[Ftmevam]

I have 25 chickens. One of my hens got attacked yesterday by something. I really don't know what it was. What can I do for her? I currently have her in a spare bathroom (with a tile floor that has newspaper on it) and a cardboard box with a hole in it so she can hide it's a warm room and I have food and water in there for her. I have cleaned the wound (actually my mom cleaned it as she is a nurse) it's nice and quiet in there for her so I'm hoping she won't be stressed too much. Is there anything else I should do? Is there something I should be giving her that I haven't? I really like my chickens foolish they may be but I still think they are adorable 

[hulgrin]

I'm no expert as I have only just had mine, but I would say as long as the wound has been cleaned and she's being kept warm and quiet then just keep an eye on her and i'm sure she will be fine  Especially as you have a nurse on call ! what more could she ask for ? 

[ehs284]

This is our solution too - our idiots are always in the wars. We use an old drawer and put straw in the bottom. I've also put asprin in the water - for pain, but not if bleeding internally or externally. Other painkillers such as paracetamol are toxic and must not be given. Whenever you pass say ,'Hello'. They're used to your voice and it will be reassuring. Hope she gets better soon; they're amazingly tough so don't worry. Bet of luck.

[Ftmevam]

She is getting a shower every day. Her wound is pretty nasty however it is beginning to scab up. She is limping a little but part of her injury in under her wing. How much aspirin should I give her? And how often? I was told Pedialyte would be good to help replace electrolytes lost. 

[dizzylizzie]

Hi, if the wound is bad then you need to get her to a vet. I know your mum is a nurse, but the hen may need antibiotics or may have internal damage that your mum cant see.

[Ftmevam]

If she starts getting worse then we will have to take her to the vet however vets are expensive.

[joyfull]

I don't think my vet is expensive when my hens have been to see them and the treatment was certainly cheaper than whenever my dogs need treatment.

[ehs284]

Vets are expensive and the one we went to originally just hadn't a clue about chooks - and charged £25 for a 'See how it goes' diagnosis. There are good ones, but you need a local search. Unfortunately you do need one for antibiotics. But... don't panic.
Backyard Chickens (http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4031-Misc_Info) suggest one baby aspirin (81mg) crushed in a  cup of water. If you go to the site, note it's an American site and our gallons differ and our asprins are usually 300mg. Your mum will sort out doses for you if a problem, but if you've no baby asprin then crush an ordinary 300mg one and put a third in teacup. To be honest I've used a whole asprin in a cup and had good results and no harm so don't worry too much about being exact with the division of the powder. Just let her have it as her drinking water. If she is eating and drinking and unless she lost a lot of blood her electrolyte balance should be OK.
If it's a surface wound and now has a scab she should be fine. Smell the wound. If there is any odour then it is a case for the vets; again your mum wll know how a wound should smell.
Our last dog-attacked chook limped very badly for a few weeks and is still identifiable by her gait, but she's happy, well and spoiled.
HTH

[Ftmevam]

I just wanted to give a little update. My chicken is doing really well. We have chicken proofed our house. The Chicken seems to think she owns it. My poor dogs. My Dachshund was walking and the chicken walked up and pecked her on the top of the head haha poor doggy. Then I have a pitbull mix who is a sweet heart and the chicken was eating some rice crispies (as a treat) in the kitchen and Sophie my dog walked up to see what she was eating and the chicken went right after her.  it was kinda funny to see this big dog being chased by a chicken  The chicken is eating like a pig and is up and bouncing around. She has taken to following my mother around if she can it's kind of amusing. Anyway overall she is doing really well and I think she is going to be just fine. Once she is healed enough she will be reintroduced to the rest hopefully that will go well.

[lucylou]

im so pleased your girl ison the meand. Ive got one who has been attacked by the fox. i have put sudocrem on her and given her some aspirin. i will just have to wait and see how she is in the morning, her wounds look nasty but i cant see properly just how bad and dont want to stress her any more. if she is eating and drinking in the morning i will be over the moon. lucylou

[themagicaltoad1]

Vets are expensive and the one we went to originally just hadn't a clue about chooks - and charged £25 for a 'See how it goes' diagnosis. There are good ones, but you need a local search. Unfortunately you do need one for antibiotics. But... don't panic.
Backyard Chickens (http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4031-Misc_Info) suggest one baby aspirin (81mg) crushed in a  cup of water. If you go to the site, note it's an American site and our gallons differ and our asprins are usually 300mg. Your mum will sort out doses for you if a problem, but if you've no baby asprin then crush an ordinary 300mg one and put a third in teacup. To be honest I've used a whole asprin in a cup and had good results and no harm so don't worry too much about being exact with the division of the powder. Just let her have it as her drinking water. If she is eating and drinking and unless she lost a lot of blood her electrolyte balance should be OK.
If it's a surface wound and now has a scab she should be fine. Smell the wound. If there is any odour then it is a case for the vets; again your mum wll know how a wound should smell.
Our last dog-attacked chook limped very badly for a few weeks and is still identifiable by her gait, but she's happy, well and spoiled.
HTH

Whoa, 300mg is far far too much aspirin. you can buy pots of 75mg from any chemist and they are soluble, I wouldn't give more than 1 x 75mg tab it could cause internal bleeding.

[beulah59]

if you read the post carefully, she did say to use only a third of a tablet ...

[themagicaltoad1]

It also says she's used a whole aspirin shortly after talking about the 300mg one.

[karlooben]

personally i would of taken the chicken to the vet right away asprin would not kill of any infection that cold of been hiden within the wound sometimes these can sit dormant in animals until its to late to do anything about it but i am glad shes on the mend .vets are not that expensive when it comes to chickens although i have to admit there are some out there still that dont know much about them but they are always willing to learn , mine charge £39 consulation fee for all pets but when i take the girls in its only £10 if they decide to charge me .