Cat attack! Chicken survived with broken neck (??)

[Chicken Lover 1000]

Last night at around 1am (it’s currently 9pm so less than 24 hours ago) my chicken was pulled out of the coop by a cat. The cat snuck in through the chicken wire that had come installed from the wood frame, and one of my chickens likes to sleep below the roosts in the open. She was snatched by this cat and I awoke to a terrible screaming and crying. Immediately woke up my father and we ran out there, and to our surprise she was still alive! It was unclear what kind of injuries she had suffered but she was responsive (flapping her wings, chirping a little, etc.) Long story short, she has no open wounds or cuts except for missing feathers around her neck and wing, but she’s been hanging her head down and can’t seem to pick it up. I’ve looked up all sorts of neck injuries but this one hasn’t been addressed in anything I could find online:

She’s hanging her neck with her head on the ground, and can’t seem to lift it where the base of the neck meets her back. We’ve given her water through a syringe and my dad was able to pick her head up to give it to her, but she returns to laying in on the ground as soon as we let go. She’s standing too, which seems weird to me, but her eyes are half shut and we’re not sure if we should say goodbye to her yet. If you have any idea what’s going on we’d really appreciate help to make sure she isn’t hurting or suffering!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Pictures would be helpful. @casportpony @azygous @Eggcessive can you guys help?

 

[azygous]

In predator attacks, often the serious injuries are internal where they aren't visible. So assume there are injuries even though all you see is the limp neck.

Your hen is likely in shock, so you need to give her fluids with electrolytes. Let her rest tonight and see how she is in the morning.

But when a chicken's eyes are at half mast, it doesn't bode well.

 

[kesrchicky16]

I had a cockerel get wry neck after boucing his head off the side of the coop while scrapping with my roo. His head hung straight down for about a week while I gave him vitamin E and selenium. I could pick it up just like you described and it would droop straight back down.

I cant guarantee that is what is wrong but adding heavy doeses of vit E shouldn't hurt your girl.

 

[azygous]

Good idea @kesrchicky16 ! Give the hen 400iu vitamin E oil. The selenium, just a sliver, will help the E to absorb. That will definitely help.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Quite possible a extreme case of shock has set in
let her sit someplace quiet and warm for the night
may take a few days to wear off

 

[kesrchicky16]

Also in case it is a wry neck problem add Black Oil Sunflower Seeds to the flock diet. If one bird has a vitamin deficiency they likly all do. What i learned of wry neck in mature birds is that it often is a concequence of an injury or trama becuase of the underlying vitamine deficiency.

 

[Chicken Lover 1000]

It’s hard to tell, but her head is not just hanging but resting on the ground. So I’m afraid it’s a bad injury if she cannot lift her head off the ground? She has her beak in the dirt, should we move her inside or somewhere away from the dirt and hay? Thank you so much for all your help! I’ll definitely try electrolytes and Vitamin E Oil.