Bad leg

[usmcpilot06]

I have one out of 20 RIR's they are about 6 months old. One of them has become a loner and limps. She walks ok but runs with a limp. Still can't catch her to see what the problem is. Couple of them are squating when I get close to them....about that time,,,but they have decided the nest box in a roost instead....I need to build a new one with a sloped roof.....

 

[Eggcessive]

I used card board, but you can use a thin piece of plywood secured to the wall to make a slanted top for the nest box temporarily. Hang some rags on each end to keep them from going behind it.

At six months, Mareks disease could be the worst scenario, but hopefully, it is just an injury. If you can enter the coop at night with a headlamp or flashlight, it would be easy enough to remove her, and examine her leg for red or freen bruising, swelling, or a bumblefoot scab on the foot pad. Look at the joints especially for swelling.

Mareks disease has many possible symptoms, but they can develop a numbness or weakness in the leg where they may drag it or walk on it with toes curled under. Some may drag a wing. Some chickens may be bullied or kept from food. If you have any cockerels, they may have injured her.

Here is some info on Mareks that hopefully you won’t need:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[usmcpilot06]

I dont have a rooster, she dont drag her foot she just has a noticeable limp when she tries to run. She is the only bird that will let me handle her so far. She will squat when I try to get close to her. She gets around ok. I make sure she eats. She just seems to always be the last hen to go in the coop.

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually, low ranking chickens are the last one in the coop in the evenings. I have one who has been with the others for 6 years, and she still is aloof and comes in once everyone else has roosted.

 

[usmcpilot06]

This particular girl has been comming to me about an hour after all the other are in the coop. I pick her up and take her to the coop

 

[Abriana]

About a year ago I was putting my rooster down over the fence. He jumped out of my arms and landed funny and he limps often. Some days are better than others, and his ankle is swollen. Maybe this happened to your girl?
Try some epsom salt soaks.