So sorry this happened to her! :( If you click on my 'My Page' link there is tons of chicken info there, including some on treating sick or injured birds that may help, also some info on reintegrating her when she recovers.

You mentioned the breeds of your birds but not Annibel's--what breed is she? If she is a docile breed such as an Orpington or Cochin and is being bullied by one of the RIRs, you may have to make a choice--either get rid of the troublemaker or Annibel. If she was at the lower rung of the pecking order (it sounds like it since you say she's been pecked before), this may happen again.

You need to be very aggressive in your treatment of sick or injured chickens, as they tend NOT to look sick or injured until it's too late. Don't wait. I'd keep her somewhere warm and quiet, even in the house in a box with a heating pad set on 'low' if neccessary to guard against shock. Chickens, like all birds, are susceptible to shock and it can kill them. Give her unflavored Pedialyte to drink (to boost her electrolytes) and tempt her to eat with goodies such as raw corn on the cob (or canned corn), scrambled eggs, cooked ground beef, live mealworms, diced grapes, etc. The point is to get some nutrition in her and keep her eating. If you don't take her to the vet, I'd get some bird antibiotics such as Ornacyn at the pet store, crunch up the recommended dose and add it to the Pedialyte. You can use an eyedropper to get some down her if she isn't drinking. You can rinse her eyes with sterile, unpreserved saline solution (contact lens solution) to help her eyes recover. Keep her somewhere clean until the eyes heal so she doesn't get dirt in them again.

Don't lose hope, I've had two chickens that had such terrible eye injuries that I thought they had at least gone blind, if not totally lost the eye. Both recovered and were fine. :)

By the way, three roos to only 24 hens is way too many. Also, I've found that RIR in groups tend to 'pack up' like wolves and go after the meeker birds.

Good luck!

Velvet ~:>

Another issue that Velvet DIDN'T cover is that chickens are 'sight' eaters. They don't smell to find their food, they track visually.

I sure hope that your Annibel recovers, and that you have good luck with her. She may have to be 'of the flock' but seperate for a while. Please, keep us posted as to how it goes.

Thanks for the great suggestions. Annabel seems to be much better. I seperated her from the other chickens. She has her own fenced in area with a doghouse for shelter. She is near enough to hear the other chickens but far enough away that they can't see her. She is eating and drinking, but I am not sure about one of her eyes. She won't let me close enough to examine her. I am checking on her three and four times a day. She isn't clucking, just sits quietly. I'm pretty sure she is going to make it.
Are there vets that treat chickens as opposed to dogs and cats? I looked for someone thats accepts farm animals, but wasn't able to get an answer. Out for the holidays I guess.

Again my thanks. Velvet, your page is so awesome. I am going to have to spend lots of time there.

I am so grateful to have found this forum. What a wonderful place to learn and share.