pbfhpunk Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 (edited) One of my chickens was attacked by a cat on Sunday and we took her into house and put her in a box, she didn't really eat or drink anything, and then on Monday morning I took her to the vets, he cleaned the wounds up and put some antiseptic powedr on her, and said nothing was broken. HE said he thought the reason she wasn't wlaking was coz she was terrifed and when we put her back in her box she took a few steps and then sat down. I just wondered how long it took them to get over something like that as since then she hasn't walked properly, it's like she's crouching and then attempts to waddle in an 'ET' type of way and then spreads her wings to steady herself and then sits down again. She laid an egg yesterday although the end was soft, so I@m guessing everything's working, with not walking round she's getting into a bit of a mess bumwise! Please, please, please tell me this is normal and it's just sore! Thanks Helen Edited July 12, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Sorry I don't know, but I would keep an eye on her and take her back if she isn't walking in a few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 She could well just be in a state of shock. You could try adding Avipro to her drinking water to help her through the recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Bach's Rescue Remedy is good for helping them over a stressful event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Sorry to hear about the attack. She is probably in shock - a few quiet days in doors should help her get back on her feet. Do you have a pet crate or similar she can stay in? Hope you had a fab holiday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 We put her back with the other girls on Thursday night, and all was ok, and yesterday morning befor eI left for work I checked that she'd got out of the cube into the run and that was fine, got back from work and we let them all out but she was back i the cube, I tohught she was just tired and keeping out of the rain and so didn't want to disturb her too much, then last night before I shut the run door I looked theough the eggport to make sure all 6 were in and she was sat in the eggport and had got blood all over her back, and one of the other ones stuck her head through and pecked her, I grabbed her out and we got the box again and put her in our house, when we had a good look it's awful, they've basically 'eaten her' down to the muscle on her back at least a cm, I basicallty spent all last night crying and blaming myself, if I hadn't of missed my train back from London I could've sprayed her with purple stuff before she went to bed, my husband blames himself as he put her back and said she didn't have any blood on her so didn't spray the purple stuff coz of that. This morning she's stood up in the box and is alert and bok-boking at us when we go in, but her comb and wattle are very pale. The thing is I can't see waht the vet can do as she's got no skin to grow back and heal and there's nothing protecting her like a layer of fat or meat or anything. I'm really upset and fele this is all my fault, I'm really worried too that I will end up hating the others for doing this to her even though I know they can do this. Can anyone tell me if they've had a chicken attacke dso badly but it's survived? Thanks Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Oh no, poor you and poor chook, but please don't blame yourself - it can all happen so quickly The good sign is that she is alert, and wounds like that can heal, the flesh regranulates itself from the bottom of the wound upwards - pretty amazing really. But do get her to the vets, she may need antibiotics and something to put on the wound to protect it while it heals. Good luck - fingers crossed for her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Hi Helen That is sad news. One of my first hens survived a similar attack by her companions, but, I made the mistake of putting her straight back in with them when she had healed and the pecking was worse and finally she passed away. I was distraught and felt it was my fault. If you can keep her in a seperate run when you do re-introduce them (as if you were introducing a new hen) this may help. It sounds like the attack may have affected her more and the other hens are sensing her not being quite right - this can lead to the pack not wanting to accept her back into the flock. I do hope it all works out and she makes a full recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Thanks AMO, I don't know if you remember but it's the red chicken that's not well. When David woke up this morning and I said about her comb being pale he said he can't imagine how it would heal as it's right down to the muscle, but after he went to see her and seeing how alert she is he said we'll get her a seperate house and run and keep her seperated until she's 100% healed. I had my 19yo diabetic cat put to sleep less than a year ago and that was so hard and he was totally out of it, so I'm not able to deal with havinga fully alert chicken put to sleep. I really hope the vet can do something. I'm off to the vets now, please cross your fingers for me. thank you Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Everything crossed Please let us know how you get on at the vets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Sorry to hear this. Poor girl. I hope the vet can help her, and I'm sure your arrangements for her convalescence are spot on. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Fingers crossed here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Can't offer any advise but just wanted to say definately don't blame yourself. I hope you and your poor chicken have some good news at the vets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Good news!! The vet says he thinks it should heal, what was groos was that it wasn't down to her muscle but down to her bone, was so icky and he kept tapping it to check. I've got the purple stuff to spray on he ronce a day and she's back in her box on top of the freezer looking out the window!! He said it would take a couple of weeks to heal and then eventually he thinks the feathers would grow back, I have to say it is one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen, but you wouldn't know it from how she is, she has antibiotics in her water and hopefully she'll drink it all as it's half a litre of water a day. Thanks for all of your best wishes, as a supportive note to everyone the vet did say that birds were particularly resiliant to things that would totally knock for 6 a cat or dog! Thank you again Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Good news. Fingers crossed for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 That's really good news, Helen. Fingers crossed that she heals up quickly, bless her little heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMO Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 That's good news Helen. Keep us posted with her progress. Big glass of wine for you now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbfhpunk Posted July 13, 2008 Author Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thanks again for all your well wishes, the vet told me that she probably won't be able to go back in with the others even when she's fully healed so we've decided to buy a 2nd eglu, so currently checking ebay, it needs to be green though as our landlord agreed to us getting the cube on the basis that it wasn't hot pink!! Obviously we don't want her to be on her own so are now talking about getting a couple more to go in with her, when she's a lot more healed, so she's not on her one, so going to read up on introducing, will probably get either one and then another one at a later date or 2 from different places so all new. Thanks Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
