Hi, helenjason, from my experience one has to give water or liquid feed (liquidised fresh corn, siggestion), in feeding syringe. Someone else has to hold the chicken while someone else feeds her. I would like to take the opportunity here to thank all the many kind suggestions offered 2 weeks ago for my silky. Her feathers and skin are growing, I feed her chopped up fresh corn, a couple of chopped grapes (loves them) and fine kale leaf. Water is a problem: at first she drank by herself but stopped drinking after first day, now have to syringe it. Being an old bird, I give her a calcium and kelp supplement tablet regularly. Helen, try using a soothing cream that has arnica or witchazel on her back, so skin grows better. My chicken was really badly mauled, so at first I had to use 2 different homeopathic creams. Now I only use one, just like a human injury. Hope this helps. Daisy