Injured chicken slow to recover

[AGeese]

She would have gagged or gasped, much like we do. Not sure about a direct injection as that might cause drowning.

*also maybe there's bullying when they go to roost? For example another dominant hen jumping on her back and pecking her from the sides.

 

[velizhanna]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! You guys are the best!
I am giving her Vit B, and will start Vit E when I get ahold of it. I will also try the aspirin idea to see if it helps.
I didn't really clean her wound because by the time I noticed it, it seemed kinda dried up and like it would really hurt to try to clean off the dried blood (the black stuff on the edge of her wound is just dried up blood, not infected skin. The skin actually looks just fine, no redness to indicate inflamation, and I can tell it's started to heal over a little bit).

She has started scooting around a bit, changing positions, but I don't think she's getting up on her legs. Fingers crossed that that's coming soon, cause I think she's starting to get bed sores or something on the one foot that she lays on most often and on the bottom of her belly.

As for not standing, check her legs and feet over thoroughly for any signs of injury or swelling. Are her feet warm and a normal color? When you pick her up do her legs dangle or stay tucked up? If you press a finger to the pad of her foot and bend her leg does she curl her toes? Try to determine whether she is paralyzed (no muscle control) or she just doesn't have the strength to stand. Could be Marek's if she seems paralyzed, but unlikely if your birds were vaccinated. Could also have been some injury to her spine when she was hurt.

When I pick her up, she does not straighten her legs, they just stay tucked in by her body. And when I try pressing on the pads of her feet or bending her legs, there's not much reaction - the toes do not curl up. But other than that, they look okay, pretty normal. They don't feel cold, and look to be a normal yellow-ish color. They don't seem fully paralyzed, sometimes I'll see some movement in the toes. (She was vaxxed for Marek's as a chick) But she seems to have the strength to flap her wings, so I don't know why she wouldn't have the strength to stand... Also, she was walking after the injury when we found her hunched up and put her in the dog crate, she would get up to poop the first day or so, so a spine injury also seems far-fetched. What a mystery!

(She won't eat tasty treats put in front of her?) But also doesn't help to narrow down the issue much. Keep trying to make sure she gets some nutrition and stays hydrated

Nope. I offered her scrambled eggs and cooked ground beef (which they normally devour) and she didn't care for any of it. None of the chickens seem to go crazy for grubs/mealworms so other than the ground beef, I haven't yet found treats that they just absolutely love. I'm still syringe-watering her and feeding her with a tiny little spoon.
I'll try giving her some sugar water as someone suggested to see if that brings out her appetite.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! You guys are the best!
I am giving her Vit B, and will start Vit E when I get ahold of it. I will also try the aspirin idea to see if it helps.
I didn't really clean her wound because by the time I noticed it, it seemed kinda dried up and like it would really hurt to try to clean off the dried blood (the black stuff on the edge of her wound is just dried up blood, not infected skin. The skin actually looks just fine, no redness to indicate inflamation, and I can tell it's started to heal over a little bit).

She has started scooting around a bit, changing positions, but I don't think she's getting up on her legs. Fingers crossed that that's coming soon, cause I think she's starting to get bed sores or something on the one foot that she lays on most often and on the bottom of her belly.

When I pick her up, she does not straighten her legs, they just stay tucked in by her body. And when I try pressing on the pads of her feet or bending her legs, there's not much reaction - the toes do not curl up. But other than that, they look okay, pretty normal. They don't feel cold, and look to be a normal yellow-ish color. They don't seem fully paralyzed, sometimes I'll see some movement in the toes. (She was vaxxed for Marek's as a chick) But she seems to have the strength to flap her wings, so I don't know why she wouldn't have the strength to stand... Also, she was walking after the injury when we found her hunched up and put her in the dog crate, she would get up to poop the first day or so, so a spine injury also seems far-fetched. What a mystery!


Nope. I offered her scrambled eggs and cooked ground beef (which they normally devour) and she didn't care for any of it. None of the chickens seem to go crazy for grubs/mealworms so other than the ground beef, I haven't yet found treats that they just absolutely love. I'm still syringe-watering her and feeding her with a tiny little spoon.
I'll try giving her some sugar water as someone suggested to see if that brings out her appetite.

I can't stress enough how important it is for her to eat. They lose weight and strength really fast. Even if you get really messy, try to feed her as much as possible. Can you try giving her raw yolk?

 

[Shadrach]

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas? Do I keep doing what I've been doing? How long does it typically take chickens to recover (am I just being impatient)?

How long exactly have you had her confined?
Put her back with the flock under supervision and see if she improves.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

I think she's starting to get bed sores or something on the one foot that she lays on most often and on the bottom of her belly.

You definitely don't want that! I would put some foam padding under her if you have it or at least a whole bunch of towels. A keel bone injury is another possibility for why she's unwilling/unable to walk.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/keel-bone-injuries

Metacam if you can get it or some other anti-inflammatory pain med might help her, but keep an eye out for black poop as it's more likely to cause intestinal bleeding since she's not eating much.

Put her back with the flock under supervision and see if she improves.

Chickens do love company... I might start with bringing a friend inside to see if she perks up.

 

[SmiYa0126]

You definitely don't want that! I would put some foam padding under her if you have it or at least a whole bunch of towels. A keel bone injury is another possibility for why she's unwilling/unable to walk.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/keel-bone-injuries

Metacam if you can get it or some other anti-inflammatory pain med might help her, but keep an eye out for black poop as it's more likely to cause intestinal bleeding since she's not eating much.


Chickens do love company... I might start with bringing a friend inside to see if she perks up.

How is she doing?

 

[velizhanna]

I can't stress enough how important it is for her to eat. They lose weight and strength really fast. Even if you get really messy, try to feed her as much as possible. Can you try giving her raw yolk?

Yes, I am force feeding her, alternating between egg, cooked ground beef and their regular fermented feed mash.
In the last couple days if I put the ground beef in front of her she'll get a couple of pecks herself, but it's litterally just a few pecks. My husband said he saw her pecking at the feed pellets, but again - I wouldn't call it "eating".

How long exactly have you had her confined?
Put her back with the flock under supervision and see if she improves.

She's been in the crate inside for a week and a half now. I tried taking her in to the run with the other chickens, but there was literally no reaction at all from her. To clarify - she's not walking or even standing up at all, so I'm hesitant to leave her there. I also worry that now she's acclimated to the inside temps and if I keep her outside for too long she'll get cold stressed.
Do you think I should just set her down on the bedding in the coop maybe? But then, with the rest of the chicken out in the run, I guess that would defeat the purpose.

You definitely don't want that! I would put some foam padding under her if you have it or at least a whole bunch of towels. A keel bone injury is another possibility for why she's unwilling/unable to walk.

Hm. Maybe! Some days ago her keel was looking pretty red, but I've put a stack of cloth diaper inserts under her, as you suggested, and have been putting her fully on her side (though she will eventually roll back onto her stomach/keel) and it seems to have taken the redness away. I checked out the link but it doesn't really have much info about identifying whether a keel injury is the case. Is there a good way to know? It doesn't look broken, and when I touch it she doesn't complain.
She mostly seems to complain when I pick her up by the chest/upper wing area, or when I roll her around to check out her underside. But then she seems to have no problem flapping her wings, so it's unlikely that she has a physical problem in the chest/upper wing area of her body.

How is she doing?

I think she's a little bit more "awake", but there's not much improvement in terms of her legs. They don't seem completely paralyzed - when I move them, extending them in and out, I can feel some resistance, so they're not completely floppy, but if I try to stand her up or press on the pads - no reaction.
I have been giving her Vit B and E; I tried baby aspirin, but didn't notice any difference.
She's scooting around the crate a little bit, and occasionally she'll peck at some food herself, but I'm still force-feeding her 3-4 times a day.
Her poops are looking more or less normal, but she still won't get up to poop.

She has also started making these really pitifull whimpering sounds. I try not to anthropomorphize animals, but does that mean she's in pain?

 

[NatureGirl74]

She has also started making these really pitifull whimpering sounds. I try not to anthropomorphize animals, but does that mean she's in pain?

Is it like a high pitched squeal?

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

@Pampered chicken girl

 

[velizhanna]

Is it like a high pitched squeal?

No, I wouldn't call it a squeal at all. More like a soft whimper. I just checked on her and she's laying quietly. I guess she makes that sound mostly after I feed her and put her down (though it's possible that I just pay more attention at that time). Next time I feed I'll try to get her on video.