After using this site to successfully take care of six (now 5) hens for the last year, I thought that I would post something in the hopes that it may help another backyard chicken enthusiast.
Our chickens are all 1 year old and have a coop that my neighbors call the Taj Mahal along with an enclosed yard - but they spend their days free to roam on our property. Last night, as is my evening ritual, I called my hens to their coop. They all trotted up obligingly. One hen (a New Hampshire Red named Pearl) scooted out of the gate. As is often the case, I picked her up and put her into the yard. Only this time, she flew out of my hands and landed in a strange way almost head first, but more like chest first. She couldnt have dropped more than 12 inches vertically from the ground or 16 inches horizontally from her take off.
As I checked on her, she was straining her neck to breathe. I panicked and attempted to find an obvious injury there was nothing visible. Her wattle and comb started to turn purple. I patted her back and her color started to come back. I removed her from the common yard and placed her in a dog crate with water. Without any idea what to do next, I began researching online. I did not find anything decisive to do for her. I focused on putting my son to bed and prayed the hens status would improve.
This morning, after sending my son off to preschool, I focused on Pearl again. I basically held her while she took her last breaths. It was awful. I only wish I knew what to do for her. With a heavy heart, I buried her under a large Maple tree.
If anyone has input or experience or an idea of what happened and what I could have done to change the outcome, please post it. I dont want this to happen to another chicken or a person who loves them.
Thank you
Roxanne
Our chickens are all 1 year old and have a coop that my neighbors call the Taj Mahal along with an enclosed yard - but they spend their days free to roam on our property. Last night, as is my evening ritual, I called my hens to their coop. They all trotted up obligingly. One hen (a New Hampshire Red named Pearl) scooted out of the gate. As is often the case, I picked her up and put her into the yard. Only this time, she flew out of my hands and landed in a strange way almost head first, but more like chest first. She couldnt have dropped more than 12 inches vertically from the ground or 16 inches horizontally from her take off.
As I checked on her, she was straining her neck to breathe. I panicked and attempted to find an obvious injury there was nothing visible. Her wattle and comb started to turn purple. I patted her back and her color started to come back. I removed her from the common yard and placed her in a dog crate with water. Without any idea what to do next, I began researching online. I did not find anything decisive to do for her. I focused on putting my son to bed and prayed the hens status would improve.
This morning, after sending my son off to preschool, I focused on Pearl again. I basically held her while she took her last breaths. It was awful. I only wish I knew what to do for her. With a heavy heart, I buried her under a large Maple tree.
If anyone has input or experience or an idea of what happened and what I could have done to change the outcome, please post it. I dont want this to happen to another chicken or a person who loves them.
Thank you
Roxanne
