Chick attacked by roo, brain damage?

[SquawkFlock]

We have a 10wk old GSL chick that I found being pecked in the head by our roo. She was pretty bad but was still showing a lot of fight so we cleaned her up and separated from flock. She is now eating and drinking good, poo looks normal, but she is really uncoordinated and has trouble walking. Is this something she can recover from or should we cull her? Hate to lose her but hate to see her suffering. Any advice?

 

[Aapomp831]

I would give it more time. You can give her half of a baby aspirin - she should peck it right out of your hand. In the meantime, She needs to lay low. I would keep her separated and confined to a smaller area where she can heal without any stress; the less movement the better - you don’t want to risk her hurting herself further by falling off a roost if she’s uncoordinated. Some extra tlc like some scrambled eggs and mealworms might help too but I would have her in a small dog crate, big enough to walk around but not big enough to jump on anything or move a lot with plenty of fresh water and food.

 

[nao57]

I also agree with giving it time.

You can watch over a few days or weeks, if she will have a reasonable ability to have a life.

Is she a full on vegetable that can't do anything for herself? (I vote to end suffering on this.)

OR is she able to do everything she wants to but just struggles more? (I vote to not end suffering on this.)

 

[SquawkFlock]

We have her in a dog crate with food/water. And so far she seems ok except the wobbles when walking. I have noticed one foot has a hard time staying under her. And sometimes she seems blind but eyes are intact and had no injuries. Really hoping she pulls thru and regains her balance. Thank y'all!

 

[Little Doe Homestead]

She stands a good chance at recovery based on what you've described! I've seen young ones come back from incredibly gruesome injuries! Usually if they eat and drink on their own, they can hang on. With that said, i once had a chick bitten on the head by a possum, and it looked pretty disabled. I dipped it's head in water 4 times a day and force fed it apple sauce with a little syringe. It wound up being a healthy and productive hen.

 

[SquawkFlock]

Well a little update...she's still holding on. I'm thinking now her problem may actually be a slipped tendon. That one leg really looks off and that would also account for balance issues(I think). But wound has healed up nice. I'll try to get some pics this evening

 

[fanynany]

im a little late on this thread but what happened to your chicken? did she live? was she able to walk again? i’m going through a similar situation, my little cockerel was attacked by a rooster, he eats and drinks not as much because he’s probably tired and his neck hurts but he can’t stand by himself his neck is swollen but i’m hoping it’ll go down and fix everything, his leg is also flexed most of the time and only bends it most of the time, i’m hoping he’ll fully recover. he’s made it through 3 nights so i have hope

 

[SquawkFlock]

Unfortunately ours only made it about a week. She never really got better but didn't seem to get worse either until we woke up one day and she was dead. I wash I had a better outcome for you. Best of luck with your little man

 

[fanynany]

Unfortunately ours only made it about a week. She never really got better but didn't seem to get worse either until we woke up one day and she was dead. I wash I had a better outcome for you. Best of luck with your little man

ah im sorry for your loss, garbanzos bruising is going away and his swelling seemed to go down a bit and is more aware, he eats and drinks too but i just don’t know, he’s not able to turn his neck to the right, he can’t walk nor can he balance himself but he looks better compared to the day of the injury, i really hope he recovers and is able to walk again i hate seeing him like this