Twisted neck due to weasel attack?

[Toetwo]

Hi,

I adopted five hens from a woman last week because she had lost four hens (owl and weasel) in a week and was too heartbroken to risk more lost. I brought the dearies home and have them separated from my flock. One of the new girls--Jersey giant, 10 months old, had been laying but hasn't since she arrived because--has a neck all out of whack. When I first saw her, out and about the morning after we adopted her, I immediately thought "that hen needs a chiropractor." I took her to vet. He couldn't find anything wrong with her. Checks her poo for viruses. We have five days of pain killer. She looks soooo uncomfortable.

I read about wry neck but when I texted the previous owner she said that she "thought the hen was laying low due to trauma but maybe the weasel attack did hurt her."

She hangs out with her sister Wilma. I hate to isolate her--all her sisters are sweet to her. She eats. But hard for her to walk--it looks painful.

Suggestions welcome!

And thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like she has wry neck from the predator injury or from hurting herself during the panic of the attack. Make sure that she is getting enough to eat and drink while she recuperates. I would get some vitamin E, and give her 400 IU daily, along with a 1/4 tablet off vitamin B complex crushed into a small amount of egg daily. It is hard to know how long it will take for her to recover, but she may resume laying soon when she becomes more relaxed.

 

[Toetwo]

Thank you! I am doing that but it seems her neck is forever crooked. :-(
I do wish I could do something. I am introducing the 5 new girls to the 11 others, one of whom is a rooster. I think they'd have all joined in by now but crooked neck Aretha (renamed Side Saddle Sadie) is still off and not being accepted. She's off by herself unless one of her sibs hangs out with her. I don't want her to get harmed by the other girls. Not quite sure what to do... One of those wish-she-could-be-normal again moments.

And, again, thanks for your advise!

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be difficult to keep a chicken separate from other more normal chickens. I have a hen that had some balance issues for the last few months, and she can no longer be part of the flock. It is extra work keeping her in a separate pen, and she is lonely. Maybe a friend with no chickens might like her as a pet?

 

[Toetwo]

The loneliness is a factor. My hesitation in rehoming her is that she and her four sibs all get alone fine. I'm letting everyone free range and have been for about a week now. I'm in a fortunate situation that we have two comfy coops and it's not a big deal to maintain them. And it's summer. Hoping this won't be ongoing through to next winter!! But I'll keep the rehoming idea in mind. Thanks!