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My chicken was just attacked by a cat- she is alive and bloody around her head. She can walk. It's not a lot of blood. I've separated her from the rest of the flock. What should I do -its 2:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning and my husband is out of town. Is there some type of salve or poultice I can put on the wounds?
Optional Information: Type of Animal: ChickenGender: femaleAge: 1.5 years Already Tried: Separating her from the flock-getting her into a secure area where the cat cannot get to her.
Hi there
You should bathe any wounds you can see with either dilute Betadine or dilute peroxide solution, as both these will have an antibacterial effect and flush the wounds out.
Chickens are very susceptible to shock- so keep her warm and try and administer a small amount of sugary fluid, such as Gatorade to help combat the shock.
If she doesn't go into shock, and seems ok, then bathe the wounds twice daily, but you may need to get her on antibiotics when your vet opens.
Regards Andrea
Experience: bvm&s mrcvs 15 years companion animal practise
1.How do I know if she is in shock?
2.What is the ratio to dilute the peroxide? I have that on hand - hydrogen peroxide- if that's the same thing you mean. I assume you mean to dilute it with water?
As for keeping her warm, I am in Austin, Texas and the air temperature is currently 60 degrees. She has sequestered herself back into the corner under the coop and I cannot really get to her. I put food and water in her area and I have some of the electrolyte mix for chickens on hand, as well. I will mix that into her water.
Thank you for the advice--there are no vets open today.
Sherry
If she is in shock she will become very withdrawn and not eat, drink or move around.
If you have 3% hydrogen peroxide then i would use that diluted 1 part water to 1 part peroxide, and bathe with that.
It sounds like she will be warm enough as you are lucky enough to have warm weather at this time of year!
Andrea
Thank you.
Glad to be of help. Hoping you all have a great thanksgiving 'over there'!
She's definitely in shock. She let me pick her up and dose her head with the solution. She is not handled much, so quite atypical behavior. She's quietly complaining and standing in a pile of fresh bedding. I was hoping she would snuggle in and rest. Her food, drink and greens are there, too. She's been standing for about the last 10 minutes. She made it through the night, as this happened about 2 a.m. here. She was awake and standing on a perch this morning. Complaining.
Will she die if she's in shock? The chicken farmer, Matt, is in Colorado tending to sick and elderly parents for the holiday. This is his chicken. He doesn't know, yet.
Thanks,
Yes she is in shock then. She will possibly die of shock if her system continues to shut down- as blood glucose levels can quickly drop causing the bird to sink deeper into shock- try and syringe some of the electrolyte solution down her if you can- small amounts and often- that may help.