Lame chicken, no balance after Mongoose attack!

alanhugs

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Hi there,

SHORT VERSION: After attack by a mongoose my chicken is unable to walk. No real visible injuries, suspect tendon or dislocation? She can stand, but if she tries to take a step she falls over - it was as if she can't lift her left foot off the ground (like it was stuck in mud).

LONG VERSION - The sad tale of "Periphery" my shyest quietest young hen.

She began laying 4 months ago, recently got broody, so I got some fertilized eggs for her to sit on. On Sunday, 2 days before hatch day a mongoose got into her coop, had a go at her and ate a couple of eggs.
She was roughed up (scratch on her crown and feathers missing around her neck) and in deep shock, looking quite dazed and sleepy, ignoring food. So we left her in her quiet nesting coop for a day to see how she got on. She was born freerange and is not used to human touch, so we didn't want to upset her further with human intervention.

The following evening I realized she had deserted her eggs and was unable to walk. She could stand, but if she tried to take a step she fell over - it was as if she couldn't lift her left foot off the ground (like it was stuck in mud). We put food and water close to her (she drank thirstily) and let her rest more. She was looking bad enough that I went online to research the most humane way to slaughter her if she did not improve.

By the next day she was moving around a little, still falling over with every step. We took her out and examined her - she stayed fairly calm and did not seem to be in pain as we checked her body. There was not much to see or feel, no obvious breaks or wounds. One strange soft "bulge" on her tail area, bit like a fatty blister, about the size of a pea. Her left claw seemed to hang a bit more closed than the right one. Also fairly bald on her tummy (from sitting on eggs?)

From what I have seen on this site I am wondering if it maybe a dislocation or torn tendon, (or possibly at a stretch a balance problem in the head from being attacked). My inclination is to give her food and safe space to rest and heal, hopefully she will recover enough to enjoy a reasonable life.
I am open to all ideas and suggestions.

Thank you,
Alan.

Good news:
Yesterday I caught a mongoose, so have relocated him. Trap still set in case his family are around.
Periphery's sister Perry is also sitting on eggs, so hoping for the sound of "tweet" next week
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