How to help hen injured by cable tie around its neck?

[Wyorp Rock]

Just to be clear, I did not place a zip tie around her neck! I found it already there. I am not certain how she got it there, but she obviously put her head into one that was already zipped. It was about 5 inches in diameter in size

She apparently put her head through a large closed cable tie, and couldn’t get it off.

In your first post, it was clear (to me) that you had not put the tie on her neck. Chickens can get themselves into all kind of predicaments.
How is she doing today? If there is wound and you can get some photos of that, it would be good. If it's scabbed over, then just take a really good look at it, see if there is redness, swelling, pus, odor or any indication that it might be infected.

Her behavior is more concerning, but if she is molting, this may be the reason why. But I would still observe her to see that she's eating/drinking. If not, this needs to be investigated further.

 

[rod5591]

In your first post, it was clear (to me) that you had not put the tie on her neck. Chickens can get themselves into all kind of predicaments.
How is she doing today? If there is wound and you can get some photos of that, it would be good. If it's scabbed over, then just take a really good look at it, see if there is redness, swelling, pus, odor or any indication that it might be infected.

Her behavior is more concerning, but if she is molting, this may be the reason why. But I would still observe her to see that she's eating/drinking. If not, this needs to be investigated further.

Thanks for asking! She seems a little better. It's raining all day, so most of the birds stayed under shelter and I stayed out of the barnyard because it is so muddy. When I brought them some food, she was there and seemed active enough. I think she is improving.

I can not take a really close look at it since she moves away from me when I approach her. I handled them as chicks but when they got more active and I put them outside, I've only caught them to clip their wings with the help of my wife.

I believe you are right they are beginning to molt. They were born around April 1 2018 so they are nearly 11 months old now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for asking! She seems a little better. It's raining all day, so most of the birds stayed under shelter and I stayed out of the barnyard because it is so muddy. When I brought them some food, she was there and seemed active enough. I think she is improving.

I can not take a really close look at it since she moves away from me when I approach her. I handled them as chicks but when they got more active and I put them outside, I've only caught them to clip their wings with the help of my wife.

I believe you are right they are beginning to molt. They were born around April 1 2018 so they are nearly 11 months old now.

Glad she seems to be doing better.
If you really need to take a look at her just to put your mind at ease whether or not she needs to be seen to, wait until she is roosting, then grab her. Chickens can't see well after dark, so they are easy to catch then. Swaddle her loosely in a towel capturing the wings, this gives you control so you can examine her.

If she is molting, she would benefit from some extra protein, what do you normally feed?
I like to give mine some scrambled eggs as a nice treat.

 

[rod5591]

Today I was very happy to see her recovering rapidly. How do I know? The redness of her back of neck injury had faded to only pink. Also, she was bossing the other hens and chasing them from the food!

 

[rod5591]

Thank you all!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Today I was very happy to see her recovering rapidly. How do I know? The redness of her back of neck injury had faded to only pink. Also, she was bossing the other hens and chasing them from the food!

Great news! Sometimes, bossy is good

 

[rod5591]

She is still alive, and seems to be doing OK, but still seems more frail and stressed than she used to be. I think I was premature to say she was bossing the other hens. As far as I don't understand how people just grab their chickens for examination, since I usually can not get close to them. Even at night its not that easy since they are not really accessible to me.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is still alive, and seems to be doing OK, but still seems more frail and stressed than she used to be. I think I was premature to say she was bossing the other hens. As far as I don't understand how people just grab their chickens for examination, since I usually can not get close to them. Even at night its not that easy since they are not really accessible to me.

What is your coop/run set-up like?
Sometimes it can be hard to catch birds. I have a few that I usually wait until dark or very early to catch. I do have some that are agreeable as well, but I handled them frequently as chicks and never let up, so...

She seems frail and stressed? Is she eating/drinking well? Have you noted if she is being harassed or overmated by your cockerel?
It would be good if you could get a hold of her and check to make sure her crop is empty in the morning and look her over well.

 

[rod5591]

Yes, she is eating and drinking well. But her behavior has changed since she put her head into that cable tie. Before, she was the first to push her way to the chicken feeder when I replenished it. She seemed super aggressive and would approach me boldly whenever I entered the yard. Now, she is timid and won't approach me. She waits until the other hens have eaten and then she approaches the feeder, when no one else is around it. I haven't seen the rooster pay attention to her since she was injured. But she is definitely much improved from where she was last week. Then, she was hiding much of the time. Now she is out in the open much more.

Yes, I wish I could get a hold of her to examine her, but I am so slow these days that it is very difficult.

 

[rod5591]

Glad she seems to be doing better.
If you really need to take a look at her just to put your mind at ease whether or not she needs to be seen to, wait until she is roosting, then grab her. Chickens can't see well after dark, so they are easy to catch then. Swaddle her loosely in a towel capturing the wings, this gives you control so you can examine her.

If she is molting, she would benefit from some extra protein, what do you normally feed?
I like to give mine some scrambled eggs as a nice treat.

I feed them layers crumbles and scratch. Also table scraps including eggs once a week. They wont touch cracked corn or layers pellets at all, they seem so fussy in that regards.