HELP!!!! PLEASE!!!!

[Rowley5678]

My chicken was attacked by a dog Sunday afternoon. I immediately cleaned the wound, put her by herself in the coop and put her under a heat lamp. Monday she didn't eat but drank quite a bit. Tuesday, no eating or drinking so I researched and made a mash of yogurt, oatmeal, grapes and bananas. I've been spooning the mash and water up to her face several times a day and she eats very little. I even took her outside for a couple minutes and all she did was stand still then I took her back under the heat lamp in the coop. Tuesday morning I did the same thing, by Tuesday afternoon she was laying on her side with her feet out from under her not even picking her head up. I felt like she was going to pass away so I got a box with sheets and brought her inside. She keeps eating and drinking very little several times a day. Wednesday morning she had her head raised again, so the kids and I had some more hope. I tried picking her up but all she does is fall over. She won't put any weight on one foot. This has continued until today. Shes still hanging in there, eating and drinking very little. Any advice?!?!?!?! Please?!?!??!!

 

[staceyj]

Is a vet not an option?

Can you please post some clear pictures of her wounds? Have you gone through her feathers carefully to make sure you aren’t missing any other punctures?
Have you manipulated her foot/leg/hip to determine if it may be broken?
Maybe even a video of her behavior would help us help you.
If you want to post a video,you can’t do it directly.
You have to post it to an outside video platform such as YouTube, then post the link to it within the body of your post.

Try adding some sugar and a tiny pinch of salt to the water you’re giving, or electrolytes. Do you have any nutri-drench? That can provide a burst of energy as well.

Offer soft scrambled eggs, chopped hard cooked eggs, canned tuna...
While the things you’re offering aren’t bad, they can be hard to digest and as it turns out, oatmeal isn’t actually good for them.
You would be better off just pouring warm water on her regular feed to an oatmeal consistency.

It sounds like you’re doing everything right.

She could have suffered internal damage. A dog attack usually includes crushing injuries.

How does her breathing sound?

A chicken sling sounds like it would make her more comfortable. Let me try to find a picture of that for you.

 

[staceyj]

Here is the gist of a chicken sling, with this link to the blog it belongs to.
http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2012/10/sick-chicken-or-things-we-do-for-love.html?m=1

 

[Rowley5678]

Thank you! I will be ordering this asap. Does this help the leg heal properly to where she could walk again? Or she may have permenant damage?

 

[Rowley5678]

As soon as I get home I will make a video. I thought I look she over well and cleaned her wounds with Theracyn wound spray. She was standing on both feet, just not moving now she wont put weight at all on one side. I hold her and she will sit comfortably with feet tucked in my lap but when I go to put her down her legs go out from under her.

Is a vet not an option?

Can you please post some clear pictures of her wounds? Have you gone through her feathers carefully to make sure you aren’t missing any other punctures?
Have you manipulated her foot/leg/hip to determine if it may be broken?
Maybe even a video of her behavior would help us help you.
If you want to post a video,you can’t do it directly.
You have to post it to an outside video platform such as YouTube, then post the link to it within the body of your post.

Try adding some sugar and a tiny pinch of salt to the water you’re giving, or electrolytes. Do you have any nutri-drench? That can provide a burst of energy as well.

Offer soft scrambled eggs, chopped hard cooked eggs, canned tuna...
While the things you’re offering aren’t bad, they can be hard to digest and as it turns out, oatmeal isn’t actually good for them.
You would be better off just pouring warm water on her regular feed to an oatmeal consistency.

It sounds like you’re doing everything right.

She could have suffered internal damage. A dog attack usually includes crushing injuries.

How does her breathing sound?

A chicken sling sounds like it would make her more comfortable. Let me try to find a picture of that for you.

 

[Rowley5678]

Her breathing seems normal. I haven't heard any labored breathing. She just sleeps peacefully all the time and then we'll hold spoonfuls to her mouth and make her eat/drink. I thought it was shock for a bit but then the earing/drinking stopped then she stopped standing. When she started to pick her head up again we started trying to figure out what we could do to save her life again instead of letting her die peacefully in the house. Pics and video will go up today so everyone can get a good look. I will try and rig a sling up today as well. Along with trying the new food without oatmeal. I read oatmeal was good but apparently not so I'll be off to the store too. I've thought about bringing her to the vet as well but when I found her in the coop laying down not trying to pick her head up, feet out from under her, just stiff, I thought that it was her time so I brought her in the house to let her go quietly around the family....but the next day, she lifted her head and has managed to keep it up since. As long as she wants to fight, I'll fight with her. I've just never experienced an injured chicken from a dog fight before.

 

[coach723]

She's probably really, really sore, so reluctance to move is not unusual. As long as she has no internal injuries, she has a good chance to recover with time and rest and care.
Ditto on stopping the oatmeal, just too hard to digest. Mine love cooked eggs, so that's usually my first try when they are reluctant to eat. Hydration is very important, so make sure she takes in plenty of fluids. Nutri drench is great stuff, and sometimes will help with appetite and get them eating. The sling will help keep her upright and comfortable, so the leg can rest, and she can get to food and water easier (another example below). I'm attaching a link which explains how to look for fractures (and splint if necessary) just in case. But it may just be super sore.
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[Rowley5678]

Thank you all for advice. Will be making changes immediately. Starting with the mash I made and making a sling.

 

[WVduckchick]

How old is she??

 

[Rowley5678]

I believe 2yrs old. We received her already grown.