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FINAL UPDATE AND END RESULT: This saga of Shirley with the Bad Leg began in July. She's been in a cage in our bathroom during the evening so she wouldn't be jumping from the roost. We'd take her out into a small private run during the day. This went on until about a week ago, so she spent the better part of 3 months living inside. She wasn't 100% recovered but was stable and I had to get her back outside to get acclimated for winter.
IN THE INTERIM Shirley became very spoiled. VERY spoiled. She housebroke herself. Wouldn't poo in her inside cage, would hold it "Broody Style" until she got outside and then let it go. We would sit her on the ground and could never count past 5 before she relieved herself. She also became attached to my husband who would give her treats and talk to her in the bathroom.
The first day back in the coop, Shirley did what I had been dreading. She attempted to jump/fly up to the roost. [There's a ladder but Shirley is a jumper] She didn't quite make it. She grabbed the roost with both feet - hung there - tilted backwards - then fell to the ground where she just sat. After almost 3 months it only took her 30 minutes to undo all of her progress!! I was heartsick.
She laid around all day and we put her in the nesting box that night. Figured we'd soon know what damage was done when she decided to try walking again. Well, we were in for quite the shock!
The next morning, Shirley was almost her old self! Better - MUCH better - than she'd been the entire 3 months in confinement. She was not only walking around at a good clip, she was running, flying up to the roost and then jumping down!! We can only think that maybe her leg was "jammed" and the pulling of it when she initially tried to fly to get on the roost and didn't quite make it pulled it back into place.
Reminds me of the story of Ruby Sue in Christmas Vacation . . .
You now have to know that Shirley ever had a problem to be able to identify which one she is. Hardly any limp. Not really sure what or how she was fixed but she's certainly much, much better!
IN THE INTERIM Shirley became very spoiled. VERY spoiled. She housebroke herself. Wouldn't poo in her inside cage, would hold it "Broody Style" until she got outside and then let it go. We would sit her on the ground and could never count past 5 before she relieved herself. She also became attached to my husband who would give her treats and talk to her in the bathroom.
The first day back in the coop, Shirley did what I had been dreading. She attempted to jump/fly up to the roost. [There's a ladder but Shirley is a jumper] She didn't quite make it. She grabbed the roost with both feet - hung there - tilted backwards - then fell to the ground where she just sat. After almost 3 months it only took her 30 minutes to undo all of her progress!! I was heartsick.
She laid around all day and we put her in the nesting box that night. Figured we'd soon know what damage was done when she decided to try walking again. Well, we were in for quite the shock!
The next morning, Shirley was almost her old self! Better - MUCH better - than she'd been the entire 3 months in confinement. She was not only walking around at a good clip, she was running, flying up to the roost and then jumping down!! We can only think that maybe her leg was "jammed" and the pulling of it when she initially tried to fly to get on the roost and didn't quite make it pulled it back into place.
Reminds me of the story of Ruby Sue in Christmas Vacation . . .
You now have to know that Shirley ever had a problem to be able to identify which one she is. Hardly any limp. Not really sure what or how she was fixed but she's certainly much, much better!
