- Apr 14, 2007
- 2,147
- 16
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I have a true Ameraucana hen, who was injuried by my rooster three/four weeks ago. I saw him mount her, step back while holding onto her neck and flipped her on her back and then started flogging /kicking her.. She just laid there.. I rushed to get her.. She could barely walk, holding her wings out to steady her self, could not get on the roost, or in the nest box alone... Her leg or back seemed to be hurt but I could not find any blood, any broken skin, nothing seemed out of place/broken... She didn't lay an egg for almost a week, then for several days she laid soft-shelled eggs, then she jumped right back into the routine of 4-5eggs a week.. Each morning when I let them out of the coop, she is right there with them.... When I check on her during the day she seems fine -- the only hint of an injury is the small limp, wattle she has.... I ususally let them out each evening around 5pm.... and they free range until dark... before the time changed it meant they were only out 30min.. but now they are out for 3+ hours.. And I noticed yesterday, she was struggling to return to the coop.. I went and picked her up and held her and looked her over. Nothing unusual, nothing out of place... Today, they were out even earlier--she seemed fine when I let them out. BUT she didn't come up the hill with her sisters, so I went down there and she was struggling to get up it. She had her tail down like a duck, she was waddling movements more duck like than chicken. I held her for a while.. looking at her vent, tail, legs, wings and found NOTHING different.... what is going on? Is she re-injuring herself by over scratching/ digging? Is something broken? I am at a loss.... She has laid an egg 3 days in a row.. She eats well, nothing from her beak/nose, her breathing is fine, her eyes bright and normal... her vent is moist and the same shape and color as the other hens.. Any help/suggestions/ideas? Thank you
