Blind and traumatized chicken

[valeriem205]

I had a bobcat attack on last monday and we had one chicken die. Our 5 yr old chicken is feeling useless and we think that she might be blind. Another chicken has swelling in the neck area and she can't bend over to eat. We have been keeping them in a cage in the kitchen and I have been force feeding them. The older chicken's eyes are not milky but they look normal. She just sits and sleeps all day. What kind of food should we feed them? I have been feeding them scrambled egg. Please help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I had a bobcat attack on last monday and we had one chicken die. Our 5 yr old chicken is feeling useless and we think that she might be blind. Another chicken has swelling in the neck area and she can't bend over to eat. We have been keeping them in a cage in the kitchen and I have been force feeding them. The older chicken's eyes are not milky but they look normal. She just sits and sleeps all day. What kind of food should we feed them? I have been feeding them scrambled egg. Please help.

Welcome to BYC.
Can you post some photos?

THE OLDER CHICKEN:
Did the older chicken get attacked as well? Does she have any injuries/wounds?
What signs do you see that makes you think she may be blind - can she track your hands/treats/food?
Will she eat/drink on her own at all?
Does she still lay eggs - if so when was the last time she laid an egg? Any swelling of the abdomen?

It sounds like you are doing the best you can, an attack causes stress. An older chicken may take a little longer to recover. Check her over well for any sign of injury/wounds. Provide some poultry vitamins in her water.


THE OTHER ONE:
The one with swelling in the neck - is this from a wound/injury?
If it is from a wound, does it have any pus, oozing or an odor?
What did you treat the wound(s) with?

Scrambled egg is fine to give. You can also offer wet chicken feed (layer pellets) or if you have it some chick starter or all flock/flock raiser feed as well. Poultry vitamins added to the water may be helpful as well. If either one is/was still laying eggs, provide oyster shell free choice as well.

If the one with the wound seems to have an infection, then vet care is advisable.

Keep us posted.

 

[valeriem205]

The older chicken didn't get attacked but she raised the alarm. She has a small wound on the back of her head. We have been treating it with hydrogen peroxide. She doesn't move her eyes when we wave our hands in front of her eyes. She doesn't eat or drink on her own, but I have been force feeding her. She doesn't lay eggs anymore and there is no swelling. The other one got dragged out of the coop by the bobcat and played dead. It might not be a wound because there is no pus or blood. I have also been feeding them bread soaked with milk. I will try to post some pics soon. Will keep you guys posted. Thank you for all for your input.

 

[boskelli1571]

Just an FYI - chickens can't process milk so you could possibly give her diarrhea. I find making a good moist mash with the food and adding some brewers yeast or vitamin supplement works well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The older chicken didn't get attacked but she raised the alarm. She has a small wound on the back of her head. We have been treating it with hydrogen peroxide. She doesn't move her eyes when we wave our hands in front of her eyes. She doesn't eat or drink on her own, but I have been force feeding her. She doesn't lay eggs anymore and there is no swelling. The other one got dragged out of the coop by the bobcat and played dead. It might not be a wound because there is no pus or blood. I have also been feeding them bread soaked with milk. I will try to post some pics soon. Will keep you guys posted. Thank you for all for your input.

Treat the wound with something like triple antibiotic ointment (Vetericyn, Plain Neosporin, Bacitracin, etc.) and discontinue the Peroxide.

Their normal feed made into a mash would be better than soaked bread. Just mix their feed with a little water to make it the consistency you need to get them to eat. You can also continue with the egg if they will eat it.

If your older hen has possibly gone blind since the attack, she may have some type of head or brain injury. Can she stand or walk?

The one that was dragged. How does the swelling feel - hard, soft, hollow when you tap it, where is it located?

Have they both been pooping when they eat?

 

[valeriem205]

The other one: the swelling is hard when I touch it, like a bone. Sometimes they have been pooping.


Older one: she can stand for a little bit and when she walks she drags her left? wing on the ground. they eat the egg, Thank you all again for the info. Will try to post the pics soon.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The other one: the swelling is hard when I touch it, like a bone. Sometimes they have been pooping.


Older one: she can stand for a little bit and when she walks she drags her left? wing on the ground. they eat the egg, Thank you all again for the info. Will try to post the pics soon.

It does sound like both suffered injuries from the attack. Sometimes when there is an attack, in their panic, chickens can injure themselves, so some of the things you are seeing may not have even come from the Bobcat.

Encourage them to drink, staying hydrated is important. If they will eat the egg, then keep doing that - you are doing good.

 

[valeriem205]

The one with the swelling finally just bent down to drink water on her own today. So happy!!! She has been eating by herself too. Hope to be putting her back with the flock soon!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The one with the swelling finally just bent down to drink water on her own today. So happy!!! She has been eating by herself too. Hope to be putting her back with the flock soon!!

I'm glad she is doing better! I hope she continues to improve.

 

[valeriem205]

The older chicken will not no eat or drink and when we shove food down her throat she spits it back up. The other chicken is now limping. What should I do? Please help me!!!