Fox attack - limp neck

[Ursuline Chick]

Hi Loona, hope things are going well with Olga, just wanted you to know we are all still thinking about you both and hoping for the best.

 

[Summer Lion]

I look at this thread daily, and hope the best for both of you.

 

[Loona]

It's now about 3 weeks +/-. Olga has recovered from the 'sickness' of the attack, bites on her neck. She holds it up now and looks around. It's much better. We do not have to hold it like we did. All of her feathers are coming back about 3/4" inch long.

She's able to eat mealworms. Before it seemed like she didn't really have control to pick them up with her beak, but now she does. Few days later we offered her japanese beetles and she really perked up and ate them very well. Now she gobbles them up to her hearts content. She also ravenously eats a particular little clover, the kind you pull in the flower beds. The ones that get little yellow flowers. She absolutely loves it. We saw she really liked them in certain parts of the yard when we took her out. Problem is, she doesn't eat any of her chicken feed. Therefore we're still tube feeding her. : \

The other problem is her mobility. She really cannot walk on her own. She can stand and take a step or two, but lays down. Sometimes she just kinda takes off quickly but it ends in a complete circle to the left. When she tries slowly she uses her wings for balance. It's a real quandary, but there are glimmers of hope.

She sits in her bin and looks very content. She's beside the window and looks around alot. So we just do the routine of cleaning, feeding and walking her everyday. It's been very hot out this week so she gets overheated easily. She'll just lay in the grass and peck at it, but she cannot get up on her own. I have to prop her up, put my hand under her rear end and then she can try to walk, plus we use the sling. There have been a couple instances where I saw hope, and other instances where I just don't know. All we can do is keep trying.

I put a new batch of her reg layer feed in front of her everyday. She basically ignores it, even the worms now and waits for beetles and grass and clover. Quite spoiled she is! LOL But poor thing, I know she wants to get moving. Something with her left leg. I will say that everyday is a little bit better, but now we are just waiting out to see if whatever is injured will heal itself, or maybe there is nerve damage. At this point we don't know. She's clucking and pecking around and is the center of attn. I'm very glad to have attempted tube feeding. It's much easier than anyone can imagine. Missing that center trachea hole is quite easy and the tube slips right down. You can even see it as the crop bulges out slightly with movement. I've ordered new syringes that will be here today because the one I use became so hard to push down, IDK why it does that. I have to grease it with my finger dipped in olive oil.

Anyway, seem the jap beetles are getting to be less and less. Will have to start hunting crickets and grasshoppers! LOL Oh my goodness, we do love our pets! Well that's all I can elaborate on. It's a situation of time and patience at this point. Thanks for thinking of her

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Bless your heart! You are doing so good.

I'm glad to hear she is perking up, I hope she continues to improve and eventually gains mobility. Thank you for the update.

 

[Kiki]

Keep up the hard work!
Thank you for the update.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Thank you for keeping us updated. I had a hen, now, she just had what I now believe was a torn ligiment. Nowhere near as hurt as Olga. We put her in a broodyset up (with it's own yard) for about 6 weeks and she was finally able to join the flock. I know it's hard work to continue to do for Olga all she needs and I commend you for all your hard work, I would try to wean her off the treat food and encourage her regular food as she continues to convalesce. You have done a great job with her, it may take a few more weeks before she can rejoin the flock. As always, good luck.

 

[Loona]

Thank you for keeping us updated. I had a hen, now, she just had what I now believe was a torn ligiment. Nowhere near as hurt as Olga. We put her in a broodyset up (with it's own yard) for about 6 weeks and she was finally able to join the flock. I know it's hard work to continue to do for Olga all she needs and I commend you for all your hard work, I would try to wean her off the treat food and encourage her regular food as she continues to convalesce. You have done a great job with her, it may take a few more weeks before she can rejoin the flock. As always, good luck.

Yes, I try to encourage reg food, but I know that sometimes they can be really stubborn. As the beetles wane, and of course they are waning (now that she is ravenous for them!) she will hopefully come around to her feed. I keep a bowl in front of her most times, but occasionally take it away because I think it bothers her to see it so much, making it less satisfying. When I put it back she begins to look at it, but no interest to eat any of it, yet. I put a few worms in there and even then she won't touch it if it's in her feed. She initially did. She'd prefer her worms on the towel. LOL She has some kind of aversion to her feed right now. I should try a crumble feed and see what she thinks. Have tried soaked pellets, she doesn't want it. : \
That is a great point about a ligament or tendon. She does seem to have some control. Yesterday she actually made a some steps forward that were slow, and not so fast-like w/a crash landing. She got her wings to balance but plopped down, that's fine don't want to stress her too much, but I do think she needs a little exercise to get things working. When she plops down it is more upright now rather than on her side. Time will tell.

Her vent seems to working well, and all the swelling gone, even the "water balloon" butt is gone. Must've been fluids built up. On edges of her vent where it was apparently ripped on both sides of the "curve" that pulls everything inward, it looks much better, but the flap of skin on top doesn't pull inward but it does look like it's 'turning inward'.

I read a story the other day about a woman who had a hen that would not walk as she was moulting. Would fall over and just lay there. She thought she was sick w/Mareks. It wouldn't eat either. She was told by someone else once the feathers all were in she'd walk again, and that's what happened! Maybe Olga doesn't want to give it her best shot until she's looking all good again to go back to the flock. We'll wait, whatever it is hoping for that day.

 

[Kiki]

Pick up some crumble grower feed today.

 

[Loona]

Pick up some crumble grower feed today.

Will do. Thank you!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I guess if she wont eat her layer food with the worms mixed in or pick the worms out of the layer food, my next idea of putting the treat food with the layer food in a food processer with one or two quick pulses wont work either. Sorry, but will keep my thinking cap on. As always, good luck.
P.S. KikisGirls' idea sounds like it may be worth a try.