Tonight as I was cooking up dinner I noticed my girls heading up the ladder into their coop right on time... about 15 minutes later I peeked out again and my white fancy hen (no idea what cross she is, all white, pea comb, feathered legs, medium sized) was just sitting in the doorway on the coop floor. She had made it up the ladder rungs but didn't get up on the roost, just kind of sat there...
With a further inspection it seemed as though half of her was not working properly. Her left side seemed weak I guess. When laying her on her back only her right leg would kick. When I sat her down she would roll to one side and use her wing as a balance. Then if I would sit her up, she would lean to the other side. I attempted to put her on the roost and with some effort she stayed but needed to lean on another hen for balance. There didn't seem to be any bones broken or out of place, she let me touch her all over without a sound. Its wintery out here in Idaho and I dont want her to freeze in case she falls off the roost...she smells so awful (the only one of 5 that does) that I dont want to bring her in my tiny house. We debated making her into soup at one point before because she doesn't lay. She is beyond egg laying age. I bought my girls back in September from a friend's flock.
She is the lowest on the pecking order. Always last to eat or go in the coop, last on the roost. She has an open duct in her eye which causes it to constantly water. She doesn't really like human interaction (although I consistently handle her) so she doesn't make much of a pet. I still feel terrible for her though. Tomorrow I will be able to fill out a sticky about her, after I observe her when I get home from work.
Any suggestions??
