Chicken limping/walking with toes curled... UPDATE: It's gotten worse!

[saritastar]

I got 3 new chickens 2 weeks ago (cochins) and one of them was walking kinda funny when I got them. I was torn about even bringing her home because I didn't want a sick chicken but where I got them from was pretty gross. I would have taken them all if I could have. Plus the lady gave me the limpy one for free. And my kids begged.

Anyway, I just kept an eye on her at first and she seemed to stop limping pretty quickly. When I went out to check on them today, I noticed she was limping pretty badly and looking closer, when she got going faster (as I was trying to catch her) her toes were curled up and she was walking on them like that (only the toes on the leg she is favoring).

I thoroughly checked her feet and legs and I don't see any bumble foot sores, raised scales, or any obvious redness. She can really barely run and she keeps laying down.

The three are quarantined right now and are in a tractor so there isn't anything for them to get hurt on. Anyone have any ideas what it could be or what to do?

UPDATE: I have been giving all of the new chickens an electrolyte/vitamin supplement for a few days now. It's especially for poultry with a high Vit B2 amount. The limpy chicken started walking with both feet curled up the day after my original post. She was wobbly and falling over on her face, etc. Then today, when she came out of her box, she was actually dragging that first lame leg.

It was heart breaking. She still looks good though, shiny feathers, she's eating and drinking (because she just stays sitting by the food and water).

I have no idea what to do. I was really hoping it was just the supplement, so I knew it wasn't something contagious. How long do I wait to see if she gets better? I wasn't expecting worse this morning.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
this is a good website

Look up curly toe paralysis, if you will.

 

[tiki244]

Maybe lack of good food where you got them from. I am wonderring if some polyvisol vitamins would help.

 

[saritastar]

After researching a bit, I do think it's curly toe paralysis and/or vitamin deficiency. (Thank you Chickens Are Sweet-- that really helped!) As long as that can occur in 6 mo old chickens. They did not smell good when i got them. Like gross feed lot/corn ish type smell and I'm sure it's from whatever they were fed. It was interesting that they were actually more interested in grass and dandelion greens than the food I have for them. Which just sent off a light in my head just now. Bet that's totally it.

My plan was to go get some supplements tomorrow and trim her nails. Poor things. I'm sure all three chickens need it.

 

[tiki244]

Awe Good Luck with the new babies.

 

[georgeandmildredgoose]

i can only comment on my experience, and i am fairly new to chickens. on of my hens started limping like you descibed, got worse until she was just hopping around on 1 leg. then the weight loss and muscle wastage started, follwed by sneezing currently waitng lab results to confirm mycoplasma. at least you did the sensible thing and quarantined straight away - i did not

good luck with them, hope its something straight forward to correct

 

[saritastar]

Quote:
I'm so sorry.

How long did all of that take? How long from limping onset to sneezing? The reason I noticed the limping is because I have been working on mixing all of my chickens together the last 2 days. She didn't seem to be limping the day before yesterday (it had gone away since getting her). So they are no longer super-d-duper quarantined. I wanted to do the full 30 days but I only have one coop, weather is going to be getting bad soon and I need the to be together, yk? Ugh.

 

[georgeandmildredgoose]

about 3 weeks in all. she was an ex-battery hen. i got 4 to keep my geese company. as the mummy goose like to well 'mummy' things! the lady i got them off said she had quarantined them already so i just put them all in the run together, although the chickens do have a seperate house to the geese. now they are all sneezing. all on antibiotics

but there are lots of reasons to be lame it seems so hopefully this wont happen to you.

 

[saritastar]

I updated my OP. She is so much worse today. Dragging her leg as she hobbled. Both feet curled up.

What in the world is wrong?? I don't know what to do.

 

[flashover1969]

She could have an infection that is wreaking havoc on her body. She could also have a kidney disease since the nerve that goes to her legs goes through the kidneys.

Are there any other symptoms that you have observed? Poo consistency, color, discharge from eyes, nose, mouth, swelling anywhere, abnormal heat in leg joints, etc etc....

You can try a Tylan soluble powder. Tylan is a broad spectrum antibiotic, which will kill of the infection(if thats what she has).