Pig attack

[ctwx]

Yesterday afternoon apparently one of our chickens got its head too close to the pig feeding trough. My wife came out and found the pigs attacking one of the young hens. She got her away from the pigs and got her cleaned up. Initially the hen was pretty lethargic, maybe in shock? We kept an eye on her, and then put her to bed in the coop in a travel cage for the night not really expecting to find her alive today.

This morning however she seemed to be more alert. So my wife cleaned her up more and has been feeding her water, apple cider vinegar, and milk with a syringe. She seems to be improving.

My question is, that her beak is kind of skewed and I am wondering if chickens have jaw bones that maybe would need to be like reset, or if it will just heal up a little crooked and she'll learn to deal with it. It seems to have gotten a bit better since the pic I am posting.

Taking her to the vet is not an option. We would probably have dispatched her last night were it not for the fact that it is my daughters pet chicken. The pigs seem to only have gotten her on the head.

Today she is moving her beak some by herself so that tells me that it is at least still functionable. She is also standing up in her cage and letting us hold her. She was making some clucking type noises at us this evening.

Can someone give me some insight into skewed chicken beaks? I am sure this is not the first beak that has ended up like this. Does anybody have any success or failure stories to help us make a good decision?

Thanks

C

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[ctwx]

The stuff on the side of her head is aloe by the way. Also the swelling has gone down significantly. She is still not opening her right eye but her left eye seems to be pretty normal. I'll post new pics tomorrow.


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[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome to BYC.

There's not much you can to for the beak, it may go back in line as she starts to heal, but it may always be crooked if she recovers.

For the wounds, flush them well with sterile saline, Betadine or Chlorhexidine (Novalsan). Apply a triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, Bacitracin, etc.) or Vetericyn to the wounds.
The eyes need to be generously flushed/cleaned with plenty of saline - I am assuming that is mud/? from the pig pen(?) on her face/eyes/wattles.
Watch for any signs of infection, pus, discharge/oozing and odors.

Offer some extra protein like egg, tuna, mackerel or meat. If you have them some poultry vitamins in her water may be helpful for a few days.

Keep us posted on her progress.

 

[caseymacom]

Omg poor baby hope she gets better, mine got attacked by a dog when it was 6 weeks old completely tore the wing off, I brought her in the house kept neosporin on her, now she is 6 months old and laying eggs with one wing.

 

[ctwx]

Seemed to be doing ok. Layed an egg yesterday. Unfortunately she passed away this morning.


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[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your loss.