Americauna hen, odd behavior, please advise...

[rntickle]

I started keeping chickens last year. I have 11 Americaunas (10 hens, 1 rooster). The smallest hen has been behaving oddly. She doesn't leave the coop, but isn't sitting in any particular place, or even on eggs. She acts terrified of the much larger rooster. He treads hard on the girls. Many of them are missing feathers on their backs or upper wings. When I found her in the coop two days ago, she had sandwiched herself between two dog carriers we used to transport them to the farm when we moved about two months ago. She was keening like she was in pain. She was very passive and let me pick her up. My birds aren't quite that tame. I examined her carefully, moved all of her extremities, etc... Her body was warm to touch, but not red or swollen anywhere. She had the missing feathers of course, but didn't have any broken skin. She is missing a feathers around her head and neck in addition to her back.

I chose to isolate and observe her. I applied a Happy Hens saddle with shoulders, and placed her in an extra large dog kennel. She was given fresh food and water. She fell on the water like a man lost in the desert. She was a pretty aggressive eater too. While she was anxious, she eventually settled in and didn't act injured. The next day I opened the cage door to let her out and she was eager to join the flock, until she saw the rooster. She ran back to the cage. I used a an empty stall and some plywood to create a situation where she could hide where the rooster couldn't get to her. I left the kennel cage door open so she could choose to rejoin the flock on her terms. She went to roost with the flock two nights ago. Since she is back to hanging out in the coop, in no particular spot. She still acts skittish, and has been in the corner pressing her head against the wall.

A couple of more facts. She is second from the bottom of the pecking order. The bottom hen has recently stopped roosting with the rest. That hen is taking to the rafters of an empty stall early in the evening. Also, I believe the oddly acting hen did lay an egg yesterday. So, she isn't likely egg bound. The rooster is a beautiful specimen, perfect conformation, coloring, etc...Overall, he is very protective of the girls. He is so vigilant in an area that is heavily populated with hawks and other predators. I've never lost a hen. In our last home he chased a skunk and an oppossum out of the coop to protect their roosting place (daylight hours). Having never kept chickens before, I don't know if he is being excessively forceful with the girls, or if this is just nature.

Any ideas suggestions? Thank you in advance.

 

[canadian flock]

I don't know if this is an option with you saying that the rooster is a huge factor in the protection of your flock, but I would try separating the rooster and seeing how she reacts. Her being very thirsty and hungry may indicate that your rooster is stopping her from getting to the food and water. If you can't separate the rooster, try adding a second feeder and waterer away from the original. This way you roooster can access one while your hen can get to the other. Good Luck!

 

[rntickle]

Thank you for the reply. I have established a second feeder and water source. She still is still isolating herself and head pressing in the corner. I've read some articles on head pressing in various species. It can be a sign of a neurological disorder, or head trauma. It has been associated with pineal gland tumors in poultry. I'm wondering if she doesn't have some kind of head injury. I'm certainly hoping she rallies soon. I may take your advice and isolate the rooster tonight. I have to wait until he's on the roost to catch him. His being isolated may give me some indication if she's just scared, or physically ill.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Your situation sounds nearly exactly like what I went through a few months ago with one of my hens and rooster. What happened was that the rooster (who is and was always a very good protector as well) kept her and only her inside, away from food, to the point where my only option was to isolate her. I put her in a box inside our house and have her food, water, and treats. She gained so much more weight and was back to health within a few weeks, but to this day she still does not want to go outside. As for my rooster, I had to teach him a lesson that this is not acceptable, so I cornered him off in part of their coop for a couple weeks. He could see my girls but couldn't get to them. He realized that treating my girls like that would not be put up with, so he has since stopped. Not all roosters will learn the lesson, but it's worth a try.

I hope this helps.