Modifications to help a [newly] one-eyed hen with feeding/watering?

[lhkpdx]

Hey all,

My tough little old polish hen was quite injured by a dog attack and I’m happy to report she’s doing much better. However, one of her eyes was injured and I don’t think she’s regaining her sight in it — it seems closed for good (wondering if she had a tooth push it inward?). I gave her a 5-day round of Baytril and used Poultry Care and Terramycin on her eye and I’ve been syringe-feeding/watering. Slowly but surely she has regained her strength, her poops are good, she’s talking again, and she’s not complacent during our feeding sessions (lol). I’ve made food and water available to her in her house crate and while she shows interest and tries to feed herself, she can’t judge the distance properly and misses … like her depth perception is damaged. I really want to get her back to her small flock, but she has to be able to eat/drink on her own. I tried tying her head plume up and that seemed to make things worse. Is there anyone out there who has overcome this issue? Maybe different or modified equipment? She clearly has the will to live and seems healthy again … but neither of us wants to keep this syringe feeding/watering going forever.

 

[MarlaMac]

Hey all,

My tough little old polish hen was quite injured by a dog attack and I’m happy to report she’s doing much better. However, one of her eyes was injured and I don’t think she’s regaining her sight in it — it seems closed for good (wondering if she had a tooth push it inward?). I gave her a 5-day round of Baytril and used Poultry Care and Terramycin on her eye and I’ve been syringe-feeding/watering. Slowly but surely she has regained her strength, her poops are good, she’s talking again, and she’s not complacent during our feeding sessions (lol). I’ve made food and water available to her in her house crate and while she shows interest and tries to feed herself, she can’t judge the distance properly and misses … like her depth perception is damaged. I really want to get her back to her small flock, but she has to be able to eat/drink on her own. I tried tying her head plume up and that seemed to make things worse. Is there anyone out there who has overcome this issue? Maybe different or modified equipment? She clearly has the will to live and seems healthy again … but neither of us wants to keep this syringe feeding/watering going forever.

Definitely not an expert, but as I read your post about your sweet girl, my only thought was "are the feeders at ground level or are the up at a height that would make it easier for her to simply move her head forward to partake of the food"? Just a simply observation that may not amount to any thing, but it would be easier for me to just move forward, than have to move downward to pick something up.

I hope you find a resolution soon.

 

[lhkpdx]

Definitely not an expert, but as I read your post about your sweet girl, my only thought was "are the feeders at ground level or are the up at a height that would make it easier for her to simply move her head forward to partake of the food"? Just a simply observation that may not amount to any thing, but it would be easier for me to just move forward, than have to move downward to pick something up.

I hope you find a resolution soon.

Thanks so much for your thoughts!! I have food and water at all levels (lol). She’s in the right spot and her beak would hit the food/water if it only went further before she closes it. She really thinks she’s done it only to pull back with an empty beak. It would be funny if the consequence wasn’t so sad.

 

[OnlySympathy]

How many times a day are you feeding? I was thinking that lowering either the amount you feed, not sure what you are using but watering it down instead of lessening the amount entirely is what I would do so she still gets fluids, or the amount of times you feed so that there is more of a desire for her to figure it out might give her the encouragement she needs. I’m not an expert by any means but “weaning” her off of being syringe fed could definitely help her

 

[kattabelly]

Thanks so much for your thoughts!! I have food and water at all levels (lol). She’s in the right spot and her beak would hit the food/water if it only went further before she closes it. She really thinks she’s done it only to pull back with an empty beak. It would be funny if the consequence wasn’t so sad.

Are you able to physically guide her head forwards enough to get the food when she's trying to eat? Similar to showing new chicks where their food and water is, if you've ever done that.