Injury from a hawk attack

[Ebz5003]

My hen was attacked by a hawk. Here is a picture. It is above the wing. There is a deep injury, where you can see both bone and muscle. She is acting stunned, but is now walking around again like nothing happened. Is there any way I can treat this myself? It is a deep wound and not sure what's appropriate? I am trying to avoid taking my chickens to the vet unless absolutely necessary. Thanks

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Give her sugar water and/or electrolytes to treat for shock. Keep her calm and wash the wound with saline.

 

[Ebz5003]

Give her sugar water and/or electrolytes to treat for shock. Keep her calm and wash the wound with saline.

Thank you

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Of course. Good luck with your chicken!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My hen was attacked by a hawk. Here is a picture. It is above the wing. There is a deep injury, where you can see both bone and muscle. She is acting stunned, but is now walking around again like nothing happened. Is there any way I can treat this myself? It is a deep wound and not sure what's appropriate? I am trying to avoid taking my chickens to the vet unless absolutely necessary. Thanks

Can you get some more photos, it's hard to tell where that is on the body.

Where are you in the world? What's your temperatures like?

I'd move her to a separate area and begin working her through shock.
Sugar water or electrolytes as suggested are a very good idea. This will help keep her glucose levels up. Chickens will try to act perfectly normal even when severely injured.

If you have Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine) use this to swab the wound clean. It's very deep, so I would be hesitant to flush heavily, just swab and clean very well, trimming feathers away and out of the wound as you go. If you don't have Chlorhexidine (or similar), then you can use Saline. Do the same - swab the wounds until we can see better and try to gauge how deep that.

Once thoroughly cleaned, apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment.

Often an antibiotic is not needed, a bird can heal well on her own, but if you have an antibiotic on hand, I'd start it.

 

[Ebz5003]

Of course. Good luck with your chicken!!

How do you make your saline solution? And do I really put that on an open wound?

 

[Ebz5003]

Can you get some more photos, it's hard to tell where that is on the body.

Where are you in the world? What's your temperatures like?

I'd move her to a separate area and begin working her through shock.
Sugar water or electrolytes as suggested are a very good idea. This will help keep her glucose levels up. Chickens will try to act perfectly normal even when severely injured.

If you have Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine) use this to swab the wound clean. It's very deep, so I would be hesitant to flush heavily, just swab and clean very well, trimming feathers away and out of the wound as you go. If you don't have Chlorhexidine (or similar), then you can use Saline. Do the same - swab the wounds until we can see better and try to gauge how deep that.

Once thoroughly cleaned, apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment.

Often an antibiotic is not needed, a bird can heal well on her own, but if you have an antibiotic on hand, I'd start it.

Thanks. It is very deep. I am reluctant to wash what looks like her insides....muscule, bon, veins, etc, all in plain view....are you sure that's ok. I do have betadine spray- should I use that? Here are another few pictures.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks. It is very deep. I am reluctant to wash what looks like her insides....muscule, bon, veins, etc, all in plain view....are you sure that's ok. I do have betadine spray- should I use that? Here are another few pictures.

No, don't wash. Swab.

You can use the Betadine spray, but I'd pour some of it in a small container, then use cotton balls or some gauze to swab the tissue, cleaning it very well. Trim the feathers from around the wound as you work, swab and clean.

Warm your triple antibiotic ointment a little, put the tube in a warmish cup of water so it's easier to apply, then spread a thin layer of ointment on the exposed tissue.

If you don't have antibiotics, I'd get some. Do you have any, if so, what do you have?

Work on this slowly, you definitely want to keep her from tanking due to shock. Get warmed sugar water or electrolytes into her.

If you have Hibiclens (Chlorhexidine) use this to swab the wound clean. It's very deep, so I would be hesitant to flush heavily, just swab and clean very well, trimming feathers away and out of the wound as you go. If you don't have Chlorhexidine (or similar), then you can use Saline. Do the same - swab the wounds until we can see better and try to gauge how deep that.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How do you make your saline solution? And do I really put that on an open wound?

Boil a quart of water and let it cool in a clean container like a glass quart jar. Add 2 tsp salt and a pinch of baking soda. Put a clean lid on it and shake till salt dissolves. When cool, place in a CLEAN (or new) spray bottle. And yes, it is perfectly safe to use as long as you don't let it get contaminated. In fact it is much safer to use than just tap water.