Molting hen limping

I think first we probably need to find out if the one foot pad has a cut or a dark spot that may be bumblefoot. Bumblefoot is a staph infection that can result from a small cut in the foot pad, causing redness, swelling, and a typical dark spot on the pad. Then if the other foot and ankle are swolllen, you will need to make sure which one is bothering her. A swollen foot and ankle joint can be due to a bad sprain, but also can be due to a joint infection. Mycoplasma synovitis (MS,) and other bacterial or viral infections of the joint could be possible. If it is sprained, I would probably keep her confined in a pen with food and water to rest the foot. Here is some info on MS and also on bumblefoot:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...nfection_in_poultry_infectious_synovitis.html
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/07/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning.html

I think the one foot is just dirty though. I know it's her left leg/foot that hurts.. We have a separate pen but I don't want to use it when it's like 25 f outside... The husband seems like bringing her into the house is extreme? Idk... I could probably convince him it's for the best though, I just don't want her to get depressed ;( is that even something to worry about? Lol

sphinxface said:

I think the one foot is just dirty though. I know it's her left leg/foot that hurts.. We have a separate pen but I don't want to use it when it's like 25 f outside... The husband seems like bringing her into the house is extreme? Idk... I could probably convince him it's for the best though, I just don't want her to get depressed ;( is that even something to worry about? Lol

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Depression? Idk. Stressed is more likely. I've seen limping chickens improve with vitamin/mineral supplements added to their water or diet. Takes weeks though. If you can't find anything obvious, I would try that for awhile. Make sure it has a broad range of all the vitamins and some essential minerals.

I have an RIR with bumble foot right now (that's why I was asking for foot pad pics), and she hops (literally) on her bad foot!

She seen so to be doing better though still limping, doesn't seem to be in as much pain randomly. I hope it's just a sprain and will get better soon. She spent the night inside the house last night but the husband couldn't take it and put her back outside... I suppose as long as she's feeling better slowly it's not such a big deal ;0

MrsBachbach said:

Depression?  Idk.  Stressed is more likely.  I've seen limping chickens improve with vitamin/mineral supplements added to their water or diet.  Takes weeks though.  If you can't find anything obvious, I would try that for awhile.  Make sure it has a broad range of all the vitamins and some essential minerals.

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Do you have any suggestions for brands of vitamins and minerals?

I have a similar situation. My one Plymouth Rock is limping. I am hoping she just jumped off the roost wrong. I checked her foot and there is no bumble foot, she is eating, drinking, and laying ok still. I have read to give them a warm bath but that did not go over too well and now she won't come near me. I don't want her to hurt her leg anymore running away from me. Should I just leave them closed in there coop for a day to keep her somewhat relaxed and not moving around too much? They do not like being separated and freak out if they are. Also, we live in New York so it is a bit cold this time of year. Should I put a little warmth in the coop until the limp goes away? Or should that not really have an impact on this injury
I just feel so bad for her and want to try and make it better for her as soon as possible!

tscha1 said:

Do you have any suggestions for brands of vitamins and minerals?

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Well, I have something called "Avian superpack". It's a powder meant to be mixed in over 200 gallons of water. I just put like a sixteenth of a teaspoon to a gallon of water. It has a lot of different vitamins in it. I bought it online so you could google for it. There is a product you could find at Tractor Supply called Rooster Booster Poultry Cell. It's a liquid with a broad range of vitamins and minerals. You could give that to them directly by mouth with a 1 ml syringe (like you tube feed). Only thing about that is it contains iron which probably won't be good for a hen on a continuous basis. But it is a handy thing to have on hand when you have a weak hen or bird that is down for one reason or another. One other thing you could try that I found at Tractor supply is something called Missing Link Ultimate Poultry Formula. It's a bit pricey though. It's a powder that you add to their food. So,you would have to make sure they are consuming enough of it. It doesn't list what vitamins/minerals it has but the ingredient list is vast and seems to contain enough of the foods that would supply the extra needed vitamins. Out of all of the choices I prefer the superpack and poultry cell.
If her condition is from a lack of vit/min it can takes weeks of supplements to see an improvement. You can try a human B complex vitamin pill on her for several days. I have halved them and popped it in the back of their beak. I usually just look for one of the lower dose items since I'm not sure how much they are supposed to receive. There can be other things missing in their diet like selenium and manganese. You can try adding some treats rich in those missing nutrients to supplement.
I have found that when it comes to young growing birds that the problem always seems to resolve itself after I either move them to a different pen (in the case of a young cockerel) or remove the bullys chasing the ones on the bottom of pecking order or add more feeders to the pens. I also start them on supplements. It seems to be either a case of old feed losing nutrients or the bird not eating enough from being stressed by others. The cockerel was housed with another more dominant one and he showed good improvement after a month of being moved with some pullets. Older birds that may be on the bottom of pecking order and scared to go to feeder (ever notice when penned they wont eat unless everyone is eating?) because they have been pecked and run off from it, or if they are used to leaving the pen will prefer to wait until out instead of eat their feed, may also be suffering a deficiency of certain vit/minerals. There are a lot of different things that can cause a limp besides a strain or deficiency though and unfortunately can't be cured or cured easily. But before hanging it up, I would at least try boosting the vitamin/mineral intake for a few months.

Thank you so much! I went out to my local farm store and got some of the powder for the water. I also moved her to a separate pen to keep her from jumping and roosting and what not. She's not too happy about being separated from the others but I'm hoping a few days quiet and the vitamins will help! Fingers crossed. I feel so bad for her and everyone around me is telling me it's just a chicken *sigh*

Well my hen seems to be doing better, they get such a variety in their diet I don't think it's lack of minerals unless calcium cause I don't think they eat the oyster shells hardly ever.. I don't see her during the week because of work but I saw her this morning right at the head of the pack looking at me for treats so she's doing better. Hope your hen feels better soon too tscha!