I would like to know if any of these symptoms sound familiar or if there's something more I could have done to help my hen. Read on for details and please, please share your opinions and knowledge! I have no idea what happened.
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1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Brown Leghorn hen, about 2 yrs old, average chicken weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Gimpy leg that got progressively worse. She was getting around awkwardly, managing to eat and drink and get to the nest box to lay eggs, but there was noticable weakness these past two or three days and this morning she didn't make it out of the coop-- she was just laying on the floor barely breathing. This was the first time she'd exhibited extreme weakness/ill behavior. We culled her.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
6-8 weeks ago was when we first noticed her beginning to limp. It was mild at first and there were even times when thought she was getting better. Although we examined her several times, we couldn't find a break or injury or any indication that she was in pain (besides her not walking on her leg). We didn't splint her leg because we weren't sure it would help her.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
My fear at first was that she'd broken her toe or leg, but there was no sign of trauma- no open sores or cuts or swelling on the foot or leg, and the coop and enclosed run don't have any heights from which she could have fallen and broken anything. Also, the girls (3 hens, including her) are in a very securely enclosed coop, which makes it unlikely that she was/would be attacked by anything. Although there wasn't any inflammation at first, there was a noticeable mass in her thigh that grew larger and larger these past weeks. It was hard to the touch like bone, became the size of golfball.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No idea. Could this be the result of an untreated break? A torn tendon? An infection? Cancer?
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Layer crumble, shredded cabbage, and fresh water daily.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
None, beside keeping her in the enclosed run/coop where she'd be safe from predators and have access to water and food.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
No treatment. Just wanted to know if anyone had ever seen something like this... if it was preventable, etc.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
No pics.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
Pine bedding.
******************
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Brown Leghorn hen, about 2 yrs old, average chicken weight.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Gimpy leg that got progressively worse. She was getting around awkwardly, managing to eat and drink and get to the nest box to lay eggs, but there was noticable weakness these past two or three days and this morning she didn't make it out of the coop-- she was just laying on the floor barely breathing. This was the first time she'd exhibited extreme weakness/ill behavior. We culled her.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
6-8 weeks ago was when we first noticed her beginning to limp. It was mild at first and there were even times when thought she was getting better. Although we examined her several times, we couldn't find a break or injury or any indication that she was in pain (besides her not walking on her leg). We didn't splint her leg because we weren't sure it would help her.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
My fear at first was that she'd broken her toe or leg, but there was no sign of trauma- no open sores or cuts or swelling on the foot or leg, and the coop and enclosed run don't have any heights from which she could have fallen and broken anything. Also, the girls (3 hens, including her) are in a very securely enclosed coop, which makes it unlikely that she was/would be attacked by anything. Although there wasn't any inflammation at first, there was a noticeable mass in her thigh that grew larger and larger these past weeks. It was hard to the touch like bone, became the size of golfball.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No idea. Could this be the result of an untreated break? A torn tendon? An infection? Cancer?
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Layer crumble, shredded cabbage, and fresh water daily.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
None, beside keeping her in the enclosed run/coop where she'd be safe from predators and have access to water and food.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
No treatment. Just wanted to know if anyone had ever seen something like this... if it was preventable, etc.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
No pics.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
Pine bedding.
