Sooo much pooping

[shtw00724]

Hi all. Sadly, I didn't put my chooks away Monday night (I've done this a number of times before, with no consequences) and heard squawking around 5am Tuesday morning. I went out to find feathers everywhere, my cockerel and some of the hens safely in their accommodation (with the door open to that and to the walk in run) and 2 of my chooks on the ground, collapsed and injured My GSD sleeps in the kitchen but I guess he never heard the commotion. Next door's cats are always out (I know ) plus 2 ferals that I feed regularly (they weren't there). I know it wasn't either of those 3 as (a) they usually stand guard on top of the chicken house, (b) they all get fed regularly and © they would have had plenty of opportunity over the last 3 years to kill/injure/take chooks if they wanted to. There are some un-neutered males in the area who may be hungry so I am guessing it is one of them. I can't see it being a fox due to the dogs (I've 3 in total) and although an urban area, we never see any.

 

My one Maran could not hold her head up at all and had open wounds on her neck. I took her to the vets later that day when she wasn't showing any sign of improvement (after giving sugar water for the shock and metacam for any pain). She had a broken neck so even if they sewed the wounds up, she would not have been able to survive. Poor chook was PTS RIP Coco xxx

 

My Warren hen (Ladybird) was not so badly injured - or so I assume. She has a small wound and not so much feather loss. I have been giving her sugar water, metacam and some chopped up boiled egg which she is taking and even made a small effort to eat by herself. I need to clean the wound and have coloidal (sp?) silver on hand to flush the wound with once cleaned, plus some gauze to pack the wound with. I have not wanted to stress her by pulling her about to clean the wound before now.

 

I want to take her to the vets but (a) they don't specialise in poultry by any means and (b) they are a bit 'fatalistic' when it comes to species they aren't familiar with.

 

Ladybird is alert and her eyes look bright. She can stand up and makes an effort to do so when I take the blankie off her (I'm keeping her warm in the kitchen, by the radiator) but she's not doing as well as I'd hoped. She is keen to take the water by dropper though.

 

I don't want to lose her, but don't want her to suffer either.

 

I feel so bad for allowing this to happen. Please don't get lulled into a false sense of security like I did. It is probably NEVER ok to leave your chooks out over night (unless you have an Anatolian Shepherd dog parked outside who will defend your poultry).

 

Please, can anyone make any further practical suggestions? Hoping for some answers from people who've been through chook attacks before and have experience in this kind of first aid.

 

I'm shocked that the cockerel (sp?) didn't try and defend them; he's usually ultra protective of the girls and has some nasty spurs.

 

Thank you.

 

Susie

[miller30]

Im sorry to hear what has happened but i think you will find it was a fox attack they are not bothered by dogs im not blaming you as we all make mistakes but from now on i think you need to lock your chickens up every night i never leave any of mine unlocked you just cant risk it all you can do for the injured girls is keep them in a warm dark and quiet place as they will be very shocked you need to have a good look at their injuries just to make sure they dont need to go to the vets aswell as they may need antibiotics for any wounds they may recover but it doesent sound good leanne.

[Tweety]

I too think it is more likely to have been a fox.

 

Although your vet is not an avian specialist, he/she will be able to check out your hen and prescribe antibiotics if necessary, and I would be inclined to take her just to make sure.