Hit by a car

[Jennifer2021]

Hello! I have a hen who appears to have been hit by a car. We found her on the side of the road. Still alive. Her right eye is swollen and full of blood. She is holding her right foot up and close. She is breathing heavy and with her mouth open.
I do NOT want to kill her, but I also don’t want her suffering. I have brought her inside, with heat and blankets and water. Any suggestions?!?!

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

This is serious. I've never ever came across this situation before. But what I would do, I'd take her to the vet, it sounds really serious. Good luck! ❤

 

[ChickensAreEpic123]

go to a vet if you want her highest chances to live.

 

[BunnyEberhart]

Check her over as best you can until you can see a vet. See if there are any broken bones by gently moving her. Slowly and gently. Also could it be possible an owl or large bird of pray may have picked her up and dropped her on the road? Another thought. I would imagine some terrible internal damage in either case. Poor baby. We can only hope for her recovery. Photos of her injuries may help us give advice on the best way to make her comfortable.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

go to a vet if you want her highest chances to live.

Oh few! Someone to back me up - I thought my idea was a bit out of reach, but necessary.

 

[BunnyEberhart]

Oh few! Someone to back me up - I thought my idea was a bit out of reach, but necessary.

In this situation a vet seems to be the best option for survival. You are 100% correct in this.

 

[Ebony Rose]

In an effort to give her the best chance possible of survival, put electrolytes into her water (pedialyte WITHOUT iron will do, or gatorade, or sugar water with a pinch of salt if you don't have access to the other stuff); this will help to stave off the effects of shock. You can expect there to be some oddities in her breathing, but don't give up hope as chickens have two distinct sets of air sacs - the anterior air sacs (cervical, clavicular & cranial), and the posterior air sacs (caudal & abdominal). They do not play a direct role in gaseous exchange, but store air and act like bellows, allowing the lungs to function well.
If she has indeed suffered a blunt force trauma, like being hit by a car, it is reasonable to assume that one of these many air sacs may be punctured, and would account for heavy breathing; I have heard that some can heal.
Assuming that no bones are broken, all you can do is make her comfortable and reduce her chance of shock... time will tell.
You and your feathered family are in my prayers.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

In this situation a vet seems to be the best option for survival. You are 100% correct in this.

Why thank you

 

[BugStalker]

Definitely, I'd recommend a vet if possible. I'm so sorry this happened.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bloody-swollen-eye-on-my-hen.1158187/post-18185633 by @Eggcessive gives some advice on cleaning a swollen, bloody eye, but I don't know if that's advisable in her condition. The heavy breathing could be from shock or injury, or maybe both. The leg would probably be less serious than internal injury. A vet could help assess her injuries better than we can.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

Hello! I have a hen who appears to have been hit by a car. We found her on the side of the road. Still alive. Her right eye is swollen and full of blood. She is holding her right foot up and close. She is breathing heavy and with her mouth open.
I do NOT want to kill her, but I also don’t want her suffering. I have brought her inside, with heat and blankets and water. Any suggestions?!?!

The poor hen! So sorry this happened!