Wounded hen - neurological problem?

[bodefamily]

Yesterday something attacked my hens in broad daylight, killing one and wounding another. The dead hen's body was intact, but the head and neck had been nibbled clean, kinda like an ear of corn.....(racoon or weasel?). The wounded bird is doing allright, she is taking yogurt with vitamins, I have cleaned the wound and put antibiotic ointment on it. However, when I put her down to walk, she lowers her head and holds her neck funny, kind of weaving and bobbing her head, staying low to the ground. One pupil is dilating and contracting a lot, while the other one stays static....she can see, but her vision is definitely affected. Any ideas? Advice? I have electrolytes in her water, and plan to make her some mash around lunchtime.

 

[robin416]

Its possible its a head injury but before doing more than you're doing right now I'd wait a day or two to see if it resolves itself.

 

[bodefamily]

So she is still with us and seems to be doing allright. Fed her some warm mash which she gobbled out of the bowl. She is drinking on her own. But, when she scratches and pecks at kernels on the ground, her beak does not close around them. It is almost like she can't really see what she is pecking at, or her beak won't pick it up. When she eats her mash it seems she is scooping it with her beak and pushing it down with her tongue. Her head-bobbing seems to be getting a bit less pronounced.

 

[LastChanceRanch]

Sorry for your loss. I have had couple hens lost to a head eater before finding it was a mink and taking care of him. Anyways. . . Your survivor sounds like a head injury to me. I haven't seen it with chickens but I've seen it a lot with people. Pupils of different sizes screams head injury and the lowering of the head and bobbing sounds like her balance is off even if She's not falling all over. could be as minor as a concussion type injury or as severe as a brain bleed issue. The fact that she is showing improvement leans me towards the lesser concussion type injuries. Good luck!