To Cull Or Not To Cull: Advice Appreciated

[kjorgey]

72 hours ago my hen was attacked by what we believe was a cat. Feathers were torn off her back and 2 small puncture wounds are being cleansed 3 X day and for the most part they have healed and there is no evidence of infection, swelling or underlying injury. She has been taking electrolyte fluids via hand feeding during waking hours about every 1-2 hours. She also takes chopped blue berries (her favorite) and melon dipped in moistened crumbles. She will peck at her food on her own occasionally, but for the most part is getting most of her fluids and food from hand feeding and coaxing. She is also pooping normally. Comb is normal red color. She appeared to turn a corner yesterday. Today, I put her out in a clear Tupperware bin with chicken wire cover and placed her in the run with her flock for a few hours today. I keep finding her, head down and standing up. Occasionally, she opens her eyes and looks alert. I really do love this little hen and she is a favorite out of our small-7 hen flock. Here are my questions:
1. What is with the head lowering? Fatigue? Depression? Pain? Or, ominous sign of impending death?
2. Without any obvious serious injuries to note, when should I expect her to either take a turn for the worse or begin improving?
3. When should I expect an improved appetite and desire to peck at her food and take water on her own? Should I begin syringe feeding?
4. Sadly, how much time should I give for her to improve before I cull her?

I really do want to give my best effort to save her and support her through this, but it is very time consuming. My husband gave me 72 hours to get some improvement, while there is some...we are still touch and go. I have since moved her from our bathroom to the garage, per husband's request. He is still supportive, just tired of sharing his bathroom with a chicken

What would you do?
Thanks in advance dear friends!

Kathy

 

[Gallinarium]

Could we get some pictures?
Chickens always seem to recover surprisingly well from injuries. If there's internal damage, she'll probably pass on her own. If there isn't, she should recover well. I would give it some more time to see if she continues to improve.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you borrow a wire dog crate and place her in the coop or run near the other birds? Is she able to stand up and get to food in her pen? I would give her more time to recover if you can manage it. If you have to work every day, that may limit your time with her. I had suggested tube feeding earlier, and that can take about five minutes a couple of times a day if you learn how. Otherwise, you could put her food very close to her, and make it tempting. Many of us have the time to take care of a sick bird, while others do not. I would give her a week or so to make an improvement. Some birds may take longer, and even then, they may have permanent damage or don’t make it. Each case is different. After so much time, it is a personal decision whether or not to cull a bird. We will support you no matter what. If she cannot stand and get to her food, here is an example of a chicken sling chair with food and water placed in front:

 

[kjorgey]

I am home. I haven't returned to my career in medicine after 2 years of breast cancer treatment, which ended last August. So, I have the time to tend to my hen. She is standing and needs coaxing to eat her food. I hesitated with syringe feeding concerned about aspiration due to her weakness. She laps water on her own. Tomorrow, I will try feeding her a mush solution via syringe which arrived today. Weather permitting, I'll have the hens out in the fenced in area where I garden. I have a cage to put over the sick hen while she is out there. I have moved her to the garage. Today as I had her out of her enclosure to clean it...I dropped the screen cover and she flapped only 1 of her wings. The injured one which had a puncture wound in the breast area didn't move, but slightly. She may still be in considerable pain. Mentally, I'm not ready to cull her. I just euthanized my cat last Sunday, who was my chemo buddy over the past 2 years. She went into acute renal failure. She slept with me every night after my double mastectomy surgeries. I'm not mentally in a place to do this again so soon. I'll do my best and pray for the best and leave it in God's hands.

 

[kjorgey]

Can you borrow a wire dog crate and place her in the coop or run near the other birds? Is she able to stand up and get to food in her pen? I would give her more time to recover if you can manage it. If you have to work every day, that may limit your time with her. I had suggested tube feeding earlier, and that can take about five minutes a couple of times a day if you learn how. Otherwise, you could put her food very close to her, and make it tempting. Many of us have the time to take care of a sick bird, while others do not. I would give her a week or so to make an improvement. Some birds may take longer, and even then, they may have permanent damage or don’t make it. Each case is different. After so much time, it is a personal decision whether or not to cull a bird. We will support you no matter what. If she cannot stand and get to her food, here is an example of a chicken sling chair with food and water placed in front:

On examination this morning, I notice a soft marble size swollen lump. Skin feels hot too, or just the garage is warm. Is this a bursa in the wing joint? She's eating better today and more alert. Not sure it is an abscess. Will call vet and make an appointment. Not sure he'll know chicken medicine.

 

[Silkie Princess]

I never had a hen attacked ( that survived) but that doesnt lok to bad thought it cozld be internal

 

[Chiduckn]

I've had this stuff work really well a few times. Had an owl (my guess) take chunk out of one of my hens back in the spring. Wound was really bad and didn't think she'd make it. Figured I'd give her a chance though and reapplied this stuff a couple times and it worked great.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is the lump hard or puffy? If it is puffy, you could try and drain it. If you cannot see the vet, you might be able to get fish amoxicillin at a feed store. Sometimes TSC sells Fish Mox or Aqua Mox and it is available online. In chickens, dosage is 125-250 mg every 12 hours for 7-10 days. It can be hard to gauge fever in chickens. Normal temps can be from 103-108F, depending on whether or not they are eating.

Sorry that you have been dealing with such a terrible disease. I hope that you are doing better now. What is your specialty in medicine? I am a retired PICU nurse.

 

[kjorgey]

Is the lump hard or puffy? If it is puffy, you could try and drain it. If you cannot see the vet, you might be able to get fish amoxicillin at a feed store. Sometimes TSC sells Fish Mox or Aqua Mox and it is available online. In chickens, dosage is 125-250 mg every 12 hours for 7-10 days. It can be hard to gauge fever in chickens. Normal temps can be from 103-108F, depending on whether or not they are eating.

Sorry that you have been dealing with such a terrible disease. I hope that you are doing better now. What is your specialty in medicine? I am a retired PICU nurse.

The lump is soft. I think it is an injured tendon because of its location in the joint space. I was working as a nurse practitioner in internal medicine/geriatrics after a 12 year career as an ER/Trauma ICU nurse. I am taking some time off to recover from my cancer treatments, but am in no hurry to return. I enjoy being home with my animals and garden. Providing my hubby's job stays secure. I'm heading to the vet in 30 min. I'll post the outcome so others may learn from this. Thanks for the input!

 

[kjorgey]

On examination this morning, I notice a soft marble size swollen lump. Skin feels hot too, or just the garage is warm. Is this a bursa in the wing joint? She's eating better today and more alert. Not sure it is an abscess. Will call vet and make an appointment. Not sure he'll know chicken medicine.

Just saw the vet. He prescribed antibiotic and pain medication. Was worth the expense and drive. He believes the injuries are from a cat bite, based on depth and pattern of the marks. No abscess was visible. Vet said an abscess on a bird would be hard, not soft. Like cottage cheese. Swelling was likely joint fluid or blood. No wing injury. Floppy's prognosis is good, but we're not out of the woods. This has been quite a learning experience and lesson for me how quickly even supervised birds out foraging can be attacked. I think Floppy is lucky it wasn't worse.