Our lovely Buckeye named Lavender Brown was attacked by a Burnese Mountain Dog yesterday. I am not blaming the dog but a child who let the chickens out after repeatedly being told to not while this dog was visiting us. Needless to say, it was a hard lesson to learn for Vanessa. The dog grabbed Lavender and started to run around the yard with her before we were able to catch it and make the dog release Lavender. She started to run away but eventually collapsed. I picked her up and tried to inspect her. I was surprised that there was not much blood. At first I noticed a couple of what I thought were puncture wounds. I phoned our dog vet who referred me to an agricultural vet. They got me to send a few pictures and the vet called me back. He tried to give me advice on the phone but I had asked if he could come out. He said the charge was $50.00. I thought that was reasonable considering if I walked into a vet's office they would charge me that anyway. He warned me that he was not a bird specialist and that in fact he works just with horses. He came out because he too has children who adore their chickens and would do whatever he could to save them if it was within reason. He examined Lavender to find that under her wing, her skin had been torn off a good couple inches on her back. He thought he might be able to repair part of it and said that it would probably be another $50.00. I told him to do it. We set up a surgical room on our back deck and I acted as vet assistant. He was able to sew her back up completely and she was the best patient. She laid still and calm the whole time. We both had to check a couple times if she was still alive, she was so relaxed. 15 or so stitches later, she was put in the bunny hutch to recover. The vet told me that if this had been a horse it would have been $500.00 at least. When I got my cheque book, he said that he decided not to charge me. He just wants to know how she makes out and to phone him. He took it as an educational experience and a great story to tell at Christmas. See, he is designated the turkey stuffer because he sews up the turkey the best. Never, did he think he would do it on a live chicken. I sent him home with a care package of freshly baked chocolate zucchini loaf, jar of homemade pickled beans and a nice bottle of white wine that ironically goes well with chicken.
There are definitely good people out there and good chickens too.
Lavender Brown is doing okay but she does not want to stand. She is drinking and pooping. Will still be touch and go. In two days, I have to remove a six inch piece of gauze from a drainage hole on her. Wish me luck.
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| Our Lavender Panting and in Shock |
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