Chicken bald back

[sadieatthebridge]

Hello there,

 

Hoping for some advice as I am a fairly new chicken keeper!

 

We have 3 chickens. They are about 16 months, and we've had them since last July. They have an open top run with coop, but free-range in a large garden for most of the day. Just setting the scene....

 

When we came home on Friday, we noticed that Margot, our columbine was limping. All three usually peg it across the garden when we come home as they know they usually get some treats. Margot was sitting under a bush and limped her way over to us.

 

I noticed she had a couple of cuts on the top of one foot. She was also dropping her wing down on that side. She was eating fine, so gave her an inexperienced check and put them to bed.

 

She is eating fine, and can limp around, plus she has laid a couple of eggs in her outside nest this weekend. On Saturday her foot seemed swollen, so we removed the roosts from the coops so she wouldn't do herself any more damage

 

Last night we build a small 'chicken hospital' as I was worried about her A) injuring herself more by dashing to greet us every time we went to the back door; and B) not eating and drinking enough as she is spending a lot of her time sitting.

 

Could she have had an altercation with a cat? When we discovered the injury, one of the other chickens was up a height in an area of the garden she never goes - though that could be a coincidence. Also, the dog was running around sniffing a lot - which could indicate a cat, or that she is just a bit loopy...who knows?!

 

Anything else I should be doing? Do I need some antiseptic spray or gentian violet? Is it best to keep her confined? I'm a bit worried (she's my favourite...shhh! Don't tell the others ) Thanks in advance.

[Millie-Annie]

Its unusual for a cat to bother chickens, we have 4 cats round here and they were all terrified of the girls.

 

Could she had got caught anywhere? When Marigold hurt her leg I rang the vet for advice and he said the worse thing chickens do if they get caught is twist, thereby pulling all their ligaments. He said to confine her for a few days rather than let her free range.

[Cat tails]

From experience I can tell you cats can go after chickens. Took the neighbours tomcat some training from my side to leave them alone. Introducing new chickens brought out his interest again. Especially the white hen.

 

But I would ring a vet too and keep her confined and safe. If she is less mobile, she is a more likely target for the potential culprit.

[sadieatthebridge]

Brilliant, pleased the chicken hospital is a good idea.

 

I've just taken her out and put her back in the run with the other two. She is hobbling, pecking and sitting a bit. Her foot looks normal apart from slight swelling and a couple of small marks.

 

It's a big garden so she could have easily got herself caught in something. Blimey, I hope she's better soon - I can't take the stress!

 

We've had broodiness (2 months!) from Adelaide and softies from Hetty already this year. Margot was top of the class until this happened

[umbrella thursday]

How is she now? I hope she's doing better.