Hen can't stand up today!

[coolchickens]

I need some help with my Cochan hen. This AM I found her in the pen laying with her wings out, legs behind her, resting on her breast bone. She could not stand up or walk. She is alert, eats when I put food in front of her, drank when I put water in front of her. She appears to poss. have an injury of some kind. My VERY large Cochen roo. has been mounting her a lot lately and I'm wondering if he could have done some damage to her back or legs. Have you ever heard of a roo. injuring the hen when they breed? She is a large Cochan hen. She does not appear ill in anyway. I try to stand her up and make her balance on both feet but then she just falls forward onto her breast bone again. Seems she can't move her legs, yet with help of me holding her up a little she will bear wgt on both legs. Please help me with this problem and any suggestions would be appreciated! Sharon

 

[jforsness]

She may have been hurt by the roo. If you can, bring her inside and let her rest without being bothered. If she has to stay out, keep her seperated from the others, that way she can heal without being picked on or made worse. Good luck!

 

[JustChicky]

Oh I hope she is okay! It sounds like the rooster might have hurt her, like you said.

 

[hinkjc]

I agree the roo could be the cause of the injury and she needs to be separated and time to recover/heal. I once had two roos fight over breeding a hen and broke her neck. It doesn't happen often, but it certainly can happen. She may not recover from her injuries, but the only way to know if she can is to keep a very close eye on her.

Some other things to consider is toxins, botulism, marek's etc that can cause paralysis. I would start researching and monitor for symptoms. I hope she recovers for you.

 

[coolchickens]

I brought her into the house and have her in a large box in the den. She is very alert and checking her over very carefully, it appears she does not want to bear wgt on her left leg. I can balance her using her breast bone and make her stand on her rt leg but when she shifts her wgt to the left leg, she falls down as she cannot bear wgt. I find no break anywhere on it and I'm thinking (after reading some of the threads) that possibly she popped the thigh out? Has anyone ever had this happen? and is that something that can heal? this is just a guess at this time, and I'll hope maybe its more like a sprain in the leg. I'll keep a watch on her and see what happens. One thread said the roo. can pop the thigh bone out of joint on a hen when breeding from the wgt of the roo. That does not sound good!

 

[JustChicky]

That makes sense. This is a little cockerel and do you see the pullets leg all bent up. It does sound like that is what happened. I hope things get better. What can you do for her, if that is the problem?

 

[coolchickens]

What a great picture! I can see how the leg can get messed up now. I have seen the roo. on her and she looks like a sqashed pancake when he is on top. He is a very "slow" roo., never seems to finish the job and basically stands there on top of the hens looking around. Dumb, huh?!!! He is very sweet and the girls love him though. I would guess him at about 12 lbs, the hen probably 8 lbs or more. She is pretty big also. She's eating fine and is now sitting up more straight in the box instead of laying on her side with her wing out so maybe she is getting better! I hope!

 

[jhmoore]

Please keep us posted! I was just referred to this thread after asking a similar question about my hen. I suspect the roo in my case as well.

What I don't get is, will this heal with time on its own?

 

[JustChicky]

Thanks! I don't see it that often, but for some reason he showed off in front of me 3 times that day while I was out taking pictures of them.

This was back in August when they were younger.

I'm glad she is starting to sit it up.

coolchickens & jhmoore - Does the joint pop (or anything like that) when you rotate her leg?

 

[jhmoore]

No, no popping that I can tell. I'm so used to horse legs- these chicken legs seem so small and fragile!!