Badly Limping Hen- please help!

[HorseFeathers]

Lillith is a 2-year-old EE hen. She's in the middle of a very, very hard molt and has recently started limping noticeably. This, however, is the only symptom. She is otherwise normal- eating, drinking, energetic, poo is fine. Right now I have her isolated in a dog crate with food, water, and shavings in our garage until my mom gets back. I can post a photo if you like; she holds her "limping" foot up when not walking. We've had a hen with bumblefoot before and I don't think that's what this is. Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[karl lutz]

The only limper I ever had had eaten a tec screw that went through her gizzard and I didnt find out ,until I butchered her, what was wrong.

 

[flakey chick]

I saw your post as I was getting ready to post about the same thing. I have a 1.5 yr hen going through a hard molt and my husband noticed her staggering yesterday after her dust bath. She got a bit better but was still limping so I examined her. I thought she might have scaly leg mites so I rubbed oil on her legs and she seemed a bit better. I thought her foot had just fallen asleep. Then when I got home today she still had a bit of a limp.

I haven't separated her because she is top hen and the others are more frightened of her than ever. I am worried that she is not eating right. She doesn't stuff her crop as full as she used to, but she is happy to scarf down BOSS. I checked their feed and it doesn't seem moldy or off. They don't seem to be eating it as much though. No one has been laying, but she is the only one limping.

I hope someone can help us out

 

[sammi]

Horsefeathers...do a recheck of the foot..including between toes..
use a small flashlight or other light and check for splinter or something sticking her..or missing toenail.
check for any sore or scab, heat or swelling..
it could still be Bumblefoot..

check legs for raised scales or crust
check leg and hip joints for heat or swelling

what all do you feed?

what sort of roosts do you have? how high off the ground?
anything around she could have picked up a splinter, staple or barb of some kind?
(such as from rose ush or blackberry bushes, etc..or those horrible round sticky balls from trees..LOL)

are you sure it's the foot and not the hip or leg?
it's possible limping can be from needing calcium..
and since she's in molt could need some extra nutrients..vitamins, protein, etc..
if you don't have quick access to poultry vitamins..you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand..no iron formula..give 3 drops once a day on beak for 5 days, then taper off for a week.

here is a mix you can try..

1 cooked egg yolk
2 tablespoons of plain yogurt
3-4 tablespoons of regular, quick or baby oatmeal
drizzle of honey or dab of unsweetened applesauce or berry type fruit (frozen/thawed ok)
make puffy...add feed if necessary for puffy consistency.

this for 1 day..divide into 3 feeds for the day..give for 5 days..
also have regular feed and fresh water available..

I suspect foot injury or Bumblefoot..
is the foot curling?

 

[sammi]

flakey chick..it would be better to start your own thread..
your hen's problem might be totally different them Horsefeather's hen and need different treatment.

have you done a good check of the crop?
do you know how to do that?

describe her droppings, in detail....color and consistency

what ALL do you feed?

check the legs for raised scales or crust..
has she been treated for mites/lice?

has she been wormed? if so, when? and what was used?

could she have eaten anything bad? any wet feed, or leftover kitchen scraps?
or got into any toxic chemical (lawn/garden/motor oils/chemicals/...
rodent poison/dead rodent)

check the feet for any sore, scab, heat or swelling or any injury.
check the hip/leg joint area for any heat or swelling...also the leg joints..

it would be best to separate her to a warm safe protected place where she can have easy access to feed and water, and where you can watch her for other symptoms.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Her foot curls when she lifts it up... I put AviaCharge in the waterer and she seems to be slowly getting better. She probably just stepped on one of the many acorns that are all over the open part of the run.

 

[flakey chick]

The foot curl thing is pretty natural, but may indicate mild pain. For my efforts I gave "8 in 1 Ultra Care Skin and Plumage Supplement " and put asprin in her water to help with the pain. (1 reg. aspring / gal). My girl is doing better- doesn't seem to be in pain and is much less grumpy.