Hen cannot pick up head

[OrigamiWolf]

A fox attacked out flock on the 15th and two were taken. One of them was found injured and wouldnt move. She is now inside and cannot keep up her head. She keeps it down, by her feet. She tried to pick it up but couldn't get it above her chest. I held her head up and slowly let go and she couldn't keep it up. She is trying but cannot. The only way she can drink water is when I hold it so her beak is on it and she drinks a little, without picking up her head. She hasn't touched her food. Please help! She still laid an egg but I am very worried she barely moves and rests her head at a awkward angle. I'm very worried

 

[FunClucks]

I'm so sorry. Sounds like she may have a broken neck. Is she voluntarily moving any other parts of her body? Does she respond to stimulus when you poke her foot or something? Egglaying may be involuntary.

It could be that something else is wrong and that she will recover, but I have no idea how to tell. Can you take her to a vet?

 

[FloppyGirl]

So sorry you and your hen are going through this. Not sure if there is anything else you could do that you're not already doing at this point (keeping her hydrated). I've never dealt with neck injuries in my flock so no idea if there is anymore that could be done, aside from giving it time to see if it improves.

 

[Eggcessive]

She has wry neck from the neck or head injury. It might get better if you treat her with human vitamins E 400 IU and BComplex 1/2 tablet daily given in food or a little water. I would mix a lot of water into a bowl of her usual chicken feed making a mash. Try a bit of scrambled egg, and you can alternate with some tuna or canned cat food for variety. A chicken sling chair might be helpful, and here are many examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[Cat Ballou]

A fox attacked out flock on the 15th and two were taken. One of them was found injured and wouldnt move. She is now inside and cannot keep up her head. She keeps it down, by her feet. She tried to pick it up but couldn't get it above her chest. I held her head up and slowly let go and she couldn't keep it up. She is trying but cannot. The only way she can drink water is when I hold it so her beak is on it and she drinks a little, without picking up her head. She hasn't touched her food. Please help! She still laid an egg but I am very worried she barely moves and rests her head at a awkward angle. I'm very worried

Isolate her in a dog crate until she recovers. If she’s drinking and not eating she may still be in shock. See if she’ll drink bone broth to heal the damage and try to give her baby food to stimulate her appetite. She’ll decide whether shecan recover or not.

 

[OrigamiWolf]

Isolate her in a dog crate until she recovers. If she’s drinking and not eating she may still be in shock. See if she’ll drink bone broth to heal the damage and try to give her baby food to stimulate her appetite. She’ll decide whether shecan recover or not.

We are just keeping her on a blanket. She is not trying to get up at all

 

[OrigamiWolf]

I'm so sorry. Sounds like she may have a broken neck. Is she voluntarily moving any other parts of her body? Does she respond to stimulus when you poke her foot or something? Egglaying may be involuntary.

It could be that something else is wrong and that she will recover, but I have no idea how to tell. Can you take her to a vet?

She rarely moves on her own

 

[FunClucks]

She rarely moves on her own

But if she is still moving on her own, that's good. I'd follow Eggscessive's advice and hope for the best. Good luck!

 

[OrigamiWolf]

Update: made her aome scrambled eggs and she's eating on her own!

 

[OrigamiWolf]

Update: she tried roosting on her own and she is improving! Stopped eating and drinking though. Took a look at her neck and it is badly bruised