So my little 9mo. old hen Caroline (actually my little chick I had to do surgery on in a previous post) has an injured leg. Pretty positive it's an injury, but not sure how she got it. I had them out free ranging and had just been talking to her and saw her moving around just fine when I was putting some scratch and rooster food out. 15 minutes later I see them picking on her and she's severely limping on one leg. I took her inside washed her foot and leg really well to inspect it very closely. No notable injuries. I felt it very carefully from the hip all the way down, could not notice a difference between that one and the other. I do not believe there is a break or dislocation. I'm hoping it's sprained or pulled or something. I have her in her own little enclosure right now so she doesn't get picked on or try to jump on or off anything. This is day three and she was hesitating to use it more than when it first happened. So I'm imagining it is pain and inflammation. I gave her a half a baby aspirin and she has definitely perked up. She'll even stand up on the good leg and straighten her toes and foot out like she wants to put it on the ground but when she does she pulls it back up like it hurts. She's eating and drinking really well and seems fine in every department except that leg. BUT She is not laying. She lays almost everyday. I know it's normal to stop at a stressful time like this. But do I need to worry about her getting blocked or becoming egg-bound? How does that work? Do they stop making eggs or do they hold them in? I'm so worried about a secondary issue now.
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earlier she kept shaking her head. I could tell something was bothering her. She kept shifting to her side and then immediately straightening herself up. Finally she stretched her good foot forward like a ballerina and smacked herself in the top of the head a few times. She was obviously trying to reach an itch but leaning on the injured leg was painful enough she had to really think about how to get that good foot out to scratch it while staying upright. This was about 15 minutes after I gave her the aspirin so I'm not sure it had entirely kicked in yet. So I feel like it really hurts a lot. She is moving like it is less tender 2 hours after giving it to her. She's cleaning herself and acting less stiff in her body movements so it's obvious it has helped some with the pain. I just don't know what else to do. Also, examined it this morning her knee felt slightly warmer than the rest, no notable swelling though.
She want some privacy! She likely is going to lay an egg.
