slow moving hen 2nd chicken this week lethargic

[Redirish86]

We had 8 layer hens and a rooster...we also have 16 chicks waiting to be introduced to the flock...currently our (now 7 hens and rooster) live in a coop at night and have a 100x80 ft fenced enclosure that they share with our dairy goat and the goats shed. Some
Of our hens do free range and jump the fence during the day but always come back at night... a week ago we found one of our hens super lethargic unable to sit up let alone walk and my husband ended up culling her and we figured it may have been from injury?.. tonight we have a hen moving very slow she is drinking and walking but painfully relaxed for her ... when we noticed this she was on the ground in the coop on mulch with feathers around her almost as if she made a nest and was sitting on an egg. We are first time chicken owners and have had these guys about 3 months. My husband picked her up to look at her and under her wings looks like this (see pictures)... is this normal? Could she just be broody ? She seemed normal yesterday and this morning.

 

[Kiki]

Is this dirt or does it look like it was a wound that healed?
It's kind hard to tell what I am looking at.

 

[Redirish86]

It isn't dirt it is brown dried liquid which I'm assuming is blood and that's what my husband thinks also. We couldn't find any cuts or punctures though. Is it possible she got an injury and is slow moving from it? Last night she refused to come back in the coop he told me she slept in the pasture with our pigs but was back at the coop this morning for morning feed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Redirish86 Welcome To BYC

How is your hen?
It looks like she has had feathers and skin pulled out - she is injured. Note the red arrow - shows the ragged edge of skin. The green arrow is basically the underneath - probably fat.

If you haven't done so, clean the wound with saline, soapy water or diluted betadine. Apply Vetericyn, triple antibiotic ointment or Blu Kote to the wound.

Check her over well for any other wounds she may have - warm weather is prime time for Flystrike - this is where flies lay eggs in a wound causing it to fester - this can be deadly.

With her being "skinned" you may have a predator that is stalking your hens. Fox, coyote, raccoons, etc, so investigating further would be in order.

Keep us posted.

 

[rebrascora]

I agree with Wyorp Rock (as usual).
The only other thing that comes to mind is that she may have been injured by the rooster mating her. Gashes under the wings are a common place for claws or spurs to rip them particularly if they are not cooperating with the rooster.... ie resisting being mated.... or the rooster is young and hasn't perfected his technique.

 

[Redirish86]

Thank you all for your responses. My son went down this morning and all the chickens seemed active. After work today we will clean and treat under her wings...upon closer look I wasn't able to see anything else. We definetly do have predators and she's Dora the explorer always pushing the limits going further not wanting to come in so this is very likely. It's funny how their personalities are so different we have some that never leave and others that roam.