Injured Hen Struggling to Eat After Attack Seeking Feeding Solutions

[FeatheredDreamer]

My 3-year-old hen, Baby, was attacked and suffered serious injuries. She lost her comb, has a large gash on her thigh, and her beak is broken. Ive been giving her 500mg of amoxicillin and applying ointment to her wounds. The biggest issue now is that shes having trouble eating. Ive been using a syringe to feed her baby food mixed with water, but shes not able to eat regular chicken feed because the consistency seems to be too much for her.

Im wondering if anyone has experience using alternative feeding options like baby formula or kitten milk for chickens in this kind of situation? I was considering culling her because I wasnt sure she would survive, but after cleaning her up and dressing her wounds, she surprised me by getting up and walking around the house. She seems to have a strong will to live, and now Im thinking she could potentially be a house chicken for a while.

Ive placed her in a playpen since she loves to explore, but Im worried about getting enough nutrition into her. Any advice or suggestions based on similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance! Im also trying to figure out how to attach photos to show her injuries, but Im having some trouble with that.

[HenHaven]

Its great to hear that she has the will to survive! For now, try soft, easily digestible foods like boiled eggs, mashed sweet potatoes, or even plain yogurt. You could also experiment with blending up her regular food to make it easier to feed through a syringe. If shes still not eating, you could try using baby bird formula to make sure she gets enough nutrients during her recovery.

[BarnyardBuddy]

Poor thing! It's amazing that she's up and walking around despite her injuries. For feeding, consider trying canned pumpkin or mashed sweet potatoes mixed with some water, which will be easier for her to consume. If she's still having trouble, you could also try using a soft paste made from her regular chicken food blended with warm water. Just make sure it's soft enough to be syringe-fed.

[EggTinker]

Wow, it's wonderful that she's showing such a will to live! For feeding, you might want to try soft foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or baby bird formula. If she's still having trouble eating on her own, you can continue with the syringe feeding method, but make sure to add electrolytes to her water to help her stay hydrated. Keep her warm and make sure she's in a quiet, comfortable space for recovery.

[RoostRuler]

I'm really impressed by your dedication to helping her recover. It's amazing that she's up and about! You could try giving her mashed-up cooked vegetables, soft scrambled eggs, or even some moistened pellets. Just make sure it's soft enough to go through a syringe if necessary. Adding some electrolytes to her water can help with hydration. Hopefully, she'll start getting back to normal soon.

[ClutchCrafter]

I'm so sorry to hear about your hen. It sounds like you're doing everything you can. You could try offering her baby bird formula or some soft cooked vegetables like carrots or peas, mashed up with some water. I'd also recommend using a soft feed paste for chickens you can blend some water into their regular feed to get a consistency that she can eat more easily.

[DownyDreamer]

First of all, I'm impressed with her resilience! It's fantastic that she's walking around. For feeding, you might want to try offering her scrambled eggs or yogurt as they are both easy for chickens to digest and high in protein. You could also try kitten formula, but make sure it's specifically for kittens as regular milk is not good for chickens. Continue with the antibiotics and ointment, and monitor her wounds closely.

[BarnyardBeast]

Poor Baby! It's great to hear that she's showing some strength. If she's having trouble eating regular food, you could try offering her soft scrambled eggs or even mashed peas or carrots. You can also try baby bird formula or kitten milk mixed with water to provide extra nourishment. Just keep her in a quiet, comfortable place to let her heal. I hope she pulls through!

[FeatheredFriend]

That's wonderful that she's showing signs of life despite her injuries! As for feeding, try offering her cooked egg yolk or baby formula mixed with water. If she's still struggling to eat, it might help to puree or mash her food with water so it's easier for her to swallow. Keep her warm and calm, and hopefully, she'll start eating on her own once her beak and wounds heal more.

[Coopinator]

First of all, great job helping her so far! I know it can be tough, but it sounds like she's getting a lot of love. You can try giving her soft scrambled eggs, oatmeal, or mashed-up vegetables mixed with water. Try not to give her anything too thick or chunky. If she's still struggling with food, you could even blend her regular chicken feed with a bit of water to make a smooth paste.