Chicken panting and limping started this morning

[TinyCluckingKnight]

I found her on the ground outside this morning acting very unlike herself. She was fine yesterday, laid an egg the day before.

I'm at a loss, no visible signs of injury, doesn't seem to have any abnormal swelling in her abdomen. she won't put weight in her left foot, the panting seems to be pain related? It's only 70F inside my house (and 55 outside).

I have her about 5ml of electrolyte water by syringe. She is eating food when it's put in front of her.

She is a year old.

 

[TinyCluckingKnight]

Not much has changed, she drank water eventually. She started to get anxious and was panting really heavily so I gave her a cool Epsom salt bath. She is pooping like normal.

She knocked over her water (I don't even know how) so I put her outside for a bit in the run. She limped into the coop to lay an egg but didn't. I found her 15 minutes later laying in front of the oyster shell dispenser going to town on it. Brought her back inside with some nesting materials.

I do feel some swelling below her vent, but I think it's an egg. It's not as hard as I expected an egg would be, though, but her skin is normal chicken skin color (not red).

Keeping her inside tonight since I am worried she will exacerbate her injury more hopping into and out of the coop and up the roosts.

 

[townchicks]

She might be eggbound, that can put pressure on the nerves which could be causing the problem with her leg. Can you give her a calcium citrate with vit D, or a tums? Just open her beak and pop it in.

 

[TinyCluckingKnight]

Hmm, yah I can give her a tums, I'll give it a try.

 

[TinyCluckingKnight]

Nope, she paid me a fairy egg last night with a soft shell. She is still panting and acting like her leg is very hurt. I felt her abdomen again and it feels the same. However I do feel something a little pokey under her skin between her thigh and abdomen, near her ribs. No pain response from her when pressed.

Her poo changed from normal dark and white to a dull greenish color.

She is pretty clearly in pain, but not lethargic and wants to move but just collapses when she does.

Her favorite thing right now is just sitting on my lap.

 

[townchicks]

Nope, she paid me a fairy egg last night with a soft shell. She is still panting and acting like her leg is very hurt. I felt her abdomen again and it feels the same. However I do feel something a little pokey under her skin between her thigh and abdomen, near her ribs. No pain response from her when pressed.

Her poo changed from normal dark and white to a dull greenish color.

She is pretty clearly in pain, but not lethargic and wants to move but just collapses when she does.

Her favorite thing right now is just sitting on my lap.

Ok, I recommend keeping up with the calcium, clearly there is an issue with her reproductive tract as evidenced by soft shell/fairy egg. That may or may not have to do with her pain/limp, but should be addressed anyway. Have you looked her over good for wounds, swelling, bumblefoot?

 

[TinyCluckingKnight]

Ok, I recommend keeping up with the calcium, clearly there is an issue with her reproductive tract as evidenced by soft shell/fairy egg. That may or may not have to do with her pain/limp, but should be addressed anyway. Have you looked her over good for wounds, swelling, bumblefoot?

Really? She has never been a daily layer, none of my birds have been, but she has been my most consistent. I think the fairy egg was due to the tums I gave her than anything. Her last egg was normal size and a pleasant light brown with no blemishes. I don't think her reproductive system is the issue here.

No cuts, bruises, or anything else. Her foot and leg is mostly unremarkable. I think what ever damage she did was located internally, probably a bad landing coming down from the roosting bars leading to a twisted muscle or tendon or a fracture in her thigh or hip area.

Just going to keep babying her and giving her a small dosage of kids ibuprofen and reassess tomorrow.