Eating issues for Buff Orp with hurt leg

[Downton Eggy]

My Buff Orpington, Teacake, hurt her foot two weeks ago. For awhile she was hobbling on it and eating just fine, but after about a week, she was walking on it less. She was still eating well on Monday the 27th, but we did a vet run for the hobbling. No break or dislocation. Vet thought soft tissue injury on foot, prescribed metacam, and said it might be 2-3 weeks. We ran the metacam it's entire duration, but over the last three-four days, Teacake has been eating very little, refusing even her favorite treats. She is rapidly losing condition. We have her separated from the other hens, so she has primary access to food and water without competition. She also has the ability to interact without duress. We definitely notice now that whatever happened happened with her outboard toe on the right foot. She is reluctant to put weight on it at all.

I am so afraid we will lose her to the related appetite issues. Any advice?

 

[Eggcessive]

Can she see the chickens? Sometimes they will eat better when near the others, say in a crate next to the flock. I have never used tube feeding to help a sick chicken, but it could help her to get through her sick spell. There is a good thread called "Go team tube feeding" that you can Google or search for here. Do you think that she could be showing signs of Mareks disease with her leg weakness? Hopefully, she will get better and regain her appetite.

 

[Downton Eggy]

Yes, she is in with the others, just screened off from their ability to bully her due to injury. This isn't Marek's, for sure (I have lost two to Marek's in the past, and the presentation is well-known to me). Also not Bumblefoot.

I'll look up the feeding tube posts. Thank you for responding!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We definitely notice now that whatever happened happened with her outboard toe on the right foot. She is reluctant to put weight on it at all.

Is the toe visibly swollen? Photos?

 

[Downton Eggy]

The toe is not visibly swollen. In fact, nothing about it looks at all abnormal about the entire foot. She is still hobbling now, at almost 3 weeks.

We think we know why she stopped eating, though. She was on the anti-inflammatory Metacam for 5 days, at the vet's chicken dosage, but on the 5th day she stopped eating and has only nibbled green stuff and bread crumbs and water since then. We now believe the metacam ulcerated her GI tract (a known possible side effect). Today I thought we were going to lose her, but tonight I got her to take egg yolk by syringe and water with electrolytes, and she looked a lot better afterward. Are there other things we can try with her that might soothe an ulcerated GI tract? A little yogurt? Or...?

By the way, Teacake is the sweet hen in my avatar. I love her very much and hope to save her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Eggcessive @casportpony ?

Getting her hydrated is important. The egg yolk is fine. If you are having to tube or syringe feed her, you can try making a slurry of wet chick starter with a little yogurt mixed in. Some people use Kaytee Baby bird formula to syringe and tube feed.

If she will eat on her own offer the chick starter wet, add a little yogurt. You can also give egg as well. I would make poultry grit (crushed granite) available. Consider direct dose of poultry vitamins like Poultry Nutri-Drench or Rooster Booster Poultry Cell daily.