Possible neck injury from hawk attack HELP

[czakutney7]

My chicken, Penelope, got attacked by a hawk 11/9. It’s been almost 1 month, and she has made progress, but not major progress.
The area around her crop and wing were stitched by a vet, she got antibiotics, and has been healing.

Unfortunately she isn’t walking, and her balance isn’t great, but she has gotten better.

Recently I’m starting to think she has a neck injury, because right above her crop it feels boney and is able to be shifted when I hold her to straighten her.

She’s eating, happy, purring, carrying on, but won’t stand unassisted, won’t walk, and keeps her head sucked into her body and to her left.

Wondering what I can do to help, or if I should seek a vet. I don’t want her injury to get worse or become permanent!

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m sorry about your hen. Has she been lame all along since the hawk hit her? It might have caused a spinal injury, since hamks are very powerful when they hit. I would check into chicken sling chairs and wheelchairs for chickens. Here is a good link for chicken slings, and the posts 5, 11, and 12 are very good:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

https://chickentherapychairs.weebly.com/

 

[czakutney7]

l actually made her a chair! She can “walk” and moves her legs the right way when I push the chair forward. My biggest concern is her neck. It seems completely shifted and I’m guessing is what is keeping her from walking and balancing unassisted

 

[Eggcessive]

Good job! You can attach small containers for water and feed as well. I would take her out for periods of rest to stretch, and at night to sleep.

 

[czakutney7]

She stays in her chair usually in half hour increments. I’ve been doing moderate ‘chicken therapy’ with her, but her neck seems to be tucked and twisting towards her crop.
I’ve been massaging her neck and trying to stretch it out but she’s very sensitive and resistant with doing this. So I’m not sure what exactly to do because I don’t want her to heal that way.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you tried giving her vitamin E? The dosage is 400 IU and you can use human softgels. Give a bit of scrambled egg daily for selenium. 1/4 to 1/2 tablet of B Complex would also be good to try, and that can be crushed into food or a little water.

 

[czakutney7]

I heard that from a friend and I’m going to try it! Thank you so much for the advice!!