Unknown predator attacked my hen

[Tacampbell1973]

So since it's warm here in Washington state I have been leaving the barn door open at night...boy did I get a wake up call 2 nights ago. About 11:30 or midnight I had awoke and went out to the couch. Sitting there half awake I suddenly hear a crashing/thumping sound from my barn, followed by a cacophony of turkey/chicken shrieks. I run out there sans flashlight or shoes in time to glimpse something run off in the night. I run back in to wake my husband and we rush back to barn. On route I spot a bird outside the barn door flopping on its side, I think, not good. Inside barn, which BTW I leave a light on ALWAYS for this very reason, I find 20+ very scared but alive birds,to include my newly "outside " guinea keets. She was desperately trying to crawl under my broody hen (who was sitting on 9 chicks barely a week old) who was also so terrified she was letting her! So, I rush my hen into my house to assess the damage. She smells like blood, panting. But I see no obvious wounds. Her belly is completely devoid of feathers hut no injury.I water her and put her in a safe semi dark end of the couch wedged in with pillows and curl up next to her. By morning she looks calmer so I check for range of movement.she has use of all her leg muscles but refuses to stand. She won't flap wings either when I do the fast downward motion toward the floor ( simulating dropping her but not really) most chickens will reflexively flap but not Mystery. So, I wonder if she is still shocky. She has been drinking water and she pecks her own food,good appetite. I wondered broken ba k, but she has use of her legs and neck. I fashioned her a hammock to rest in, not a happy recipient, but am still perplexed. She seems content just still topples to the side when I attempt to put her down. We are in the second night now and having had a better chance to flip her on her back and clean the dried blood from her belly feathers, what's left, all I see is a teeny puncture like hole. I have been Neosporining her since the first night and nothing in what little training I have studied (vet assistant and starting vet tech) is helping me to help her enough. If nobody can tell yet, putting her down will NOT be an option until there is simply no chance left and even then I don't know if I could do it. Any more suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Below is a photo after I washed her belly,

 

[BYCforlife]

Strange. She might just still be in shock, not sure what do do. Sorry!

 

[chicknmania]

Sometimes they have some nerve damage as a result of trauma that's sort of a mystery as to why and where, and there's a good chance that it will go away over time. I would just let her rest and not mess with her too much. Put her in a pen or cage where she can hear and see her chicken friends, but still has some privacy. Make sure she has fresh water and is drinking, and if she is not eating well you can give her goodies like scrambled eggs or chopped grapes. But too much handling might just complicate things. keep her wounds clean but then leave her to herself. You can try giving her a crushed baby aspirin sprinkled on a treat a once or twice a day, if she is not bleeding from her wounds. And, as you found out the hard way, you MUST secure your flock at night, even if it is hot. Keep their barn closed. Especially now, since predators have gotten a chance to get one, they will be back for another chance. If it is super hot and you must do something about the heat, if you have a window or door in the barn where you can cover it with predator proof screening, that's a better option. Just make sure it is heavy duty and well secured, because raccoons can easily punch through a screen, and so can other predators.

 

[Durb99]

Maybe she is still in shock, or strained/hurt some muscles/ligaments trying to fight off whatever attacked? I'm not sure, but it is good that she is eating/drinking. Perhaps there are some functionality tests to check chicken joints online somewhere? Best of luck, and keep us updated!

 

[Tacampbell1973]

day 3 and look!

 

[chicknmania]

That's good.

 

[Tacampbell1973]

I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but here we go....my Mystery continues to amaze me every day! I am still leaning towards it being a "mini stroke". She exhibits all the classical symptoms of it. Partial paralysis, and disoriented. I don't know anything else it could be. So here we are over a week later and what progress my girl has made. She stands 90% of the time. She eats regularly as well as pooping! Also, she is turning into quite the magician. I put her on the floor on a blanket, leave the room, and come back not 5 minutes later and she's gone! To another part of the house. So as soon as she remasters the art of perching, I will begin the move back to the barn. I have been putting her outside in the safety of the cage ever day so she can eat grass and keep in touch with her flock. Thanks again for everyone's support and advice through this ordeal. On to my next two invalids. One is my 3 week old polish cockerel who is lethargic and doesn't look good. Giving him Pedialyte and love and don't know what's wrong, nor yet what to do about it other than wait and pray. Second is another chick with what can only be described as s hemorrhoid, but not a prolapse. Putting alternating Neosporin and hemorrhoid cream. And Apple cider vinegar water for him to drink. Whew chicken parenting is nearly as much work as human parenting if not more so, am i right?

 

[chicknmania]

Glad that she's improving, chickens can be amazing. Although I've heard that chickens CAN have strokes, they also have primitive nervous systems and in your case, I think it's more just some kind of shock or trauma that she's recovering from as a result of her predator encounter. We had a rooster who hung himself once..he somehow got string or something around his foot and then got it caught on his perch. I found him hanging upside down, which, yes, was horrible. He had similar symptoms to your hen, but went on to make a full recovery.
I seriously don't know about the other two. I suggest though that you start a new thread for them, and also, if one dies, please consider a necropsy, because you might have a bigger problem since you've been having multiple issues. I like to use Sav A Chick or just vitamins/ electrolytes for poultry, rather than pedialyte... they're not expensive and I think they're just better and less salt than stuff made for people. Try feeding something soft like applesauce or banana or yogurt or bread crumbs soaked in buttermilk to both the chicks. Could be a lot of things.

It will get easier.