Anyone ever had this happen?

[blondroots0]

I had 4 hens in my backyard flock (golden ameraucana, black australorp, buff orpington, and dominique). I let them free range during the day and they are in their coop at night. Right before Christmas my Ameraucana was all puffed out when I went out to check on them. So I separated her from the rest of the hens, picked her up and found a hole about the size of a half dollar under her left wing. I took her to the emergency vet who did surgery--she made it through--then died 5 minutes before I got there to pick her up to come home. The vet said that the hole was not caused by another animal. There is absolutely nothing in the coop for her to get hurt on. My husband and I looked for about 20 minutes and were completely baffled--only 2 drops of blood found anywhere. There was no blood on any of the other chickens. The only thing I can think of is that the buff orpington was on her back about a week before that. I shooed her off the ameraucana and that was the last I saw of any suspicious behaviour. So part one of my long winded question is "any idea what happened to my chicken?". Part 2 is since it is now just the three, my buff orpington is a loner. The other 2 have paired up and she either forages by herself or she is in the nesting box. I thought she was the bully, but now I am not sure. I really want my girls to all be happy. Any advice is appreciated. I am new to the chicken world as this is my first flock. Thanks!

 

[Taylor]

do you have a fenced in area that they run around in the day?????? maybe a hawk tried to pick her up and couldn't, and usually they grab around the wing area, because it's easier to grab there and carry off

 

[blondroots0]

I don't think so. She seemed fine when I put her in her coop the night before which is fully enclosed with 1/4 inch hardware cloth. Top, sides, and bottom. But I guess maybe I just didn't see it? Although I look at them pretty good so I don't know.

 

[blondroots0]

I was reading some of the other threads and I remembered that she had also lost quite a bit of feathers on her rear. Could this be connected or is that just molting? I really appreciate your help in figuring out this mystery. It has just had me baffled. The other thing I thought of is that my americauna and my buff orpington definately paired up together, so is my buff just not part of the other girls group? Also, she laid another egg today (after she had already laid her normal 1), so maybe that is why she was in the nest box.