Arthritis in the foot?

[Thread-wing]

I have had my Rhode Island Red, Tiny, for at least 5 years. I know she's nearing the end of her life because she's outlived all her sisters by at least a year, and I want to know if there is anything I can do to soothe her arthritic feet. She's cage free, sharing about half an acre of yards space with four young, energetic hens (each less than a year old)
Any suggestions?

Also, she's very comfortable being picked up and handled and has even fallen asleep in my lap

 

[klmclain1]

Keeping in mind I know little to nothing about arthritis in chickens... I know you can dissolve an aspirin in the drinking water. Aspirin is an anti-inflamatory (NSAID) and will relieve arthritis pain. However, long-term may have some adverse effects.

 

[Thread-wing]

Thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware you could actually give a chicken aspirin. I've been giving her warm baths in olive oil and feeding her carrots, which I read somewhere was supposed to be helpful

 

[klmclain1]

I've also heard that blueberries have a natural pain killer in them as well.

 

[speckledhen]

I had one BR hen with very arthritic feet, poor old girl. All we did was make sure that in cold weather, she had a heat spot on the roost she could go to--she was over 5 years old. I currently have one with obvious arthritis in one foot, another BR. You can give baby aspirin on occasion, but you really shouldn't give it as a matter of course. Best if she doesn't go out in wet, cold weather is all I can offer. Lexie was always picking her feet up high and flexing them, or holding them up. They were knotty/gnarly and obviously painful, but we just made sure she had a place that was warmer for her in winter, though we never heat our coops. Didn't want to make her suffer for a principle (not heating the coop), you know.