4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Madbird]

My mom accidentally let the dogs out of the back door, not realising the chooks were free-ranging.

 

Anyway, one of the dogs, got Floss my cochin in his mouth. I managed to get her free and checked her over and she has a couple of small puncture wounds in her skin under one wing.. although I am not convinced this is from the dogs teeth, but more from a violent feather pluck?

 

I have sprayed her with the violet spray and have put here in the nest box of the cube to keep here quiet....

 

is there anything else I should/can do?

[chelsea]

oh dear, sounds like you've caught it in the nick of time though.

 

You've done the right thing -checked the wounds, keeping the hen calm & quiet etc. When she's got over the initial shock keep an eye on the wounds (for any bleeding etc) and maybe bathe (with weak water & tea tree/salt solution) and then keep reapplying the purple spray as that is an antiseptic anyway.

 

Some people say Rescue Remedy is good for a hen with shock (never had to use it myself)

 

keep the dog out of sight for a good while!

 

Just look out for any signs of her going drastically downhill......you might need to go to the vet if she looks really poorly.

[Madbird]

Thank you Chelsea... I know shock can be really bad for birds, so I hope she will be ok

 

The dogs generally don't take any notice of the chooks when they are in their run, but I guess the temptation of seeing them loose was just too much.

 

My mom feels terrible too

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like you have done the right thing. I agree with Chelsea about the Rescue Remedy it is very useful....and I'd keep her warm.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh dear, that must've been upsetting . I'm glad she's not badly hurt .

[catherinej]

Rescue remedy is great. I gave it to mine when she was attacked by a fox and it worked really well. I have also kept her indoors for 6 days for some tlc!

[Janty]

I took in a chicken that had been bitten by a dog and it turned quite nasty. The wound was raised and very angry looking. We took her to the vets who gave her an anti-biotic injection and I had to syringe her orally morning and night. The vet told me to pick the scab off the wound every day or so to encourage the flesh to heal from the inside. I am very squeamish so this was quite hard but I am pleased to say that she has made a full recovery and you wouldn't know that there had been an injury. The vets bill was not huge (£37). I am only telling you this as the person who asked me to look after the hen had not gone to the vets for fear of a huge bill.

 

Best of luck with your girl.

 

Jan

[Chickvic]

Hope she makes a good recovery Let us know how she's doing.

[Madbird]

Well Floss is up and about today and has been mooching about the garden with the others and eating corn from my hand. She seems very well in herself. Looked at the wounds again and they are small tears in the skin only (not in the muscle below).. am convinced now that it is where he feather were plucked roughly from her by my dog, rather than a dog bite. It is nice and clean (although bright purple!) so am going to leave it be.. (although will check it everyday for any signs of infection)

 

I am so relieved! She is my friendliest hen and I would have missed her terribly if she hadn't of made it.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice and well wishes - it's very reassuring to have you all here!

 

(and it has spurred the other half to go out and build me a walk in run extension so the chooks will have more room and we won't have to rely on letting them free-range so much for their exercise and risk anymore accidental doggy encounters! )

[Egluntyne]

Good to hear that she is on the mend.

[sandyhas3chucks]

great news.

[Chickvic]

Good news, glad she is making a speedy recovery