16 week old Hen with difficulty walking.

[Kevin_87]

Today I let the girls out and one was walking odd. It is best described as high stepping. The motion in only the right leg, looks like when a water bird runs on the water before take off. I picked her up and can find no sign of injury. Her knee is stable but does seem to be weak. She held the other leg out during my inspection. The rest of the right side of her body is unaffected. The right leg has no sign of swelling. Color is normal above and below the knee. Foot and toes have motion and sensation. Any ideas???

Kevin.

 

[chickens really]

Is it egg bound?...That can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve....Has she laid and egg?

 

[Kevin_87]

She has not yet laid any eggs.

 

[chickens really]

Ever ?...How old is she?...Could she of injured herself jumping down from the Roost?...What breed?

 

[Kevin_87]

She is 16 weeks today, her roosts in the pen are not that high. She walked back in fine last night. Other then brown I have no idea what she is. She is certainly not the Delaware she was sold as.

 

[chickens really]

Could it be coccidiosis ?....Repiratory?...Could she be ready to lay and the egg is Stuck?...Soft shelled?...To many things?

 

[Kevin_87]

I will check for a stuck egg and report back. I am not sure which one of us will like this less. Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your girl is having trouble. It doesn't sound like a stuck egg to me.

Very often when I hear of difficulty walking with NO sign of injury, my first suspicion is Marek's.

Hope she improves!

Just for fun... she is still a pullet until reaching 1 year old before technically being called a hen.