Injured Chicken

[micstrachan]

So sorry to hear of this attack! I am in total agreement warmth (not too hot) and water (with electrolytes and nutrients, if possible) are critical to give her a chance. Can you post whatever neck floppiness she is doing?

 

[Vedranab]

Thank you all your input. She seemed a little bit more alert this afternoon and is taking some water when offered. She is still making a wheezy sort of noise and then a sort of cough especially after she drinks..she is still not feeding. I dont have vitamins...unless vitamins for humans work..also I only have berry flavoured electrolyte drink. Can I dilute it and give it to her? Or is there a specific thing I can buy for her from the vet? The bubble thing does look air filled..I am too afraid to burst it. She also hasnt made many normal chicken sounds like as if her respiratory area injured. I didn't know foxes squeezed..she probably was squeezed then if there are no bite marks I am guessing.

 

[Vedranab]

I actually have just realised she has stopped the neck flopping and is finally able to keep her head up. She may have been that exhausted and traumatized I am not sure but she seems to be slowly improving. I also put some electrolyte in her water. I will try and post more pictures of her soon.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad to hear you are seeing a little improvement. They can be floppy/unresponsive initially due to shock and trauma.

It's good that she will take water when offered. If the electrolytes you have is something like gatorade, then yes, you can dilute a little to see if she will drink it. But plain water is fine if that is what she will take - getting fluids into her is most important.
Once she is drinking well and hydrated - then offer some wet feed or some chopped egg - she will be o.k. for a day or 2 without food as long as she's drinking.

The air bubble - just monitor it for now if you are afraid to puncture it - see if it will go down over the course of the day. If she starts to show signs of respiratory distress, then it may need to be released, but again - I'm not a vet.

Keep us posted.

fwiw- photos are always welcome and in your opening post you worried if your description was graphic/offensive, etc. This is the ER forums - I don't think I've ever found a description or photo offensive on this forum, you were just telling us the facts and what you see.

 

[Vedranab]

Here is a video of her a few hours after I found her she was very unwell.

 

[Vedranab]

This is her now looking much better but still making strange sounds.

 

[Vedranab]

Thank you so much really appreciate all the support. It has given me much needed faith and confidence. Will keep you posted ✌

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is looking better.

The first video - is there a bubble on the other side as well? It's hard to tell.

Second video - she has water dripping from her beak - has she just drank some water? Is she pooping? Chickens can have water drip from the beak when they have been drinking, so not a real concern - just curious.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I'm wondering if she has some swelling in her neck. It looked like she swallowed then coughed. Almost like when we swallow and get something down the wrong pipe. It's the bodies way of trying to keep whatever we swallowed out of our lungs.

If she will eat anything give it to her. I would say small chopped up or puréed. I'm sure she has a sore throat so eating isn't appealing. If it's soupy and she drinks it that's fine. Don't force it but soup is an option.

 

[Eggcessive]

Human vitamin B complex can be crushed into food or water--a 1/2 tablet daily works. Baby liquid multivitamins would also work--the ones without iron would be best. She looks so much better in the second video than the first. I would just watch the air bubble or leaking air sac, unless she suddenly gets into respiratory distress. It should deflate eventually after it has been reabsorbed by the body. You are doing great in giving her the care she needs. Water, electrolytes, and wet food, eggs, are all good for her if she will take them. I really hope that you can help her pull through her injuries.