Chick is slowly healing from opposum attack 2 weeks ago but still cant eat, drink, or walk properly. What else can i do to help it heal?

WhattheCluck45

Hatching
Sep 22, 2024
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Hello, 2 weeks ago, an opposum attacked my chicks early in the morning and was unfortunately able to kill 2 and severely injure one, though my last chick was somehow able to escape and maraciouly didn't get hurt at all. I've been taking care of the injured chick ever since and I need some advice on what else I can do to help it. The chick drinks some water then stumbles back. It also does the same thing when it eats. Additionally, it seems to have some struggle finding its food and water im the first place, as it sort of pecks around until it find it. So far, I've cleaned it wounds with a saline solution, given it water with honey, isolated it, given it scrambled eggs, and have been helping it drink and eat. The chick is starting to be able to drink and eat on its own but like I mentioned, it stumbles back for some reason. I worried it may have suffered some form of head injury as a found a scar on its head from the attack. What else can I do in order to help it fully heal? Thanks! (Also, I'll see if I can add a video later. I tried to add one but I guess I can't add an MP4 video).
 

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Coat wound(s) with triple antibiotic ointment with no pain reliever to keep moist after washing, twice daily.
 
Give the chick its regular food, moistened with water. It needs that good nutrition. It can have some egg also but it must have the regular food mostly.
 
The chick drinks some water then stumbles back. It also does the same thing when it eats. Additionally, it seems to have some struggle finding its food and water im the first place, as it sort of pecks around until it find it. So far, I've cleaned it wounds with a saline solution, given it water with honey, isolated it, given it scrambled eggs, and have been helping it drink and eat. The chick is starting to be able to drink and eat on its own but like I mentioned, it stumbles back for some reason. I worried it may have suffered some form of head injury as a found a scar on its head
Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

I'm glad this chick is improving. It does sound like she may have suffered from head injury/trauma.

The symptoms you describe are neurological, whether this is permanent, it's hard to know at this stage, but it's encouraging that she's now able to eat/drink a little on her own.

I'd start her on Vitamin Therapy. Give her 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily. Give a little egg daily to help with the uptake of E. See that she's eating her normal chick starter and staying hydrated.

You can find Vitamin E and B-Complex at stores like Walmart, CVS, etc.

Examples of what to look for at the store.
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