Chicken walks with a limp

[Limpy Chicken]

My Husband found one of our chickens on the ground one morning. There had been lightning and thunder the night before and we are assuming that she fell off the roost and hurt her leg. She would not eat or do anything for days and we had to force feed her.Then she started walking with a limp and she has not gotten any better. We took her to an alien. Then she started walking with a limp and she has not gotten any better. We took her to an Avian vet and she said that the joint between the leg and the thigh was damaged and as long as she is eating and walking and clucking that she should be fine. It is getting cold and we think she needs to be in with the flock, but they pecker too much. What can we do?

 

[arianna7]

Hey there!

I’m really sorry to hear about your chicken! That sounds rough, especially with the weather and everything. Here are some ideas that might help her get back with the flock without too much hassle.

First off, maybe keep her in a separate area but close to the others for a bit. That way, she can see and hear them without getting pecked. It’ll help her feel less lonely too!

After a few days, try letting her hang out with the flock for short times while you watch. Just keep an eye on how they’re acting around her. If they start pecking too much, you can always separate them again.

It might also help to have some hiding spots in the coop. If she feels like she needs a break, she can duck away from the others. Adding some treats around can be a great distraction too! Scatter some goodies so the other chickens focus on that instead of picking on her.

Make sure to keep an eye on her leg and how she’s doing overall. If she seems to be in pain or isn’t improving, it might be worth checking in with the vet again.

If you can, maybe consider getting her a buddy chicken. Sometimes having another calm chicken around can make her feel more secure during this whole process.

And as it gets colder, make sure she has a cozy spot to rest. A little straw or hay can go a long way in keeping her comfy, and if it gets really chilly, a heat lamp could help too.

I really hope she gets better soon and can join the flock without too much trouble. Good luck, and take care!

Best of luck,
Arianna

 

[Eggcessive]

The vet could also give you some meloxicam which would help with pain and inflammation while she rests her leg. I think that having her in a wire dog crate with food and water near the others would be a good way to see if she gets better.