what might be wrong?

[pokie4207]

One of my hens got out of the yard and went missing for a couple days. I thought she might have fallen to predators

. Then she returned. She had injuries to her wings and middle of back and looked really weak. I isolated her, doctored the wounds, and gave her some electrolytes. She recovered and now walks with a weird waddle; kind of like a penguin. I named her Gimpy the Wonder Chicken. She seemed better so i put her back in the with the flock. She has been doing good the past couple weeks. I hadn't really noticed anything bad until my husband saw a couple different hens peck her in the face. Then i got a good look at her. Her comb and head in general looks weird. Has anyone seen this or know what it could be? Hopefully the picture loaded.


-Pokie
from Texas

 

[Judy]

That looks like pecking injuries, or possibly fowl pox -- but since you saw her being pecked, that seems more likely, and fowl pox would not cause a waddle. I have read that the waddle is typical of egg laying issues like eggbound or internal laying. Chickens seem to know when a member of the flock is not well, and will attack.

 

[pokie4207]

Thanks. It all sounds not good.

Any ideas how i can help her? She is a sweet little chicken. I hate to see anything worse happen to her. Thanks in advance.

 

[pokie4207]

OH. IF a chicken with Fowl Pox lays an egg. Is that egg same for consumption? Or should it be left alone?