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In case anyone is interested now or in the future, I thought I would post an update on Bernadette.
Since my last post things got better. Then they got a lot worse as she grew. She was walking on her right hock (her left leg, which was the first to be a problem remained strong) and she got sores and abrasions on the skin around her hock.
She had another visit to the vet who said she could feel that the left leg muscles were builkier and more developed than on the right.
Bernadette continued to be the boss of her little 3-some of chicks. The result of that was none of them adventured very far from the brooder because if Bernadette couldn't get about they were all going to stay and keep her company.
I admit I lost hope for a while and once again considered euthanasia - not least because she was clearly holding the others back from normal development.
But I stuck with it and rearranged everything so they could have a sort of brooder or at least a safe space at ground level with full access to the rest of the coop. I continued the B2 supplements and the physical therapy to keep her leg loose and mobile. I used vet wrap to protect the skin around her hock and I also used vet wrap to 'force' her to open up the hock joint a little more - basically I created a wad of vet wrap on either side of the hock on the inside of the joint so it wouldn't close up completely).
Somehow it all worked and at least for now she is able to walk, run, jump, and perch like everyone else. Her right leg does tire more easily (sometimes you see it shaking) and she does take little rests sitting down now and then, but right now she is normally mobile.
I have my fingers crossed she stays that way as it is harder for me to super-dose her vitamin B2 now that she is outside foraging and eating whatever she comes across. I am just hoping that whatever the issue was it was related to growing and that she won't slide backwards now.
Little Bernadette is a fighter - she has never given up her zest for life - I am proud of her!
The short video shows her ability to run (critical to avoid attacks from the big chickens) and I couldn't resist adding a picture that shows her out and about exploring the world outside the Chicken Palace. Today I am going to start dismantling the construction I did to create a floor level brooder for them.
Apologies to anyone for duplicate picture/video posted on other threads.
Since my last post things got better. Then they got a lot worse as she grew. She was walking on her right hock (her left leg, which was the first to be a problem remained strong) and she got sores and abrasions on the skin around her hock.
She had another visit to the vet who said she could feel that the left leg muscles were builkier and more developed than on the right.
Bernadette continued to be the boss of her little 3-some of chicks. The result of that was none of them adventured very far from the brooder because if Bernadette couldn't get about they were all going to stay and keep her company.
I admit I lost hope for a while and once again considered euthanasia - not least because she was clearly holding the others back from normal development.
But I stuck with it and rearranged everything so they could have a sort of brooder or at least a safe space at ground level with full access to the rest of the coop. I continued the B2 supplements and the physical therapy to keep her leg loose and mobile. I used vet wrap to protect the skin around her hock and I also used vet wrap to 'force' her to open up the hock joint a little more - basically I created a wad of vet wrap on either side of the hock on the inside of the joint so it wouldn't close up completely).
Somehow it all worked and at least for now she is able to walk, run, jump, and perch like everyone else. Her right leg does tire more easily (sometimes you see it shaking) and she does take little rests sitting down now and then, but right now she is normally mobile.
I have my fingers crossed she stays that way as it is harder for me to super-dose her vitamin B2 now that she is outside foraging and eating whatever she comes across. I am just hoping that whatever the issue was it was related to growing and that she won't slide backwards now.
Little Bernadette is a fighter - she has never given up her zest for life - I am proud of her!
The short video shows her ability to run (critical to avoid attacks from the big chickens) and I couldn't resist adding a picture that shows her out and about exploring the world outside the Chicken Palace. Today I am going to start dismantling the construction I did to create a floor level brooder for them.
Apologies to anyone for duplicate picture/video posted on other threads.
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its too late for my hen because she's coming to a year old. I tried bandaging her hock to protect the abrasion on her hocks but she manages to slide them off. She's a fighter too and a zest for life. I'm in the same shoes as you were and euthanasia would be the last resort to spare her of pain.
