Chicken with injured leg.

[frostic]

this is a long story. so my chicken cuddly used to beat up on the other 2 chickens eating their feathers, so i gave them a bigger area and let them free range in the day. so she stopped picking on them, but now they started picking on her. well yesterday I went out there and she is limping. there is no blood or open wounds on her but she can't use one of her legs. I checked it very carefully for broken bones and it doesnt feel like there is any broken bones. day 2 now and shes been inside with me. she tried to fly out of the box she is in its 1 foot tall and she was unable to even fly up that high.
she is eating and drinking normal but shes laying all day. i put an ace bandage on the leg i think is hurt anyone got an idea how i can help her without going to a vet? i think she sprained her leg trying to get away from the other chickens. and when she poops it looks normal so i know shes not bleeding. any ideas?

she is 9 months old

edit: I used to be able to pick her up and play with her. now every time i try to pick her up she poops clear liquid with the white cap stuff in it. and she seems scared, shes never been scared of me before.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be Mareks. Often other birds pick up on illness in a flock mate long before the human notices. Chickens will go after a sick or odd acting bird sometimes.

 

[frostic]

Could be Mareks. Often other birds pick up on illness in a flock mate long before the human notices. Chickens will go after a sick or odd acting bird sometimes.

I don't think it is Mareks. She don't have any of the symptoms. when i touch her leg she freaks out. I have seen Mareks before and this is not a concern. her left leg under her feathers is really hot so it has to be an injury. this is not something that slowly came about either. i let them out like i do in the day and she was fine all day till when i went to put them in she was already in the coop hiding in the next box. with Mareks there would be other issues.

 

[Abriana]

Do you put identification bands on your birds? I’m assuming probably not with such a small backyard flock, but if you do, sometimes the band will ride up on the leg and lodge itself high on the leg under the feathers. Often the human can’t see it, but it causes a lot of pain for the chicken.

 

[frostic]

Do you put identification bands on your birds? I’m assuming probably not with such a small backyard flock, but if you do, sometimes the band will ride up on the leg and lodge itself high on the leg under the feathers. Often the human can’t see it, but it causes a lot of pain for the chicken.

I only have 3 chickens. I don't have any bands on them. they always been aggressive to each other since I got them as chicks. the do ring around the chicken. one month they pick on cuddly, then one month on blondy then on dasie. that part is normal to them changing the pecking order. but this time they went too far on cuddly or she maybe got caught in the fence and twisted her leg i dont know. but they always pick on eachother alot. they are rhode island reds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If it's a sprain or strain it should improve with rest and time.

 

[Haydog03]

Ah! I had a duckie with a broken leg. I hope your chicken gets better!

 

[aart]

well yesterday I went out there and she is limping. there is no blood or open wounds on her but she can't use one of her legs.

Lose the ace bandage.

If it's a sprain or strain it should improve with rest and time.

This^^^


If limp is really bothering them by inhibiting their normal activities too much, I will isolate them in a crate to 'force' rest for a day or two. Letting them out late in day, an hour before roost time, to give them a stretch and evaluate their mobility, then decide if they need another day and put them back in crate off roost after dark. Repeat stretch and eval the next day until they are better. Keep crate in coop so bird can remain 'with' the flock.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[frostic]

Is this what i think it is? some type of worms? this is maybe why they are attacking her? this white stuff is transparent. I can't tell it dont seem to move but hope these images help what i discovered in her poop.

 

[frostic]

@aart look at the images i posted. Maybe worms? i cant tell.