Hen was attacked - Wounds on Back and Potential (?) Keel Bone Injury

[afangel2005]

WARNING - Graphic Pictures of Injury

Hi All - I am absolutely heartbroken that my flock of 7 hens were attacked in their coop at night...6 of the 7 were killed, and I have 1, Rose, who was badly injured. Such a traumatic event...walking out to a horror scene. I've had chickens for 3 years without any incident - my Staffordshire Terrier is constantly on guard duty and does so well with them. I have a doggy door to the backyard and my dog is usually up 2-3 times at night barking at something at the fence line. This was the first night in a long time I didn't hear him get up at all. Their coop is in a run, and I've been having issues with the lock to the run door - have been closing door with rock as it's been on my to-do list to fix. Not sure if the wind was strong enough to push door open or if it was something (guesses are racoons) that was able to figure out how to open the door.

The attacked happened in the early hours this past Thursday (8/29). Went to do my normal routine of making coffee and going out to open their run door so they could free range, looked out the window and saw the carnage. I rushed outside and found Rose sitting right there at my backdoor.

She has several puncture wounds on her back - I took her to the vet at soon as I confirmed that no one else had made it. The vet was able to give her some stitches, but there were a few wounds that were too deep/not enough skin. She's on antibiotics, and the vet said we just needed to give her time to see how she does - and that she really couldn't tell how severe her internal injuries may be. The vet also advised that I apply Manuka Honey on her wounds, which I am doing, and to clean her every so often with water/Dawn soap. We will go back to the vet on Tuesday morning.

I have Rose inside, in a pop-up playpen. She has been sleeping/sitting in one spot, not moving at all. I have given her a bath, and have been taking her outside to sit on my lap in the sun, both of which she seemed to enjoy. When I place her down, she almost immediately sinks to the ground to laydown.

I have been given her water (mixed with antibiotic powder) every couple hours, which she does take, but I haven't caught her taking the water herself (I have it right in front of her). I haven't been able to get her to eat at all - made her very soft/mushy scramble eggs, and she doesn't seem interested at all.

Her back wounds seem to be healing, but I'm concerned about the appearance of what I think is her keel bone on her belly - pictures attached.

A few questions - As it's been 3 full days since the attack:
1) Should it be concerning that she's not moving/standing on her own?
2) Should it be concerning that I can't get her to eat?
3) Can anyone confirm if that is her Keel Bone in the picture, and have you seen an injury where the bone looks like this?

Lastly - thank you all for sharing so much information on this site - I have been scouring the posts for advice and guidance. Above all, it made me feel like I'm not alone in experiencing such a traumatic event.

 

[CombNWattles]

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I lost nearly half my flock in a bear attack this summer; and I know that this is the hardest part of chicken keeping.

1. It is somewhat concerning that she isn’t standing. She could be in shock, or internally injured. However, you said her back is healing and that’s a good sign that her body isn’t shutting down. Did your vet mention electrolytes for the shock at all?

2. Again, yes; again, could be shock. You might consider tube feeding. There are several people on here with tube feeding experience.
Also, consider offering plain water alongside the antibiotics. If she doesn’t like the taste, she might be turning up her beak.

3. That is indeed her keel in the last 2 pictures. I don’t have experience with keel injuries.
The keel, as seen on a featherless chicken(yes it is weird, they were bred as a meat bird experiment):

It’s really good you are able to take Rose to the vet. Barring internal injury, infection and shock are her biggest enemies; the antibiotics are crucial.


Take heart, and don’t give up unless she tells you it’s time to go. Chickens are amazing little creatures, and if they decide to live, they will. Either way, your care for her is a beautiful gift.

*edited for a little clarity *

 

[afangel2005]

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I lost nearly half my flock in a bear attack this summer; and I know that this is the hardest part of chicken keeping.

That is indeed her keel in the last 2 pictures.
The keel, as seen on a featherless chicken(yes it is weird, they were bred as a meat bird experiment):
View attachment 3934114

It’s really good you are able to take Rose to the vet. Barring internal injury, infection and shock are her biggest enemies; the antibiotics are crucial.
Did your vet mention electrolytes for the shock at all?

If you are concerned about her not eating, you might look into tube feeding. There are several people on here with tube feeding experience.
Also, consider offering plain water alongside the antibiotics. If she doesn’t like the taste, she might be turning up her beak.

Take heart, and don’t give up unless she tells you it’s time to go. Chickens are amazing little creatures, and if they decide to live, they will. Either way, your care for her is a beautiful gift.

Thank you so much for your response! And I am so sorry for your loss - grateful to have this group to turn to.

This picture is great - I've been googling the heck out of "keel bone" and this is by far the best image I've seen to explain it.

My vet didn't mention electrolytes - she seemed very strict that Rose should only have the water mixed w/ antibiotics over next 7 days, but it does seem like that would be a good idea - along with offering fresh water. It makes sense to me that getting her to drink water on her own would be a good thing. And I do have Chicken Electrolytes on hand - so I'm going to make her some of that.

I will look up tube feeding as well. Good news, is that we do go back to see the vet on Tuesday (who is an aviary vet), so I think that's also something she can help with, if Rose still isn't eating.

And you are absolutely right - thank for the reminder, I will keep listening to Rose and let her guide me. At the moment, she seems to still have some spirit left in her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. This is so common, and raccoons, foxes, and other animals can outsmart locks and coop doors. I lock both the gate to my run as well as the coop door at dusk or before when all have been accounted for. Her wounds don’t look too bad, but glad that you could see a vet. She may have internal injuries. I would try a chicken sling for periods throughout the day to keep her upright and make sure when she is lying down, that she is on something soft. Old towels may work well. The keel looks very raw, and the skin can break down. Here is a link for the homemade sling, and look at posts 5, 11-14:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

You can get some Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell which can be given orally 2 ml per day, instead of putting electrolytes and vitamins into her antibiotic water. Medicated water should not have anything else in it. Usually we give antibiotics separately orally as well, but it depends on what you are using.

I nursed a chicken who was lying down for 5 weeks by holding a small bowl up to her beak 2twice a day. It had very wet chicken feed, some cooked egg, and I rotated a bit of canned cat food, tuna, and ground meat for interest. If tube or crop feeding is needed, Amazon sells some 14 and 16 gauge size sets:
https://www.amazon.com/Agri-Pro-Ent...id=5116930124232472298-B08RHDVBB9-&hvexpln=73