Two days ago my favorite hen got into the dog run with my 5 month old border collie puppies. What a nightmare! We all thought she was dead but as I lifted her limp body I saw she was breathing. I wrapper her in a towel and dipped her beak in water. She is a friendly girl that follows me around and is held all the time by the kids. There was some comfort in knowing that she enjoys being held. Her neck was limp, she was wet, missing feather from her neck and back, unable to open one eye, and obviously in shock. I wondered if it might me more humane to help her quietly die. I couldn't tell how bad her injuries were. But she swallowed! So again and again I gentle dunked her beak and lifted her head. I sprayed her with vet spray on her head back and wing. I put her (still wrapped in the towel) in a dog kennel with hay and a heat lamp on, she tried to coo to me. After about an hour she was till laying down, but greeted me with a coo. I took off the towel and helped her drink again. I attached water and feed to the kennel. I checked on her each hour and each time she drank. After several more hours I offered her a very ripe plum and she drank the juice, still barely able to hold up her head and resting after each swallow. I kept her in the kennel until the next afternoon when I made a small single chicken coop and run for her. What a fighter! Today she wanted to join her flock. She has been eating well and seems strong enough. I know chickens can be mean, but her "sister" has been following me around clucking in protest. She was missing Olivia! It had to be the reason for her protest, because as soon as she saw Olivia, she let up clucking and disappeared into the bushes.
