I was hoping to never say this...

[PunkinPeep]

It sounds to me like Tillie might be learning to deal with her new disability.

It also occurred to me that if she is able to scoop up water to drink, she may have more success with food if she is able to eat out of a feeder that allows her to scoop it up.

If she was able to eat a spaghetti noodle, i have great hope for her.

As to her nesting - i'm not sure what yours normally do, but mine often take turns going to the nest boxes while everyone else is outside scratching around. They just go as the need arises.

I also have some that sit in the nesting boxes with their heads to the back instead of the front.

If she's broody, she will stay in the nest box constantly, even all night.

 

[kimb]

I agree with some of the other suggestions ... (is there anyway you could keep her separate for the day to see if she really is eating? ) ... but use a deep dish, I'd try just crumbling up her layer pellets (if you don't already get them in a mash) - the blender works great! ... I also like to hard boil eggs and use my slap chop to dice them up really small (could mix that with her mashed regular food) ... if she likes pasta

go ahead and cook so up (or make her an extra helping when you make dinner tonight

)...

Unless she doesn't come off the nest at all - then she's probably not broody ... but i've never had a "sick" chicken go to it's nesting box ... so I don't think it's time for her to be PTS yet ...

I wouldn't cut the bottom of her beak! ! ! her face may be still store/sensitive but after a while when things totally heal she'll have a much better chance of survival and learning how to eat with her bottom beak fully functional! ... I can't say for certain if it will all grow back normal (but I do think that it will grow back quite a bit) ... debeaked chickens learn to use it like a pelican and "SCOOP" up their food ... I'd say they typically have a learning curve of 10 days to a month ... so just let her try and work it out - but do provide food that she is capable of eating

...

Where there's a will, there's a way - it seems like if she escaped a coon - she most definitely has the will!

Good Luck!

 

[brendae]

OMG! That poor thing! The only suggestion I have is to maybe add some sugar or electrolyte mix like Gatorade to her water so even if she is only drinking she can at least get some nutrients from her water. That might buy you some extra time until you, and she, can figure out how to get some solid food into her. Good luck!

 

[dbcox]

How is Tillie doing??? Sure would like an update if you can. Been thinking about her plight.

 

[drumstick diva]

If she can eat spaghetti, I would guess she could eat small worms. She sounds like such a trouper I hope she gets better. I am subscribing to this thread and wishing I could come up with something that works for her. I don't think she's starving if she continues to lay. Maybe she manages eating bugs or something else.

 

[dmdhart]

I've had a few severly injured chickens that have not been thrilled about eating. Almost always though they have gobbled up canned dog or cat food. I add poly -vi - sol without iron. They almost always like scrambled eggs as well. Keep giving her the spaghetti. I wouldn't trim her beak either. Good luck! and please keep us updated.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

if she has been sratching around tat is a good sign I would think. She is probably frustrted too. Hae you tried other foods. She got a noodle down so feed her noodles by hand. Scrambled eggs, canned cat food, warm oatmeal, meal worms. keep trying. If she loses too much weight, culling will of course have to be considered.

 

[j71]

just giving an update for all

I truly appreciate the replies and feedback!!

I came home yesterday from work about 615pm. I had my daughter let the girls all out in the yard about 430.

We have a big yard with lots of leaves, pine needles, good scratching areas....

All hens were scratching around, looking thru the leaves etc.....plenty of bugs of all shapes, sizes n types!

Its sooo funny when I walk in the backyard they all ruuuuun over to me....I feel like....A king!

I scooped up a nice handful of boss/corn/scratch and cupped my hands...Tillie was MOST DEF Eating!!

She doesnt get a seed everytime she pecks...but she was getting some and maybe even enough?

I then mixed in some of her pellet food to the mix and I watched her get a bunch down....they are maybe 1/2" long pellets.

I sat with her for 10-15min while she alone ate from my hands....

I do believe......we are on the road to recovery

TY all once again!


edit: When I went to check on them right after the above post, Tillie was perched up high with the girls!! She was not in the box. Maybe shell return today not sure but I am really feeling good about my girls today!!!

 

[chickencrazymamahen]

So sorry for your hen! I had a roo that had beak damage, similar to yours and he eventually learned to eat some of his feed if it was deep enough to "scoop" with the lower beak, but after a few months, he still declined as he was not able to pick up grit and other items to help him digest. If you have the time to personally feed your hen everyday and are ok with that, she will probably be ok, just remember to add grit to whatever you feed her. We have too many chickens to hand feed one everyday and eventually we had to cull my roo (my favorite gentle guy) was very hard to do, but he was not getting what he needed to be healthy, couldn't pick grass, grit, bugs or anything like that. Wishing you the best of luck.....it can be done, but its a daily committment.

 

[sookiesmom]

I am soooo happy to hear that she's doing better. I've found that no matter what happens to our feathered friends, just be sure to give them a chance & they usually will come through. Congrats!!!!!!