Post Predator Attack - Irritated Eye, not eating or drinking

[Dedetiger]

I'm glad you saw the wound.

I'd get some Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) and clean the wound really well. Trim the feathers from around the wound so you can see it better. Apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wound. Hopefully it will heal fairly quickly.
I'd also check around on the opposite side of the wound, perhaps there's another wound - think of Bobcat teeth (bite) or claws.

If he will take food from a syringe, you can also provide him with Kaytee Exact Baby Bird Formula. A lot of people tube or syringe this when they have a bird that's not eating well on their own.

Keep me post on the Little Guy. Does he have a name?

He does! His name is Declan!

He’s still hanging out in our garage and for the first time in a few days he had a singular word to say to me after I opened the garage door for a bit haha

I’ll definitely get another look around his opposite side when I get home, now I know where it is I can see the wound well. It’s scabbed over all the way and I’m keeping it clean, will definitely pull out our triple antibiotics too, what a great idea!

I’ll definitely see if I can get my hands on the bird formula - he’s doing really well taking stuff from the syringe as long as we take it slowly. I’ve gotten him to eat some egg-water mixture this morning and went out last night to get my nutridrench from the coop to add to it. Happy to report he’s pooping at least a more frequently now :]

 

[Wyorp Rock]

He does! His name is Declan!

He’s still hanging out in our garage and for the first time in a few days he had a singular word to say to me after I opened the garage door for a bit haha

I’ll definitely get another look around his opposite side when I get home, now I know where it is I can see the wound well. It’s scabbed over all the way and I’m keeping it clean, will definitely pull out our triple antibiotics too, what a great idea!

I’ll definitely see if I can get my hands on the bird formula - he’s doing really well taking stuff from the syringe as long as we take it slowly. I’ve gotten him to eat some egg-water mixture this morning and went out last night to get my nutridrench from the coop to add to it. Happy to report he’s pooping at least a more frequently now :]

Hello Declan!

I'm hopeful he's going to pull through.
It does look like he has bruising too, this can all take a good while to recover from.

It's good that he's eating some. I'd suggest tubing him, but since his neck seems to be so uncomfortable, I don't think at this time, it would work very well. I'm glad you are working with him and giving him time.

 

[Dedetiger]

Hello Declan!

I'm hopeful he's going to pull through.
It does look like he has bruising too, this can all take a good while to recover from.

It's good that he's eating some. I'd suggest tubing him, but since his neck seems to be so uncomfortable, I don't think at this time, it would work very well. I'm glad you are working with him and giving him time.

Ouhh I’m not too sure about tubing, I’ve never done it before and I’m super worried about hurting him further

Definitely having some patience, he’s been a FIGHTER today this man does not wanna drink his water and keeps kicking at me haha
He’s not gonna be happy when I gotta wash his face later…

I’ve started weighing him now to make sure he’s not loosing anything either, started to try doing regular stretches too

 

[Dedetiger]

Apparently I really cannot catch a break…

Two days ago, a bobcat got into my chicken coop. I lost two of my birds, and yesterday I noticed my tiny little bantam rooster was acting strangely.

One of his eyes was irritated, to which I’ve been treating - and he is keeping his head tucked close to his chest. Additionally, he won’t eat or drink and seems to freak out after a few dropped sips of water. (He very scarily flipped over this morning)

I’ve looked over him multiple times for any external injuries or injuries to the head / neck area but I cannot see any. He can walk but it’s very wobbly and refuses to extend his neck when doing so. I’ll be separating him later once I’m back home as well as providing photos if able, but what else can I do?

Could he have a head injury or be in some sort of delayed shock??

Declan update!

Tried that Exact baby bird food, it’s a total hit for him lol

He FINALLY got a few steps in today! He’s been a little gentleman and refuses to poop in the cage if he can help it so I brought him outside one last time before it got too dark out and he pooped… then started beelining it for his little cage!

He’s a little unsteady on his feet (not surprising since he’s been resting for the last few days really) and not quite confident but he was very certain of where he wanted to go. He does this two steps forward one step back method though, which while be something to work on. It’s certainly a method but at least he’s moving

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Declan update!

Tried that Exact baby bird food, it’s a total hit for him lol

He FINALLY got a few steps in today! He’s been a little gentleman and refuses to poop in the cage if he can help it so I brought him outside one last time before it got too dark out and he pooped… then started beelining it for his little cage!

He’s a little unsteady on his feet (not surprising since he’s been resting for the last few days really) and not quite confident but he was very certain of where he wanted to go. He does this two steps forward one step back method though, which while be something to work on. It’s certainly a method but at least he’s moving

So glad he's liking the bird formula.

Good for him taking steps! Even if still unsteady, being able to move around just a bit is encouraging.

Go Declan!

 

[Dedetiger]

So glad he's liking the bird formula.

Good for him taking steps! Even if still unsteady, being able to move around just a bit is encouraging.

Go Declan!

I agree!
He seems more willing to move around dusk, not so much a bit fan today lol

I’m not sure how much of this bird formula I should be giving him a day - as if this morning he’s gotten about a teaspoon…

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree!
He seems more willing to move around dusk, not so much a bit fan today lol

I’m not sure how much of this bird formula I should be giving him a day - as if this morning he’s gotten about a teaspoon…

Is he eating anything else?

If not, then I'd aim for 3ml per 100grams of weight up to every 6 hours apart as mentioned in the article below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

 

[Dedetiger]

Is he eating anything else?

If not, then I'd aim for 3ml per 100grams of weight up to every 6 hours apart as mentioned in the article below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/crop-feeding.75454/

He is not eating anything else yet,
I’ll try to do that going forward

 

[Dedetiger]

Apparently I really cannot catch a break…

Two days ago, a bobcat got into my chicken coop. I lost two of my birds, and yesterday I noticed my tiny little bantam rooster was acting strangely.

One of his eyes was irritated, to which I’ve been treating - and he is keeping his head tucked close to his chest. Additionally, he won’t eat or drink and seems to freak out after a few dropped sips of water. (He very scarily flipped over this morning)

I’ve looked over him multiple times for any external injuries or injuries to the head / neck area but I cannot see any. He can walk but it’s very wobbly and refuses to extend his neck when doing so. I’ll be separating him later once I’m back home as well as providing photos if able, but what else can I do?

Could he have a head injury or be in some sort of delayed shock??

Still not quite there yet with eating and drinking on his own but he’s gotten much more active and particularly loves visiting his friends - he’s lost but gained a bit of wait back too so at least that’s something and he has a little interest to snacks

I have a feeling it has something to do with his neck as he holds his head to one side and doesn’t like to stretch it out - could he have like sprained or pulled something? Nothing feels broken (nor is he acting like it’s broken) but…

(We was resting in these photos and totally mad at me for interrupting)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad he's still hanging in there.

I'm not sure what to think about the neck. Has the wound healed up?

His crop is emptying right?

I think you are doing all you can, keeping him fed and giving the vitamins, hopefully he will continue to improve with time. Sometimes it can take a good while to work through trauma.

Such a sweet little guy!