A three year old hen of ours has gone lame. She doesn't stand up or walk on two legs, but she can "walk" on her hocks/shanks. Basically she is sitting down and moving her legs forward, kind of like how a person can "walk" on their knees. She also pushes with her wings to do this. However, she does this very little and it seems hard for her. She also has a couple small mudballs, probably from the excess rain and lack of movement. I initially attributed her not moving around to getting ready to die from old age. I didn't want to disturb her, but I soon realized something was up and examined her.
She still eats food, but not much. She has been drinking a lot of water though. She doesn't seem to be in pain. Her poops are a pasty white, like glue or snot.
She hasn't laid eggs for months, and we have been letting her and the rooster free-range and feed has been provided, so I don't think this is a malnutrition issue, but I may be wrong. Their waterer used to be dirty (mud, rust, algae/mold) until I took over the job of tending to them (the other person was replaced due to the water).
All her flock mates besides the rooster have passed already, so she is old for her breed. Also, another hen of the same breed and age but in a different flock had a similar issue. I tried to help her with a stretcher and yogurt for calcium but she died a week or two after it happened. Both chickens were found lame at the bottom of their sleeping area below the roosting perches.
I don't know much about lameness, but I think it might be an issue of their breed getting old, as no other breed we have has had the issue. We don't know their breed for certain but they have the same red color as many production red breeds which tend to be unhealthy.
I am putting her in an isolated sheltered area with food and water and good ventilation. I have a few questions about what else: Should I put her in a stretcher? Should I change her diet? Would it be a good idea to give her a bath? How should I physically examine her/What should I feel her body for?
Any help would be appreciated. I am going to go back and see if I can identify anything else useful.
Edit: Her left foot is curling while her right foot is staying splayed open. The left one is the foot she puts most of her pressure one when scooting around. Her right foot is the one with mudballs. I've washed/removed bigger mudballs on others before, so I don't know if that is the issue. Maybe she sprained or dislocated one of her legs (probably the right one)?
She still eats food, but not much. She has been drinking a lot of water though. She doesn't seem to be in pain. Her poops are a pasty white, like glue or snot.
She hasn't laid eggs for months, and we have been letting her and the rooster free-range and feed has been provided, so I don't think this is a malnutrition issue, but I may be wrong. Their waterer used to be dirty (mud, rust, algae/mold) until I took over the job of tending to them (the other person was replaced due to the water).
All her flock mates besides the rooster have passed already, so she is old for her breed. Also, another hen of the same breed and age but in a different flock had a similar issue. I tried to help her with a stretcher and yogurt for calcium but she died a week or two after it happened. Both chickens were found lame at the bottom of their sleeping area below the roosting perches.
I don't know much about lameness, but I think it might be an issue of their breed getting old, as no other breed we have has had the issue. We don't know their breed for certain but they have the same red color as many production red breeds which tend to be unhealthy.
I am putting her in an isolated sheltered area with food and water and good ventilation. I have a few questions about what else: Should I put her in a stretcher? Should I change her diet? Would it be a good idea to give her a bath? How should I physically examine her/What should I feel her body for?
Any help would be appreciated. I am going to go back and see if I can identify anything else useful.
Edit: Her left foot is curling while her right foot is staying splayed open. The left one is the foot she puts most of her pressure one when scooting around. Her right foot is the one with mudballs. I've washed/removed bigger mudballs on others before, so I don't know if that is the issue. Maybe she sprained or dislocated one of her legs (probably the right one)?
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