4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[tootikki]

Whilst we were on holiday last week our Ginger Nut Ranger, Tilly, was attacked by a cat. She survived but is not well. (A friend had been looking after our 2 chickens and Eglu at his house.)

 

The hens were free ranging on Thursday our friend heard a noise and found Tilly pinned to the floor by the neck by a large cat. The cat ran off on his approach. Tilly got up and ran around, but soon calmed down and seemed fine for the rest of the day - eating, drinking and laid an egg the next morning. However later on Friday shock seemed to set in and she went very quiet, stayed in the Eglu and did not want to eat or drink. Saturday she perked up a bit, laid an egg, but was still not herself. On Sunday we came back from holiday and brought her home. She seems to want to do normal things, but can't move at her usual speed and cannot straighten her neck fully.

 

She can flap her wings, scratch in the soil etc, but when it comes to eating from the ground she cannot get her beak to the floor. She is also a little off balance when she trys to climb on the Eglu perches. We have let her free range today (supervised) and she has moments when she seems ok, although slow. But then for 4-5 minutes she just stands or sits and closes her eyes.

 

We've had fed her to make sure she eats, and set up food and water on a shelf so that she can reach it easily. I've put some rescue remedey in her water and am going to get arnica tomorrow for any bruising. Our other chicken is her usual boisterous self, so we have separated the run and put a cat carry case in the other end so that during the day when we are at work Tilly doesn't get knocked around. But they are sleeping together in the Eglu.

If she is not better tomorrow we will take her to the vet.

 

Do you think she could have strained her neck or slipped a disc?? There are no bite, scratch marks on her. I don't want to manipulate the neck for fear of hurting/injuring her more. Any advice, prognosis would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

Helen

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like a sprain. If she is no better in a couple of days, I'd take her to the vet.

[tootikki]

Thanks for your advice - as she wasn't any better today we rang the vet and took her in tonight. I don't want to speak to soon but Tilly is very very much better after the vet gave her a thorough examination. At one point Tilly really skwarked loudly, so maybe the vet clicked something back in place. She gave her some antibiotics in case of infection and an anti-inflamatory. Tilly's had a dust bath, and is even chasing after Siggy for worms. She is still obviously sore but has so much more movement - back to herself . So fingers crossed she makes a full recovery.

 

Thanks again

[Egluntyne]

That is good news.