Chicken arthritis

[Bugzie99]

My oldest chicken is about 8 years old and has developed arthritis in one of her feet, is there anything I give her to help with any pain. She walks with a heavy limp.

Thanks

 

[mschwen]

I have one with the same issue. She doesn't seem to be in pain, but she can no longer bend her toes on that foot. I could use any advice as well.

 

[texsuze]

My 9 y.o. BA hen was recently diagnosed with arthritis in her stifle, which is higher up in the leg. She walks with a limp and spends a great deal of time resting, rather than foraging. I plan to re-design the entry ramp into her coop, as I feel the angle is too steep for her to navigate anymore.

The vet who examined her said that Metacam oral supension (meloxicam), which is normally prescribed as pain relief for dogs, was o.k. to give. I presume that for poultry it would be off-label. I've been chopping up grapes and red cherries (her favorite) and letting them soak in the Metacam a bit before giving it to her. Sometimes it seems to make a tiny difference, other times not. It stresses me greatly to see my best chicken buddy with this problem.

Would love to hear input from others re: chicken arthritis