Daisy…
Remember Daisy? I shared about her last year when she was attacked by a rooster my kids found while on a walk. And then I had to share daily news on the hatchings of each individual chick? Well, Miss Daisy is making news again after she was attacked by what we think must have been a hawk over a week ago. My son was the one that found her, laying in the middle of the grass with her back side completely torn apart, blood and feathers everywhere. Daisy’s legs were stretched back stiff behind her, and she was just laying there ‘stunned’. We scooped her up and immediately wrapped her up in a towel to keep her warm. Her head was floppy and her eyes were closed…not sure what to do, my mommy instincts took over. With three crying kids around me, I couldn’t let her die without trying. My daughter got on the phone looking for a vet close by. In the mean time, I poured hydrogen peroxide on her wounds followed up by Neosporin. My daughter found a vet within ten minutes of our home ~ but just to see sweet Daisy was a $65. office visit. Seemed a little steep for a chicken that I was pretty sure wouldn’t make it through the next hour. We set up a box with shavings and offered her water in a couple bowls.
I searched my house for a dropper and found one that was the perfect size. I filled it with sugar water and pried open her beak (not easy) and dropped a few drops into her throat. I did this over and over throughout the first night, along with they hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin. When we woke up the next morning she was holding her own head up and while still very still, she was keeping her eyes open for a few minutes at a time. I FELT HOPE! Instead of feeding her the sugar water, I began adding Gatorade mixed with water. By nighttime she was taking plain yogurt from the dropper.
The next morning ~ I kid you not, when I came into the laundry room and looked in her box, she had laid an egg.
I knew then, I must do more and I really thought she might just make it. Her wounds were bad, but laying an egg and taking food in had to be a good sign. I had read that I shouldn’t use hydrogen peroxide on her wound after 24 hours because it kills new skin that is trying to form and it was suggested that I give her vitamin b, electrolytes, antibiotics for birds etc. So I headed to the feed store picked up whatever was suggested.
- Vetricyn Wound Spray
- Durvet Duramycin-10 powder (antibiotic powder to add to her water)
- Durvet Vitamins & Electrolyte powder
Also introducing her to more foods, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, mixed with smushed up fruits and veggies and she was now pecking at the food from a spoon.
I was changing her shavings almost twice a day, but because she was not moving ~ she was sitting in her own nasty fluids that were being released by her behind. It was sticking to feathers and I couldn’t remove it without pulling her feathers out. So it was a 70 degree weather day ~ so I decided to give her a bubble bath. I know, seems pretty silly ~ ever seen a chicken have a bubble bath? Well now you can say you have. Setting her in the warm water we weren’t sure what she would do…but she nestled right in and just sat there…not moving..just sitting and enjoying. After about a half hour sitting in the bath and sunshine I pulled her out and rinsed her behind off. (our outdoor hose is equipped with both hot and cold water, which was very nice in this situation). I was able to get her cleaned up! Afterwards we wrapped her up in a towel and snuggled with her (consistently changing the towel as they became wet until she dried enough to put her back in her box in our laundry room.
So here she is now 10 days after the attack ~ walking, clucking, scratching and eating on her own ~ her back also looks like it’s well on the way to a full recovery. Although I don’t believe she is looking forward to heading back out to the coop anytime soon. All this TLC has spoiled her and I believe she is enjoying herself!
Look how alert her eyes are and how shiny her feathers are – still so unbelievable to me that she made it!
To see what else I am linking to this week – please check my “Cottage Links” label…xoxo, tracie
Comments
She's a really pretty chicken. Can't believe she laid an egg after going thru all of that.
Good for you taking such good care of her. She may become a house chicken!!
Judy
Joy
Ciao for now...
~Shanon
<3
Carol
Jennifer
XO,
Jane
What a sweet and happy story. I'm so glad you were able to save her life. I'll have to start calling you Vet Tracie!
Karen
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/clever-chicks-blog-hop-7-country-craft.html
I hope to see you there!
Cheers!
Kathy
The Chicken Chick