Hen cant lift head after fox attack

[megbriabi2012]

Last night our chickens were heard clucking outside the house. When i went out a fox ran across the garden. We then found what we thought was a hen with a broken neck, but none of the vertebrae are out of place and the hen is not distressed. She can move her head but can't lift it. She is still laying and trying to walk. She has been drinking from a syringe but wont eat solid pellets. Should we give her watered down feed from a syringe and does anyone know what could be wrong with our hen?

 

[blythspirit]

I am sorry I don't know what could be wrong with your hen, except to say that she may have soft tissue damage or torn tendons that hold her head up..it doesn't sound good and it doesn't sound like she will do very well is she can't hold her head up on her own. I would errr dispatch her rather than have her suffer if that was the case. Once a fox figures out how to get at your hens..it will be back so I would fix that part too. Sorry for your hen...

 

[MountainMamaHST]

Give her a few days, vitamins, lots of rest, and separate her. Maybe soft tissue. If she's not doing better you may want to evaluate her quality of life...........

But yes, Fox will be back. Fix where it got in or she'll have better luck next time

 

[megbriabi2012]

Okay thanks, she seems better today and can hold her head higher than before, we've put the other hens in a smaller run until the repairs are done.

 

[calmwinds]

When the bobcat bit my duck his neck was extremely sore. I gave him metcam for pain as per vets advice. It took about a month before he was back to normal. Rest, quiet, soft feed is what I did. Good luck