After reading and reading the forum on injuries of legs, I resolved around ten days ago to not cull my 16 wk chicken - Rhodesian Red. But I question now whether I have done the right thing.
About three weeks ago one morning she presented walking strange, where she was walking on her right foot due to lack of coordination of where to put her foot. UNFORTUNATELY, I isolated her and gave her rest, this immobilisation I think ruined her movement all together. She now does not place her foot at all and 'kneels' on her 'elbow', with the lower leg our in front of her awkwardly to the outer side from her body. Otherwise non weight bearing and remains totally uncoordinated.
She does stand often and wants to walk and tries to swing the leg from her hip.
I did not present at the vet.
She is to in pain it seems.
But she has lost most of her condition in muscle and her feathers are dull.
Comb still red.
And loves a cuddle, and tired of returning to her hospital kennel. She is amongst the other chickens, just in a raised old dog kennel so the bully cannot get her.
I do put her out in a garden bed each day especially if the weather has grace for 15minutes (Winter in Australia). But she can only forage with her beak. Or somewhere she can eat grass tips, and get fresh air and keep perspective of the surrounds - rather than inside a kennel.
I am suspecting, which I did not until now, that maybe her hip was affected some way. I have thought she had pulled something in her 'thigh' and had no strength to coordinate the lower limbs. So I have a different perspective now.
But what is it I need to check if it is the hip. And is it too late to help her?
There is no overt injury, only ill coordination in the beginning and since hospitalising her to rest for a few days, she stopped all movement of that leg - losing the ability to weight bear on that foot altogether.
This is my concern.
Eating well, (not enough though), drinking, talking with me and her flock, wants to get out and about, but just can't.
Any ideas?
Should I assess her further and for what?
Can I do physio? if so what. - I have been monitoring the foot/leg for warmth, sometimes it is cold or cool but I reposition it and she warms up again. Mostly it is warm.
I have tried suspending her (which she does not enjoy) but at least it gives the injured leg another position and opportunity to move without weight bearing.
tips anyone?
About three weeks ago one morning she presented walking strange, where she was walking on her right foot due to lack of coordination of where to put her foot. UNFORTUNATELY, I isolated her and gave her rest, this immobilisation I think ruined her movement all together. She now does not place her foot at all and 'kneels' on her 'elbow', with the lower leg our in front of her awkwardly to the outer side from her body. Otherwise non weight bearing and remains totally uncoordinated.
She does stand often and wants to walk and tries to swing the leg from her hip.
I did not present at the vet.
She is to in pain it seems.
But she has lost most of her condition in muscle and her feathers are dull.
Comb still red.
And loves a cuddle, and tired of returning to her hospital kennel. She is amongst the other chickens, just in a raised old dog kennel so the bully cannot get her.
I do put her out in a garden bed each day especially if the weather has grace for 15minutes (Winter in Australia). But she can only forage with her beak. Or somewhere she can eat grass tips, and get fresh air and keep perspective of the surrounds - rather than inside a kennel.
I am suspecting, which I did not until now, that maybe her hip was affected some way. I have thought she had pulled something in her 'thigh' and had no strength to coordinate the lower limbs. So I have a different perspective now.
But what is it I need to check if it is the hip. And is it too late to help her?
There is no overt injury, only ill coordination in the beginning and since hospitalising her to rest for a few days, she stopped all movement of that leg - losing the ability to weight bear on that foot altogether.
This is my concern.
Eating well, (not enough though), drinking, talking with me and her flock, wants to get out and about, but just can't.
Any ideas?
Should I assess her further and for what?
Can I do physio? if so what. - I have been monitoring the foot/leg for warmth, sometimes it is cold or cool but I reposition it and she warms up again. Mostly it is warm.
I have tried suspending her (which she does not enjoy) but at least it gives the injured leg another position and opportunity to move without weight bearing.
tips anyone?