Chicken started limping a week ago & now can't walk

[deedra11]

Hello, I have a barred rock hen that is about 4 years old and I noticed that she was limping a week ago. Then a few days later she was walking again, but still laying down a lot in the yard. Now today she can't even walk. I looked at her feet & didn't notice anything, but I have been noticing a lot of feathers in the coop. Does anyone know what could be going on with her?

 

[Eggcessive]

Three things it could be are bumblefoot, a sprain from jumping off a roost, or broken leg. A fourth possibility could be Mareks disease, but probably not. Look at the bottom of the footpad for swelling and a dark spot. This would need bumblefoot surgery. A sprain or broken leg would need to be treated with rest in a cage. Give some vitamins in food or water every day. The leg may need splinting if it is broken. After a week or so try her out of the cage, and put her back if not better.

 

[Judy]

Here is an alternate to surgery for bumblefoot: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/554991/antibiotics-for-bumblefoot/0_20#post_7139022 Note that I've never had a chicken with bumblefoot so have never treated it.

The feathers might well indicate someone is molting, or they are molting. They use a lot of protein when growing new feathers, and molting is generally rough on them anyway, being uncomfortable and a bit of a nutritional challenge. If a chicken also happens to have lice/mites or a worm infestation, this could be serious, or worse, since all these parasites rob them of nutrients.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818674/are-these-some-kind-of-egg-clusters/0_20#post_11897957

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-loosing-feathers-managing-your-flocks-molt

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ll-seeing-live-worms-in-poo/0_20#post_9315842