One of my favorite chickens was attacked by a red-tailed hawk today. I heard the commotion and ran up the hill and chased the hawk away.

At first examination it looked like one eye was missing but I think it's OK under an abraded eyelid. There were two places on the chest where skin was sliced but no other tissue damage (a hawk strike usually results in deep puncture/slicing wounds). I couldn't find my suture kit so I pulled the skin together, maybe 1/2", and held it together with superglue. Disinfected with diluted iodine solution, the same as with most animal wounds.

She has been resting in a plastic tub in the shop with gentle heat from heat lamp, calm but still alert almost 12 hours after the encounter. I'll see tomorrow if she makes it through the night.

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I know hawks have to eat too but I prefer they go to a different restaurant!

JKJ