Cracking sound

[Myrkk]

I was trying to check the vent of one of my chooks by myself, normally hubbie holds while I check. Luna, the crook, struggled, ended up upside down with me holding her by her legs and there was an audible crack. She’s walking fine, and apart from some lost dignity and dirty looks I can’t see anything. Any suggestions on what it could be and what I should be looking for?

 

[Eggcessive]

It could have been a popping joint as humans have with an elbow or a knee. I wouldn’t worry too much unless she has trouble walking or using her wings to fly up and down from her roost.

 

[Myrkk]

Thank you, I’ve been quietly panicking that I’ve managed to break something. She seemed fine. Will see how she is in the morning. For some reason ducks and chickens have all stopped going to their respective houses at night. All snuggle up together by the back door to the kitchen. We’re now having to lift them all individually and put them to bed and I thought I’d take the time to give them a quick check over as I was doing this. Note to self, only with hubbie around.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Thank you, I’ve been quietly panicking that I’ve managed to break something. She seemed fine. Will see how she is in the morning. For some reason ducks and chickens have all stopped going to their respective houses at night. All snuggle up together by the back door to the kitchen. We’re now having to lift them all individually and put them to bed and I thought I’d take the time to give them a quick check over as I was doing this. Note to self, only with hubbie around.

That is unusual behavior. Is there something wrong with their coop? Is it infested with mites?

 

[Myrkk]

No. They used to all sleep together in the one coop and even then it was a bit hit n miss as to whether they went away. They now have shiny new separate coops and whilst the ducks rarely go away, the chickens were putting themselves to bed with only a sporadic camp out, now it’s most nights.
Their coops get cleaned out every 3 or 4 days and we use diatomaceous earth in them.
So there’s a few changes going on which could be unsettling them. They also won’t use perches preferring to sleep on the floor in the straw.
We’ve also stopped them free ranging whilst the veg garden gets established so they might be irritated by that.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

The only time I’ve ever had chickens boycott the coop it was because something was wrong with it—too small, not enough ventilation, etc. But I’ve never had ducks so maybe it has to do with that.