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Birds--General/Injured hen
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Question
My hen was attacked by something on Saturday. One side of her face is injured, I think she may be missing part of her earlobe and she's keeping one eye closed. I've kept her quiet in a box in a seperate room in the house. Apart from her injuries she seems ok, I'm hoping she's just in shock and needs time to pull round. But she hasn't eaten or drank anything since Saturday night, I'm worried she'll become dehydrated, I'm a little reluctant to put her through the extra stress of a vets visit. What should I do?
She's a Blackrock, about 2 years old, usually lives in the garden. Her usual diet is corn and pellets.
Hello Rachael,
Do you have a baby syringe hanging around? Fill this with water and make sure she gets plenty- also try dipping her beak in water as this might encourage her. You can grind up layers pellets or mash and mix it with warm water till it's a liquid, then fill the syringe with this and feed her with it until she wants to eat it herself. Always give her the option of taking the liquid out of the bowl.
Are her injuries scabbing up properly? If they are wet they will need a good clean with a boiled and cooled salt water solution. It is worth doing this even if they are not weepy. It is also worth getting some antibiotics from your vets. You will need to weigh her before you ring them as they will need the weight of her to know how much to mix up- just use kitchen scales! They normally won't make you take her in to give you the antibiotics.
Thanks for your question.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you for your very good advice. In the meantime I've taken her to a friend's who is looking after her, he had also tried the dipping water etc, which worked and she was drinking herself by the same day. Not eating properly yet without help but may try the liquidized food you suggested. Thank you. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Abi
Expertise
I CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS ON ANIMALS OTHER THAN CHICKENS/DUCKS/GEESE- I WILL TRY BUT THEY ARE NOT MY SPECIALIST SUBJECT- PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGIES, FINCHES, PARROTS, COCKATIELS OR OTHER 'EXOTIC' BIRDS. I can answer questions on pretty much all CHICKEN breeds, including fancy and bantam birds. I can give advice on how to get the best egg production, brightest yolk colours and darkest egg shell colours, breeding (using broody hens, not incubators), bird problems/illnesses. I can give advice on all aspects of basic chicken care but I breed chickens for my own pleasure only, I do not often show or sell my birds.
Experience
I own and breed a wide range of chickens, but I speciallise in cochins and crevecour bantams; crevecours have a large crest (an afro!) so I can answer questions on problems concerning them; cochins have feathered legs, which leads to no end of problems which I have experienced! I also own a large flock of domestic, rescued 'battery' hens, and a single maran hen, Hilda, who is the matriarch of her flock, so I can give advice on how to get the best colour of maran eggs!
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