D'Uccle 5mo pullet off balance, favoring one leg

[roheryn]

My 5mo D'Uccle pullet is favoring a leg and rocks back on her ankles. We have a free-ranging flock of 8, 6 of which are 5mo (mix D'Uccle cockerel and pullet, Silke (?), Ayam Cemani cockerel and pullet and French Black Copper Maran pullet) along with a Barnvelder and EE hen. I've noticed her not running up the hill with the others as much the last few days, but she's always been a bit of a baby when she gets left behind. Then I thought maybe she got roughed up by the larger Cemani roo (who is just starting to feel his oats and isn't the most gentle of gentlemen) but the off balance thing concerns me.

I saw her this morning alone in the run, and she limped away, so I brought her in. I checked her leg but didn't detect any broken bones (and she didn't indicate pain in any movements) I checked for mites (the Silkie had mites a few weeks ago, we've been treating both the bird and the coop and I haven't seen any for over a week) but didn't see any. Its hard to see her feet since she is so feathered, but one of her legs looks a bit scaly. When I pick her up she doesn't protest, but when I put her down, she puts no weight on her left leg, and sort of backs up and puffs up, puts her wings out for balance. She is drinking water with a little NutriDrench in it so thats good.

They've been eating flock raiser with treats like cracked grains and veggies and calcium on the side for the layers and a few days ago I mixed in Layena with the Flockraiser as some of the girls seem close to laying. All the other birds seem just fine. I have never wormed my flocks (although I do have Coroid and WRM Clear if needed) and I gave her a few drops of Nutri-drench just now for a boost.

I read a few posts and will run out and get some vitamin boosts and fix her some egg yolks to see how that goes, but all my birds are vaccinated (the D'Uccle are from feed store, the Cemani, Silkie and BCM are specialty breeder birds that I specifically had vaccinated) and they were raised on medicated chick starter.

Hopefully she just has a sprained leg and is being really cautious about it, but does anyone have an opinion about what else I should be doing or looking for? I have a video, hopefully it is attached well

 

[Eggcessive]

Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? Hopefully it is not that, maybe an injury or a vitamin b2 riboflavin deficiency. I would use some human b complex 1/4 tablet daily crushed into a spoonful of water or in a little food. At 5 months Mareks could be a problem. Make sure that she can reach her food and water. Here is some good info on Mareks:

http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/vdl-mareks-disease-fact-sheet.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[roheryn]

All my birds were vaccinated so hopefully it’s not that. She is specifically holding her left leg up, so it might be a sprain, hopefully not a break. I have experience with wildlife rehab, so I feel somewhat confident I could spot a broken bone, but it could be an incomplete break if it’s that.

ive done extensive reading on mareks for a friends flock (unfortunately they lost the whole flock 2 years ago) but I’ll reread just to refresh. Appreciate the advice, we’ll see how vitamins work

 

[roheryn]

She's perking up, looking around more and hopping a bit more. Less off balance. She ate about half a cooked egg yolk mixed with VitB complex and is drinking her water with NutriDrench.

I think it may be the leg, but I can't feel a break. She reacts more when I palpate gently near her thigh/hip area, so I think thats the sensitive space. I'll search the forums on this subject as well. Might need to make her a little sling so she can get pressure off that area.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes with an injury, there will be green bruising, redness, or swelling. I really hope it isn’t Mareks. Here is a good link with pictures of slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[roheryn]

Tonight she is very off balance, can barely walk and is splaying her wings. I got her situated and she is sleeping but is puffed up. Hopefully she will make it through the night. I’ll give her yogurt and more b vitamin in the morning if she’s still with me

 

[roheryn]

She’s still here! I gave her a mash of yogurt, vitamins and crumbles and she ate it, and drank some water, but she cannot stand. Definitely looking at illness not injury. I’ll rig up a sling for her so she doesn’t keep falling over, but if she doesn’t move she’s fine. I have her tucked into a towel nest right now. Going to seek advice from our vet school.

 

[Sookie2020]

My 5mo D'Uccle pullet is favoring a leg and rocks back on her ankles. We have a free-ranging flock of 8, 6 of which are 5mo (mix D'Uccle cockerel and pullet, Silke (?), Ayam Cemani cockerel and pullet and French Black Copper Maran pullet) along with a Barnvelder and EE hen. I've noticed her not running up the hill with the others as much the last few days, but she's always been a bit of a baby when she gets left behind. Then I thought maybe she got roughed up by the larger Cemani roo (who is just starting to feel his oats and isn't the most gentle of gentlemen) but the off balance thing concerns me.

I saw her this morning alone in the run, and she limped away, so I brought her in. I checked her leg but didn't detect any broken bones (and she didn't indicate pain in any movements) I checked for mites (the Silkie had mites a few weeks ago, we've been treating both the bird and the coop and I haven't seen any for over a week) but didn't see any. Its hard to see her feet since she is so feathered, but one of her legs looks a bit scaly. When I pick her up she doesn't protest, but when I put her down, she puts no weight on her left leg, and sort of backs up and puffs up, puts her wings out for balance. She is drinking water with a little NutriDrench in it so thats good.

They've been eating flock raiser with treats like cracked grains and veggies and calcium on the side for the layers and a few days ago I mixed in Layena with the Flockraiser as some of the girls seem close to laying. All the other birds seem just fine. I have never wormed my flocks (although I do have Coroid and WRM Clear if needed) and I gave her a few drops of Nutri-drench just now for a boost.

I read a few posts and will run out and get some vitamin boosts and fix her some egg yolks to see how that goes, but all my birds are vaccinated (the D'Uccle are from feed store, the Cemani, Silkie and BCM are specialty breeder birds that I specifically had vaccinated) and they were raised on medicated chick starter.

Hopefully she just has a sprained leg and is being really cautious about it, but does anyone have an opinion about what else I should be doing or looking for? I have a video, hopefully it is attached well

Have you checked for bumble foot?

 

[roheryn]

Have you checked for bumble foot?

Her feet seem normal, no curling or swelling. Of course, it’s hard to see her feet through all the feathers. This is my first foray into feather footed birds.

 

[Sookie2020]

I've had a couple of my Bantams act lame before. I'm new to chickens, but I took them to a vet that has poultry experience. I was told it was mites and was given medicine for them. It helped, and, within a week or so, they were fine. I began putting the ACV in their water and sprinkling food grade diatomaceous earth in their food and around their nesting boxes. So far, no more problems. It may be worth trying.