Chicken not weight bearing on one foot - I don't think it is bumblefoot

[mckenziesmyers]

I have a one-year-old hen who I noticed limping about a week ago. Not weight bearing when she is standing and when forced to walk - she would walk with her foot upside down, putting pressure on the top of her foot. After a few days, things got worse, so I brought her inside to a large dog crate so she could rest and have easy access to food and water (it is still hitting single digits at night and freezing out, so have her in our laundry room).

She has been inside for 3 days now. I have tried Epsom salt soaks and done several inspections - there are no open wounds or scabs, and she doesn't wince when I touch her bad foot; it is just limp and curled up. She is eating and drinking regularly and seems pretty content in the crate setup. Does anyone have any idea what is going on or what else I can do or check for?

 

[mckenziesmyers]

Here is a photo of how she stands...can see that there are no sores on her foot

 

[coach723]

I'm attaching a splinting manual, explains how to examine for a fracture and how to splint if needed. A shoe type splint may be helpful here. If you splint, make sure it's not too tight, and check often for swelling. I would also give a super B complex tablet or capsule daily as any deficiency in those could contribute. They won't hurt anything if it's not a deficiency, the B's are all excreted in excess. The soaks may be helpful, and won't hurt anything. It could be a sprain or strain also, those can take some time to resolve. Not uncommon if they land wonky jumping down, or get a foot hung up somewhere.

 

[mckenziesmyers]

I'm attaching a splinting manual, explains how to examine for a fracture and how to splint if needed. A shoe type splint may be helpful here. If you splint, make sure it's not too tight, and check often for swelling. I would also give a super B complex tablet or capsule daily as any deficiency in those could contribute. They won't hurt anything if it's not a deficiency, the B's are all excreted in excess. The soaks may be helpful, and won't hurt anything. It could be a sprain or strain also, those can take some time to resolve. Not uncommon if they land wonky jumping down, or get a foot hung up somewhere.

Thank you for all of this info - Do you know if there is there a test I can do to see if she broke it versus sprained it?

 

[coach723]

Without xray, just by manipulation to see if something moves or is out of place. If there were a greenstick fracture, stress fracture, etc. You won't feel that.

 

[KLMorissette]

I'm attaching a splinting manual, explains how to examine for a fracture and how to splint if needed. A shoe type splint may be helpful here. If you splint, make sure it's not too tight, and check often for swelling. I would also give a super B complex tablet or capsule daily as any deficiency in those could contribute. They won't hurt anything if it's not a deficiency, the B's are all excreted in excess. The soaks may be helpful, and won't hurt anything. It could be a sprain or strain also, those can take some time to resolve. Not uncommon if they land wonky jumping down, or get a foot hung up somewhere.

hi Coach723, I’m trying to open the splinting manual as on of my 4 month hens has injured her foot this morning. Giving aspirin for pain now and tried to brace it but would love to know how to examine and make a correct splint.

 

[coach723]

It's a PDF file, so you need to have adobe acrobat or other program for PDF's.
For splinting feet a shoe type splint is most often used. If you search you can find images for some that can be purchased for examples. They can be made from things you have, plastic food container lids can be cut to size and shape, pipe cleaners can work, and vet wrap or co wrap. Position everything correctly and splint, make sure it's not too tight and that nothing will rub or be irritated. Check often for that and for swelling which can happen after, you don't want to cut circulation off. If needed you can use a chicken sling for periods to help take the weight off and let her rest. You need to supervise while in a sling. Examples below.