Hen in Distress

[dink74]

I have a Buff Hen who recently has started staying in the background of the flock. She keeps her head pulled down and just wanders around. She seemed to be the favorite of the rooster because her back was bare. Now she seem to just be sad. Not sure what to do, she used to run with her wings open to the gate when she saw my wife or I coming with treats now not so much. Could she be sick or do chickens get depressed? Any help with snapping her out of her funk would be great.

Thanks
Dink

 

[sourland]

Catch her and take a look. There's possibility that her back/sides may have been gashed by the rooster's toenails/spurs. This is not an infrequent injury incurred by hens housed with large roosters.

 

[dink74]

I will check that when I get home. We did pull the Rooster aside and trim his nails over the weekend so he should not be as damaging.

Dink