Hen Blind and Not Eating On Own After Coyote Attack--Advice?

[chickensinthewoods]

Hi everybody! My neighbor had two hens attacked by a coyote ten days ago. One died and one survived but with deep punctures below and at the top corner of one eye. The other side of head only showed small damage. She can walk and stand and preen and drink on her own but is not eating on her own. She's about five years old and a medium-sized black and white silver-laced Wyandotte-looking gal. My neighbor brought her to me as I have an enclosed coop and higher fence. We separated her to a corner with water and feed but unless we open her beak and put food in she's not scratching or searching for food. How long do we keep going? She sleeps a lot but not constantly. Her comb and wattle color is vibrant. She occasionally will open her eyes but doesn't appear to see though one eye didn't appear to have any damage. The actual wounds have healed beautifully. We used Vetericyn poultry care spray and Neosporin. She has had electrolytes a few times on hot days and at the beginning but didn't want to overdo them. She will occasionally drink on her own during the day--we put a tray in the coop she can find by walking into it and keep the water clean. She doesn't love us opening her beak to feed her and has some decent strength to wiggle though eventually she she settles down especially for blueberries. We've tried everything from yogurt to cat food to dog food to scrambled eggs and blueberries--the latter two seem to get the most interest. But she's not opening her mouth for food on her own or seeking it out. She doesn't appear in shock/distress like she did the first day or two and she isn't flinching as much with contact to the injury sites. She goes to sleep easily in our arms. Is there anything else we can be doing? She's not really progressing or declining. Obviously her eyes not working is a huge issue, but I can accommodate a blind chicken if she will start eating/scratching on her own. At some point we aren't going to be able to sustain the force-feeding. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[alinas2010]

Sorry to hear about the attack and devastation. Does this chicken have any flock members left? How about you do you have any chickens she could be around but not in the flock with? Like could she be in a large wire crate to see them but not be touched by them? I know your neighbor is trying to do the right thing, but along with being in shock, she was placed in a brand new place with strangers, she is probably going to have a tough time transitioning. Sometimes having friends around to heal or feel normal again can help. But she needs to be safe so she can’t be attacked by them and can have her own feed and water, especially since she possibly can’t see.

It’s possible she has a head injury. Sometimes a vitamin regimen can help. I believe B vitamins. Let’s call on the educators for advice @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[chickensinthewoods]

Great questions! Our neighbor had the same thought when she brought her over as this hen was very attached to her buddy hen who died (there were only two of them). We have her in our coop now where she can at least hear my small flock even if her eyes aren't working yet. We have four pullets and one mature hen who we separated from the injured hen with netting but sometimes they lay side by side with her through the net. They are very curious about her and she does show some interest in their sounds here and there but not consistently.

Definitely seems like a head/brain injury since the good eye isn't opening independently and she doesn't seem to remember how to scratch or feed. Are older hens able to feed without their vision? She has food in a tray and she stands right on top of it without eating anyway. But when we feed her by hand (by opening her beak and popping food in) she temporarily perks up and has normal head posture and strength and swallows okay.

We're not against putting her down if that's the best choice, but doesn't seem like we're quite there yet. Or are we? Ugh.

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

Gosh, she's been through the most nightmarish event ever, and witnessed her BFF slaughtered right in front of her. Plus, as mentioned, new surroundings not of her choosing. Really, how well do you expect her to be doing? All things considered, she's doing remarkably well and in a very short time to boot. She may be sore in and around her mouth, it may be painful to touch her beak to anything at the moment. She did suffer severe trauma to her head, and you may not be aware of everything that is bruised you cannot see. I would offer her pureed and softened foods, feed watered down, softly scrambled eggs, continue with the electrolytes. She appears to have a will to live and is trying to show you she is trying to improve. Please don't give up on her.

 

[alinas2010]

Poor darling. Heartbreaking to hear she lost her friend. Integrating lone hens is hard, I have done that once before. Im sorry about the circumstances.

So she isn’t opening her good eye or her injured one? Do you have some picture you could post of her? The educators will have much better advice on head injuries, but I believe it is a b vitamin complex. She may go for some wetted down chicken feed. At some point if you’re up for it you may try tube feeding her, also. Which there are instruction here we can get you, too. I always say if the chicken seems to have some fight in her, I am willing to try, too.

The loneliness may be hard on her. I wonder if she may like more time next to the others?

 

[alinas2010]

Sorry also, I do think they have a tough time eating without vision, their eyes are important to pick out their food and connect with it.

 

[chickensinthewoods]

Here are a few pics--her name is Silver. I brought her inside tonight to keep an eye on. The orange speckling on her feathers is house paint not blood. The neighbor doesn't know how that happened--they had their house done a few weeks back and the crew must have dripped a bit or she brushed against a wet wall? It was not affecting her before the attack at all.

 

[chickensinthewoods]

Poor darling. Heartbreaking to hear she lost her friend. Integrating lone hens is hard, I have done that once before. Im sorry about the circumstances.

So she isn’t opening her good eye or her injured one? Do you have some picture you could post of her? The educators will have much better advice on head injuries, but I believe it is a b vitamin complex. She may go for some wetted down chicken feed. At some point if you’re up for it you may try tube feeding her, also. Which there are instruction here we can get you, too. I always say if the chicken seems to have some fight in her, I am willing to try, too.

The loneliness may be hard on her. I wonder if she may like more time next to the others?

She's not opening either of her eyes most of the time. The first few days she wouldn't open either at all. Now around day ten, she can open them a tiny bit but doesn't appear to be registering movement just light.

She didn't love the wetted down feed or baby food but is at least tolerating Farmers Dog (a wet food) which has beef, vegetables and lentils and is very moist and lightly scrambled eggs. Blueberries and raspberries seem the most well received but she won't try to take more or open her beak. We have to gently pry it open and tuck a morsel in. Then she swallows and then we give her some water in a spoon.

 

[chickensinthewoods]

Sorry also, I do think they have a tough time eating without vision, their eyes are important to pick out their food and connect with it.

Yes, we're wondering if anyone has ever had a hen recover from such a severe vision loss or learn to eat without vision. They do seem very connected.

 

[alinas2010]

I know people have had blind hens do okay in flocks but they’ve needed help along the way, of course. Extra looking out for and what not, make sure they don’t get bullied.

To me it sounds like it’s a matter of if she will make it past this injury and then we can see if she can actually see or not. Perhaps she is just out of it, maybe? She really may have gotten some injuries we cannot see and they’re taking a toll on her. As long as you’re willing, you can keep trying to care for her and see if she makes it past this. The educators might have some advice for you to help her pull through, then even if she can’t see, you could help her learn to live as a blind hen if needed.