Chicken attacked by cat, tips on caring for her please

[Fromchickenswithlove]

Thank you so much everyone. I’m still worried. She is barely eating the mash I made, she also is just standing still in her “chicken hospital” not really moving

most concerning is that her movements are odd. Not sure how to describe it but when she moves her neck it sort of twitches a bit or she moves it oddly. The movement is not fluid or smooth.I’m hoping it’s just that it’s painful but I know cats can paralyse with a bite - but as she can move it hopefully that’s a good sign? Her skin is very bruised underneath. Her eyes are also blinking oddly, sometimes independently which I don’t think is normal.

we let her have a walk in the kitchen earlier but she just went into a corner and stayed there it’s like she’s in a trance.We had her as a day old and she’s always been the top of the pecking order, super cocky and friendly. The first to run out to you and steal all the treats, it breaks my heart to see her like this
I’m working from home so visit her often to chat and give her a stroke and am keeping an eye on her on a baby cam but still haven’t seen her drink independently. We are syringing fluids in still - how much do you think she should have? It’s a struggle to be honest as she does not want to open her beak and we don’t want to put any stress on her neck

 

[azygous]

Did you treat her with Gatoraid or sugar water and electrolytes? If not, do so immediately. Continue this every hour. Shock can last several days. This may account for most of her lethargic behavior.

Chicken eyes work independently of each other, each focusing on objects at different distances. But if the pupils are not the same size, there could be neurological damage.

 

[Fromchickenswithlove]

Did you treat her with Gatoraid or sugar water and electrolytes? If not, do so immediately. Continue this every hour. Shock can last several days. This may account for most of her lethargic behavior.

Chicken eyes work independently of each other, each focusing on objects at different distances. But if the pupils are not the same size, there could be neurological damage.

The sugar water as I’m UK based and I don’t think we have gatoraid (I’ve never seen any here anyway). I’ve not been too scientific though, 1tsp in an average size glass - do you think I might need more? How much should I get down her? It’s a real struggle as we are having to syringe it in and I don’t want to hurt her

I hope no neurological damage, her left eye looks odd, like it’s not quite focussed I can’t see any obvious damage like scratches.

we took her hatch mate in today and Eggy (injured chicken) was trying to follow Flower (hatch mate) around. Flower was weirdly uninterested though, no attempt to peck Eggy, just completely ignored her. These guys used to be inseparable. Eggy was wanting to be with Flower though, she moved more today than she has since the attack, albeit stiffly and oddly

thank you for all your advice and sorry for so many questions - I love my chickens

 

[azygous]

That your tiny patient is still alive and not getting worse should be encouraging. You are doing all you can. Keep hydrating her with the sugar water. The proportions are not a critical matter. You only need to keep boosting her glucose levels. She would be more likely to lose ground without this.

Can you offer her some soft boiled egg or even pureed fish or meat? She could use the infusion of some high grade protein.

 

[ChickenButtsRanch]

When I was healing a wound on one of my girls, I brought in one of her pals and kept them in separate cages next to each other. I feared even a pal would peck at the wound. So separate cages, but next to each other. They talked and stared at one another through out the healing process. It helped greatly. Neither became lonely.

 

[Fromchickenswithlove]

thank you azygous and ChickenButtsRanch! I have done both! She has some egg mash and has had her friend in to play. We also took her outside today as she was pecking at the kitchen door to go outside. She ran across the patio and over to the grass!! So much excitement!

for the first time today I have seen her drink by herself I am so happy!!! She’s been eating chick crumb as well as we still had some. The smaller, softer pieces seem to be going down well! She is looking brighter and is now trying to escape when we syringe her antibiotics down - which is encouraging! She seems to have regained a bit of movement in her neck though still stiff. I nearly cried with relief today, I think she’s going to be okay. I’m not sure about her left eye still but her right one is definitely working!
She’s my little champion! I love her so much such a friendly little chicken. Gives us a good morning “boc boc”.

this thread has been so helpful and comforting! Thank you all so much, I’m hoping we are over the major hurdle now