Chickens, aargh!

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Woke up at 6am to a mighty rumpus in one of the breeding pens.
Belted outside and a stoat had the hen by her head and was trying to pull her under the house. Its the only blinking house without a pophole. .
She is in a bad way, at the time I thought she was dead but she twitched a bit so I put her in a carrier next to the aga and covered it up. Then went back to bed to defrost - I'd gone out barefoot in a tshirt.
Just checked her and shes lying on her back but still breathing. I gave her some baytril and have put her back in the carrier. Her head is swollen an incredible amount and she is pulling it up and back. I wonder if her brain has swollen? I am loathe to cull her as she is such a lovely, lovely hen.
Poor hen. Theres always something trying to kill them.
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We had one that looked at death's door after we managed to rescue her from a fox. She was much better after 24 hours, I think a lot of her problem was shock, with a bit of luck this could be the case with yours. Keep her warm and make sure she drinks enough.
 
poor hen, hope she makes a recovery.
this has absolutely convinced me to get OH to shut my pet ducks in at night again, he can't be bothered but i'm sure something's going to get them... he thinks a fox won't get over the fence, but i'm sure a stoat could. (i can't set foot outside the door due to dislocated knee healing slowly, so am relying on OH's goodwill...) so, thanks.
 
I'm syringing warm water and honey into her every 2 hours and shes next to the aga. She is actually sitting the right way up now (or at the moment).
The garden is now thick with fenn traps, hope the s*d comes back tonight.
My lurcher nearly caught him a week ago but he turned too quick for her.

Cobbysmum - so sorry, I lost 14 to them last year and we set traps and caught 7! The population must have recovered now. Fenn traps are great and mustelids are easy to catch as they are curious, you can get them from your loca ag store.
If you want some hatching eggs in the spring, if you can beg/borrow/steal an incubator, I will gladly send you some.
 
>>]I'm syringing warm water and honey into her every 2 hours and shes next to the aga. She is actually sitting the right way up now (or at the moment).<<<

That sounds good. Do let us know how she progresses. Stoats can be so vicious. I think my dogs would rather face a fox!!
 
The fox got into a pen I thought was impregnable two weeks ago and ate my growers so give your OH a kick and tell him to go do it!
 
if you can get hold of some first thing try aconite and arnica tablets, aconite for the shock and arnica for swelling and to speed up healing. She should just take the pills from your hand or you could try dissolving them in a drop of water and spooning it down. I use these for my hens and we have for through broken legs, dog attacks and loads more with them(work on the horses too!) I really hope she makes it through the night for you, they are such brave little fighters
 
Shes still alive! She can't lift her head at all, I imagine the ligaments are damaged. Will keep her on the antibiotics and have to go to town this morning so will get some arnica, good idea.
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She is probably very bruised, itcould be several days before she is less stiff. I'd try to encourage as much movement as you can, otherwise the stiffness could get worse. Arnica iis a great idea. You are obviously giving her every chance, fingers crossed she will pull through.
 
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