Bantam hens foot is gimpy

[tmann14]

I walked out to see my little bantam hen limping this morning. No other signs of injury until today. The limp is on her left foot and when I watch her, it looks like half the time her toes are not uncurling when she sets her foot down. I have recently started allowing my chicks to free graze in our backyard so she has had access to grass and leaves that she didn't have access to before. She is pecking alot, although I cannot confirm how much she has actually eaten; I have not observed her droppings at this point. She let me turn her upside down and I didn't notice any injury other than the toes seemed more limp on her left side. Any insight?

 

[lbgreenfield]

Hi. Is she eating, drinking, pooping normally? How is she doing today? Sometimes chickens start limping for a variety of reasons: Sprained a foot/ankle/toe getting down from a roost that's too high, cut their footpad/toes/etc. on something sharp in the run or while free ranging, they have bumblefoot, etc. Any of those sound like something that may have happened to her? I would think that as long as she's acting normal (eating, drinking, pooping), she should be fine. I have 2 hens that have constant limps (most likely from sprains and old age) and they get around just fine for the most part.

 

[tmann14]

That is so, helpful, thank you! Her hobble is a little bit better today, so hopefully is was just a sprain of some sort. She is willing to eat and drink so I'll keep crossing my fingers that it isn't more serious. I appreciate your response!

 

[lbgreenfield]

That is so, helpful, thank you! Her hobble is a little bit better today, so hopefully is was just a sprain of some sort. She is willing to eat and drink so I'll keep crossing my fingers that it isn't more serious. I appreciate your response!

I'm glad she's doing better today! Sounds like a sprain of some sort. I'd also check her footpads for bumblefoot (dark spot) or cuts just to be safe.

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