Chick attacked by cat. Spinal injury???

[Wee Timmy]

This morning my silkie hen and her 8 three week old silkie chicks were (supervised) free ranging in the yard when a feral cat came and snatched up one of the chicks and wounded another badly. Sadly the first chick died, but the second survived with a large puncture wound on it’s back. It wasn’t anything that would kill a chicken so I just put antiseptic gel on it and put it back with it’s mother and let them be. About an hour afterwards I noticed that the chick was stumbling and being picked on by the other chicks so I brought it inside and it’s in its own brooder now. It’s eating and drinking and it seems bright and heathy, the wound has stopped bleeding, but I’m starting to suspect a spinal cord injury because the chick stumbles and faceplants when it tries to walk, and it constantly rocks back and forth while it’s standing still, sometimes falling over. Any ideas on what this could be? Also, she’s on electrolytes and antibiotic gel.

 

[Wee Timmy]

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

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Hopefully it gets better.
As for the cat, get a gun and shoot that thing.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I cured my cat from chicks by chasing her down with a chick. ( would let her sniff it then chased her. never had a problem in 19 years.)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It wasn’t anything that would kill a chicken so I just put antiseptic gel on it and put it back with it’s mother and let them be. About an hour afterwards I noticed that the chick was stumbling and being picked on by the other chicks so I brought it inside and it’s in its own brooder now. It’s eating and drinking and it seems bright and heathy, the wound has stopped bleeding, but I’m starting to suspect a spinal cord injury because the chick stumbles and faceplants when it tries to walk, and it constantly rocks back and forth while it’s standing still, sometimes falling over.

How is she?
The chick may have suffered more injury from being pecked at by the others.
From your description she may be in shock. As for nerve damage only time will tell.

Flush the wounds with diluted betadine or saline. Apply your triple antibiotic ointment.
Keep her warm and give her a stuffed animal to snuggle with. Hydration is very important so encourage her to drink. You can add poultry vitamins or electrolytes to her water for a day or so. Once she is drinking, see if she will eat for you.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Apply blue-kote or no pick IMMEDIATELY!

 

[Wee Timmy]

How is she?
The chick may have suffered more injury from being pecked at by the others.
From your description she may be in shock. As for nerve damage only time will tell.

Flush the wounds with diluted betadine or saline. Apply your triple antibiotic ointment.
Keep her warm and give her a stuffed animal to snuggle with. Hydration is very important so encourage her to drink. You can add poultry vitamins or electrolytes to her water for a day or so. Once she is drinking, see if she will eat for you.

Chick is doing well. Still bright and active, it’s eating,drinking, and pooping. Still a huge gash in her back but it’s drying up and looking a little better. I used the triple antibiotic and tri-guard one more time, she’s sleeping under a heat lamp tonight so hopefully that will help dry the wound so it can close up. Thank you all!

 

[Wee Timmy]

Apply blue-kote or no pick IMMEDIATELY!

I actually decided against blue kote this time because I don’t want it getting so far down between the skin and the muscle. It’s peeled back pretty far. I separated her from the others so there’s nobody to pick on it now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad she is doing better! No more stumbling?

 

[Wee Timmy]

I'm glad she is doing better! No more stumbling?

She’s been sitting down most of the time so I don’t know. She’s still doing the rocking motion though, I forgot to mention that.