Dog chased birds- what to expect?

[tartanchickers]

I have 4 Golden Comets, and they're happy, free ranging birds who have been laying like crazy. This morning they were chased by a dog for 5 mins. 2 seemed fine. I found the other 2, hiding, completely still. One had cuts in her comb. I've been keeping an eye on them, and put some antisceptic cream on the comb. Since this is the first time they've had any kind of problem, I'm ofcourse freaked out. Is there anything I should be looking out for? I'm assuming if they're really stressed they will stop laying for a while. Will they be more inclined to become egg bound? Should I dress the cuts every day? I've gave them rather a lot of scratch afterwards, I guess because food always comforts me :/

Thanks,
Emma

[hour3suns]

Poor babies! Our chickens were chased by a neighbor's dog before. Of course, according to the neighbor that dog never leaves the yard, but it seems when they leave so does it. I'd keep the cuts clean and continue putting the cream on there so there is no infection. I would hope they wouldn't become egg bound from the experience. Keep us posted how they do.

Smiling & Waving,
Sharon

[tartanchickers]

Thanks for your concern Sharon

Ach, they seem fine now- they're moving around again (albeit in a bunch) all over the garden. The cuts seem to have developed some good scabs already, and they're back to taking dust baths. I think I'm an over cautious mother I was amazing to see those birds move- one flew straight for 30 ft! and the speed...

[RonL]

There's really nothing much you can do, but if you have water soluble electrolytes with vitamins, put it in their drinking water immediately. It will help them cope with being stressed out. They could be susceptible to heart failure if they aren't in real good shape or have a hereditary problem. If you find any under your roost in the morning, you will know the cause. Otherwise, you did good with the cream ........

[tbcross]

Emma,
They're a lot tougher than you'd think, had a roo that got himself hung on a piece of wire, went right through the meat of his wing, came out the next am found him suspended there sqwuaking his head off like some sorta demented pinata. I had to cut the wire and pull it out with needle nose pliers, in the process ran the wire through the side of my hand between the forefinger and thumb. He healed faster than I did and as soon as I had got him down he was off to the races after his hens. Right now I have a hen that looked like she had been scalped from her "armpit" to her "hip" and I thought for sure she would die, instead she has been eating great, laying an egg a day and mad at me for spraying her and not letting her run with her pals! Skins growing back and so are, thank goodness her feathers as I was afraid she'd have a bald spot for the others to pick at. Give em time, pet em a little.

[tartanchickers]

Thanks for reminding me about the electrolytes, Ron.

You sound like you've been through a lot Barb! Thanks for the reassurance.

The dog is actually visiting with my SIL. We have quite a big garden, and he was put out, attached to a special dog steak, that he could run in a circle around. I am not joking- when the ladies had worked out that he couldn't go past a certain area, they almost seemed like they were taunting him!

[tbcross]

Oh they can figure out quick just how far the dog can go and will take advantage!LOL Just glad they didn't pay for their boldness with something more than a fright!
Barb

[Tweegs]

My mother dropped by a while back, bringing with her their cocker spaniel.
She wanted to go down and see the chickens. As we were walking down I reminded her that the electric fence was on. “Oh, he’s ok” she says, “He won’t do any…..”
About that time the dog broke loose and made a bee line for the girls, who were safely enclosed in the run. They saw the dog coming and backed up against the coop in a line.

The dog hit the fence, yelped, tucked what little tail it had and headed back for Mom.
The girl on one end shrugged, the two down on the other end were exchanging High 5’s.
A few seconds later they were scratching and pecking as chickens do.

[tartanchickers]

Well, I spoke too soon. The 'runt' was more spooked I guess. Yesterday, she was looking iffy, just standing in the garden and holding her tail up. I picked her up to check her vent and there was clear egg white coming out. At this point she flapped her wings and the rest of the egg came out without any shell. She went willingly to roost last night,, but was still looking peaky this morning. I could tell her vent was still bothering her, so I brought her in and gave her a warm bath and had a gentle fish around in there. I found a complete "folded" egg shell! It was more like paper, like the calcium hadn't all been deposited yet. I cleaned her up, dried her with a hair dryer, (which she seemed to love!) and she wanted to go out. She's still sitting in the same spot, looking uncomfortable with her tail to the side. I don't want to keep bothering her vent and making it worse. Should I give her a while before i see if there's another egg lurking? What exactly happened to her? Is there anyting else I can do? She's still drinking and ran for some rolled oats when I put them down.

Thanks again!

[skipolesinmo]

When we let our chickens out, they go right behind the dog pens and eat away with our dogs barking like crazy at them! But I tell them to stay out of the dog pens and they will be safe! lol...not sure that they will listen. we have been keeping them penned up lately because we currently have a fox problem. So our girls andboys only get out when we can be home and keep eye out for foxy foxy!