[Ange69]

Hi

I'm currently caring for two hens that have survived a fox attack.

One is physically fine but the other, Annabella, was grabbed by the tail end.

She has a pierce wound on her side and grazes around her tail, she is very bruised.  She saw the vet on Wednesday evening who prescribed tylan (antibiotic) but also noted that she had an egg ready to lay, she hasn't passed the egg yet and now there is another right behind it!!

What can i do to help her? her vent appears very tight

 

[kegs]

Give her a warm bath for about 15 mins or so then dry her with a hair dryer on it's warm (not hot) setting.  If she's anything like one of mine she'll enjoy the warm hair dryer so much she'll go limp with ecstasy!  You could also try lubricating the vent area with some Vaseline or something similar.

[Ange69]

i was going to lubricate with vegetable or olive oil using a small medicine syringe... is this OK?

Should i lubricate before or after bath, or both??

Thanks

[Ange69]

i just went to fetch Annabella for her bath and she is sitting, i felt her back end and the egg has moved up towards her vent, fingers crossed she will lay.

[ANHBUC]

That is good news.  If she hasn't laid by the morning I would use the lubrication first and then the warm bath.  She may lay her egg in the bath as it will help her relax.  Fingers crossed for her.   

[Ange69]

Annabella has still not laid

she was lubricated this morning then bathed and blowdried...still nothing!

Is there anything else i can do to help her??

The poor thing is so traumatised and bruised.

[ANHBUC]

Only thing I can suggest is another warm bath as long as she was not stressed by it.

[Ange69]

Thanks

She wasn't stressed by it at all, didnt flap or attempt to get out, she loved it!

I'll bathe her again in the morning.

Thanks again