Chicken Pecked, possible nerve damage?

[ARussell53]

We have had our original flock for over a year now and our new flock for 9 weeks now. One of our smaller hens was found her pecked near the netting that separated the run as we were slowly introducing our flocks, so we are sure one of our older birds got to her. She had pretty severe wounds. We immediately cleaned her and began doctoring her and her wounds are looking better. My concern is that she may have nerve damage or more as she cannot walk very well. She panics and whips her head back and fourth and walks backward and in circles a lot. She is not eating or drinking on her own and what she does eat is watered down food. We are treating her wounds with Vetericyn and she had 3 days of nutridrench in her water. This is a first for us, so I am wondering if others have seen their chicken overcome something like this? My husband is wondering if we should put her down. We are definitely giving her a chance.

 

[Mellowmalt]

sorry this has happened but can you please change the title of this thread.

Those wounds are horrible and I don't know if there is any hope - someone more experienced will have to advise but like you say the chicken got its head stuck in netting and yanked on its neck causing all this damage.

People might get the wrong impression reading your title as this is a netting injury not a pecking injury.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like peck wounds to me. I've seen some horrible stuff heal up on chickens. It's important to keep the bird separated, and the wound clean, and give it time.

@Eggcessive , or @Wyorp Rock can give you more advice.

 

[ARussell53]

Looks like peck wounds to me. I've seen some horrible stuff heal up on chickens. It's important to keep the bird separated, and the wound clean, and give it time.

@Eggcessive , or @Wyorp Rock can give you more advice.

Thanks! I know she was for sure pecked as we had seen a certain one of our older chickens peck at her before but not this bad. She is inside in a brooder away from the flock.

 

[ARussell53]

sorry this has happened but can you please change the title of this thread.

Those wounds are horrible and I don't know if there is any hope - someone more experienced will have to advise but like you say the chicken got its head stuck in netting and yanked on its neck causing all this damage.

People might get the wrong impression reading your title as this is a netting injury not a pecking injury.

Near the netting. We believe one of our older hens got to her as these are clearly pecking wounds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like pecking injury to me as well.

I'm sorry that's she's not improving very much.
It does look like pecking injury to me as well.
Whether she was picked on because she was getting sick/weak or whether an older flock member took advantage when she was near the netting, it would be hard to know. Chickens can be brutal with one another at times.

I would try treating with vitamin therapy. PND is good, but I would step it up and provide her with 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily. Give her a treat of egg once a day as well - this helps with the uptake of E and is a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Do what you can to get her hydrated and food into her. Some tube feed their birds to see if that makes a difference. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

If she's suffering, seems to be in pain, etc. then putting her out of her misery certainly is something to consider. If you feel like she needs more time, give it but access condition daily, be hopeful, but also be realistic about whether she's making progress or not.

 

[ARussell53]

Looks like pecking injury to me as well.

I'm sorry that's she's not improving very much.
It does look like pecking injury to me as well.
Whether she was picked on because she was getting sick/weak or whether an older flock member took advantage when she was near the netting, it would be hard to know. Chickens can be brutal with one another at times.

I would try treating with vitamin therapy. PND is good, but I would step it up and provide her with 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily. Give her a treat of egg once a day as well - this helps with the uptake of E and is a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Do what you can to get her hydrated and food into her. Some tube feed their birds to see if that makes a difference. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

If she's suffering, seems to be in pain, etc. then putting her out of her misery certainly is something to consider. If you feel like she needs more time, give it but access condition daily, be hopeful, but also be realistic about whether she's making progress or not.

We tried to give her egg today and she was not interested. I will look into the suggestions you gave. Thank you so much!

 

[Mellowmalt]

ok I've never seen pecking injuries this severe myself.

It could be but I am still sticking with the netting theory that it stuck its head through the netting, got stuck, panicked and try to free itself and like a rabbit stuck in a sling trap it pulled all its skin off.
Birds then will peck at an open wound, that is to be expected.
Maybe I am wrong but like said it does make a difference to determine how bad the damage is so if there is no evidence on the fence of an injury maybe it was the birds even if I have a hard time imagining what would cause them to do something like this

 

[Wyorp Rock]

ok I've never seen pecking injuries this severe myself.

It could be but I am still sticking with the netting theory that it stuck its head through the netting, got stuck, panicked and try to free itself and like a rabbit stuck in a sling trap it pulled all its skin off.
Birds then will peck at an open wound, that is to be expected.
Maybe I am wrong but like said it does make a difference to determine how bad the damage is so if there is no evidence on the fence of an injury maybe it was the birds even if I have a hard time imagining what would cause them to do something like this

Take a look at this photo - what happened here?
Fence? Other chickens? Predator? OR?

 

[Mellowmalt]

Dunno Wyarp, to me it looks like you are preparing for your next horror movie so I will go with OR.
If this thread is going to turn into who can show the most gruesome injuries I'm out. Just brings back bad memories as I am surprised it doesn't for you if that was one of yours.