post injury, healing well, hen having trouble swallowing

[a meadow]

A month ago one of my hens was attacked by a hawk and survived. Got the back of her neck stitched up and she healed in the house for a couple weeks. She’s been back with the flock for 2 weeks now doing great. Except for this issue where it’s as though she has trouble choking down her food sometimes, stretching her neck and gulping as if it’s stuck. This started right after her stitches so I thought maybe the skin was tight or there was some swelling. It seemed to get better but was still happening occasionally. In the last couple days though it seems worse to the point she doesn’t want to eat. I checked inside her mouth for canker and did not see any evidence, it looks clean. There is also a little sound like air moving around, in her throat/above crop area, when she’s struggling to swallow. Anyone have any insight? I wish I knew how to help her

 

[Ingrid_N]

Aww : ( I would put some VetRx on her beak at night to help with any congestion and maybe give your flock their feed fermented or just soaked for a few minutes to help her swallow a bit better.

 

[a meadow]

thank you, I’ve been offering soaked crumbles but even that has been difficult for her today

 

[CHlCKEN]

Can you get a video of what this looks like?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A month ago one of my hens was attacked by a hawk and survived. Got the back of her neck stitched up and she healed in the house for a couple weeks. She’s been back with the flock for 2 weeks now doing great. Except for this issue where it’s as though she has trouble choking down her food sometimes, stretching her neck and gulping as if it’s stuck. This started right after her stitches so I thought maybe the skin was tight or there was some swelling. It seemed to get better but was still happening occasionally. In the last couple days though it seems worse to the point she doesn’t want to eat. I checked inside her mouth for canker and did not see any evidence, it looks clean. There is also a little sound like air moving around, in her throat/above crop area, when she’s struggling to swallow. Anyone have any insight? I wish I knew how to help her

If a vet saw her, then it would be a good idea to reach back out to them and address your concerns.

There's a sound like air moving around in the throat/crop area? Can you please get a video of her and her actions, if possible capture the sound you are hearing too.

Was the back of the neck the only place that skin was torn or was the crop damaged too?

In the meantime, work on hydration and offer wet mushy or soupy feed to see if she's able to swallow that a little easier.

 

[a meadow]

If a vet saw her, then it would be a good idea to reach back out to them and address your concerns.

There's a sound like air moving around in the throat/crop area? Can you please get a video of her and her actions, if possible capture the sound you are hearing too.

Was the back of the neck the only place that skin was torn or was the crop damaged too?

In the meantime, work on hydration and offer wet mushy or soupy feed to see if she's able to swallow that a little easier.

Waiting on a reply from the vet today. The crop was not damaged. Not visibly anyway. The worst of the damage was to the back of her neck and then she had some lesser injuries on her upper back. The main injury did come pretty far around her neck though.

I brought her in the house today to keep an eye on her. She’s been eating a little bit of soft cooked egg yolk and softened crumbles this morning and that’s been mostly ok so far.

I managed to catch some little clips of her actions and the sound but not sure how to attach video. Seems like photo is my only option? I’ll try to figure that out.

 

[a meadow]

Can you get a video of what this looks like?

I managed to catch some little clips of this but not sure how to attach video. Seems like photo is my only option? I’ll try to figure that out

 

[a meadow]

Can you get a video of what this looks like?

ok, I created a gallery and loaded three short videos there. Thank you so much

 

[a meadow]

If a vet saw her, then it would be a good idea to reach back out to them and address your concerns.

There's a sound like air moving around in the throat/crop area? Can you please get a video of her and her actions, if possible capture the sound you are hearing too.

Was the back of the neck the only place that skin was torn or was the crop damaged too?

In the meantime, work on hydration and offer wet mushy or soupy feed to see if she's able to swallow that a little easier.

Just created a gallery and added three short videos. Thank you

 

[CHlCKEN]

How does her crop feel?