Traumatized Chicken after dog attacked another. Panting, lethargic

[Libbazoid]

Once I tossed her back int the pen, she was not my focus, I had to chase the dog, so. I don't know what happened. I maybe should have held her overnight for warmth? I dunno. I"m hoping to keep this from happening ever again.

 

[User690263]

@Libbazoid I'm so, so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could to help her, chickens are just so good at hiding their pain until it's too late.

 

[LuciferRoo]

I just saw the rest of the post. Sorry to hear she did not make it.
I've lost chickens due to dogs, foxes and even heat stroke.
It's heartbreaking, especially when you look at them as not just livestock but pets too.

 

[Libbazoid]

I make the classic mistake of naming them (they're all female scientists), but I'm only able to have max 6 so....they need names. Vera Rubin was awesome. So was Tsuneko Okazaki. We now have Yukiko Goda, Lotte Knudson, Fanny Moser and Dorothy (Dot) Hodgkin. I'll do better with this round.

 

[Libbazoid]

@Libbazoid I'm so, so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could to help her, chickens are just so good at hiding their pain until it's too late.

Thank you for the support.

 

[MROO]

I haven't seen her drink yet, she seems to be calmer, standing at least, but I'll see if she wants to get some sweet water
I put some vitamins in her waterer

You'll likely have to "push" the liquids at first. Don't force her, just lay a few drops of sugar water or electrolytes alongside her beak with an eyedropper. She'll swallow reflexively.

 

[User690263]

You'll likely have to "push" the liquids at first. Don't force her, just lay a few drops of sugar water or electrolytes alongside her beak with an eyedropper. She'll swallow reflexively.

Unfortunately, OP's chicken (Vera) passed away the night before last.

 

[LilChickenWhisperer]

Hi all,
We had a death this morning when my dog got in and killed one of my ladies. The other 3 seemed to be physically fine except Vera (black australorp born in August). She has been lethargic and panting, easy to catch. I don't THINK she was even touched by the dog, but I was holding her when the dog got into the enclosure, I kind of threw her back into the pen quickly and then everything happened so fast, I didn't see where she went but was not part of the dog melee.
I've isolated her, she doesn't seem to want to walk much, though she can activate all of her toes. Left side seems to be injured somehow? She's in a crate by herself with a heat lamp and water right now. I'm hoping she's just extremely stressed and doesn't feel very good? Any thoughts??? I'm so sad as she just started laying and has been a happy lady

Hi, I'm so sorry about your chicken, that can be very traumatizing. I actually had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. I found one hen sitting next to the other's body, and I believe she was grieving. Her symptoms were very similar to your hen's. I brought mine into the house and sat with her for a few hours and tried to get her to eat or drink. Just make sure she's a good temperature and has food and water available. My hens love it when I mix their food with water, and that is what I used to get mine to eat. You can also give her half of a crushed up Tums pill mixed in her food, which can give her calcium. Make sure you don't syringe feed her though, because it will go into her lungs. Chickens don't have an epiglottis, and they can very easily die from liquids draining into their lungs.
Good Luck!