HEN ATTACKED BY HAWK (graphic images)

[Sunny the Chicken]

One of my hens got attacked by a hawk about an hour ago. Took her into the house and shut the others into the coop because the hawk is srill circling around. Her neck was bleeding but I cleaned and sanitized the wound. Then about 10 minutes ago we found another wound near her oil gland and the skin is all ripped open. Her vent seems veey swollen (there's either a giant blood clot or vebt prolapse I can't tell which). She's alert but doesn't move.

 

[Sunny the Chicken]

I accidentally posted this in the wrong section, sorry, I was in a rush- should I move it?

 

[alinas2010]

One of my hens got attacked by a hawk about an hour ago. Took her into the house and shut the others into the coop because the hawk is srill circling around. Her neck was bleeding but I cleaned and sanitized the wound. Then about 10 minutes ago we found another wound near her oil gland and the skin is all ripped open. Her vent seems veey swollen (there's either a giant blood clot or vebt prolapse I can't tell which). She's alert but doesn't move.

Poor baby. I’m sorry this happened. Good job cleaning the wound right away. I would keep her somewhere quiet and comfortable for a while. Applying an antiseptic spray daily may help, also. I’ve read posts where a warm epsom salt bath soak helps with swelling when a hen has a vent injury. Here’s a link to a chicken who’s vent got injured by a dog, the advice there may help you.

 

[Sunny the Chicken]

Thank you so much. Should I just continue cleaning the wound and letting it heal on its own?

 

[alinas2010]

I would do soaks at least once a day, perhaps the swelling will go down and you can assess the vent area a little more. Unless you plan to take her to a vet for some sort of formal treatment, I would definitely keep the wounds clean and her inside. An antiseptic spray like Vetericyn applied twice a day would probably be useful, too. Some electrolytes in her water may help her perk up, too, but have fresh water available, also. Lots of protein for healing. Our chicken got attacked by one of the dogs and I spent all my time carousing many postings on here of (in my opinion) severe chicken-being-attacked injuries. I’m always amazed because most seem to make great recoveries, even when the injuries are just gut wrenching. Chickens are amazing healers. I hope your lady makes a fast and full recovery. Dang hawks

 

[Sunny the Chicken]

I would do soaks at least once a day, perhaps the swelling will go down and you can assess the vent area a little more. Unless you plan to take her to a vet for some sort of formal treatment, I would definitely keep the wounds clean and her inside. An antiseptic spray like Vetericyn applied twice a day would probably be useful, too. Some electrolytes in her water may help her perk up, too, but have fresh water available, also. Lots of protein for healing. Our chicken got attacked by one of the dogs and I spent all my time carousing many postings on here of (in my opinion) severe chicken-being-attacked injuries. I’m always amazed because most seem to make great recoveries, even when the injuries are just gut wrenching. Chickens are amazing healers. I hope your lady makes a fast and full recovery. Dang hawks

Yeah- right now I only have Neosporin and rubbing alcohol, which one should I use on her wounds? So far I've applied Neosporin.

 

[alinas2010]

Yeah- right now I only have Neosporin and rubbing alcohol, which one should I use on her wounds? So far I've applied Neosporin.

I think neosporin is good, as long as it’s not the kind with pain relief stuff in it! You did exactly what I would do!

 

[Sunny the Chicken]

I'm giving her an epsom salt bath right now, she keeps standing in the bath for about 1 minute and then coming out. Only her legs and the bottom of her stomach got wet, none of the parts that actually have wounds. How do I get her to stay in the bath?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Not alcohol, I don't think, it will burn! Make some sterile saline solution and put it in a spray bottle, you can spray her with it as a cleanser so you don't have to wipe or scrub. Then spray with Veterycin. Neosporin Original is good too, it won't have pain-killer in it.

 

[Sunny the Chicken]

So, I'm not sure if her vent is prolapsed or not. It's very big and swollen and there's this red thing coming out of it that looks like a giant blood clot or something. She hasn't pooped much the entire time I think.