. Do you have (or have access to) and amoxicillin or Baytril? Others here will be much better able to advise you on this and I hope someone will be along shortly. For now, keep her where she is so you can treat her depending on what needs to be done now.
 
Ill pull her out and grab a few photos of her as soon as my phone is charged. I do have a ton of amoxicillin actually. The only thing i have on hand is neosporin with pain relief and i know that can kill her so i'll have to wait until morning (no 24 hour stores near me)
 
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Thank you for the photos. She is gorgeous :)
I would keep her where you have her just for now to ensure that wound stays clean and no one picks on her. When a chicken is sick or injured her flock mates can begin to peck on her so you don't want that.
The wound does not look too bad to me, but again, there are a lot more experienced here than me.
I would start her on the amoxicillin when in doubt, and as you are getting a smell there could be an infection setting in. It's easiest get the antibiotic into her by sprinkling it on something nice for her. I usually find if I boil up an egg and offer the medicine sprinkled on the egg yolk they normally take it. Sprinkled on a spoon of plain yoghurt works too!
Is she eating? She really needs to be drinking so make sure she is taking in water. Dip her beak in some water to entice her to drink.

Is she acting lethargic at all? Lacking in energy? She could well be in shock after her encounter with your dog (good catch by the way!) so keep her warm, dry and make sure she has feed and water.

What food do you have for her? If you soak her feed in some water for 30 minutes it can help get them to eat and can also help get fluids in.

Lastly, in that third photo, is that her stance? Or were you trying to get her to hold still for the photo? I'm just wondering what way she is standing normally, if she is finding it difficult to stay standing or to balance?
 
Also you asked about putting something in her water, yes, good idea. Do you have any Poultry vitamins? Nutri drench or Rooster Booster or something like that? If not, you could use a human multi vitamin without iron short term or a B Complex vitamin (these would go in her food). Or better again if you have electrolytes to add to her water? I have seen a recipie online somewhere for electrolytes if you don't have any so I will look it up if need be!
 
Thank you for the photos.
i wouldn't say she is acting lethargic but she doesn't move around at all during the day. If i would go near her she can still run away at full speed. Thats not her stance just a really bad photo on my part. she is standing some what normal. Also i watched her eat and drink a few times today so i know she has some type of intake and when i took her from the roost about an hor and a half ago she pooped on her way inside. it was a little greener than normal but im thinking that is just stress. the first picture is her standing normally. all of the chickens are in an enclosed part of my yard (50ft by 20 foot) and there is a small run next to the roost area that is 25ftx3ft. Im going to fence it off and give her her own area tomorrow so the rest of the flock atleast sees her and she can be outside.
 
Also you asked about putting something in her water, yes, good idea. Do you have any Poultry vitamins? Nutri drench or Rooster Booster or something like that? If not, you could use a human multi vitamin without iron short term or a B Complex vitamin (these would go in her food). Or better again if you have electrolytes to add to her water? I have seen a recipie online somewhere for electrolytes if you don't have any so I will look it up if need be!
Nothing on hand sadly. i'm off work tomrrow though and will be making a run into town to get what ever she needs. Right now im thinking: regular neosporin, some type of vitamin (i live close to a decent feed store), and what ever i need for electrolytes for her.

Also, I didnt think it looked that abad but im thinking if the smell is from where his two canines got her.. I couldnt find the puncture wounds but they have to be there somehwere.. he is a 60lb german shepard/husky mix.... not the best dog to have with chickens

I'm not digging around in her side anymore tonight though its almost 2 am and she needs some rest.... (i think haha)
 
i wouldn't say she is acting lethargic but she doesn't move around at all during the day. If i would go near her she can still run away at full speed. Thats not her stance just a really bad photo on my part. she is standing some what normal. Also i watched her eat and drink a few times today so i know she has some type of intake and when i took her from the roost about an hor and a half ago she pooped on her way inside. it was a little greener than normal but im thinking that is just stress. the first picture is her standing normally. all of the chickens are in an enclosed part of my yard (50ft by 20 foot) and there is a small run next to the roost area that is 25ftx3ft. Im going to fence it off and give her her own area tomorrow so the rest of the flock atleast sees her and she can be outside.
Fencing her off would be perfect, she will remain part of the flock then :)
Green poop could point towards her not eating enough but you will be able to monitor that much easier when she is separated.
I would check her crop function to make sure whatever she does eat benefits her recovery. Check how it feels before she goes in for the night (there should be food in there if she is eating) and check again in the morning before she can access any food or water. If her crop is working properly it should be empty/flat in the morning. Her ordeal could have sent her system out of whack so you will know more after you check it in the morning.
As far as I am aware the amoxicillin should be perfect for such an infection. I would start her on that asap to nip it in the bud and see how she responds!
 

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