Five-month old Australorp suddenly lame. Update: Now another pullet going lame!

[azygous]

Thanks so much for the praise and encouragement. I do love to write. I would love to write a book about chickens. I also have all my journals from when I was a park ranger with lots of funny and scary adventures that I would love to write a book about. The only thing stopping me is the shopping of the manuscripts to find a publisher. Just the idea is daunting. The world didn't used to be so unwieldy.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I (and no doubt many others) would love to read about your park ranger adventures too! But one step at a time. You dont need to be oncerned about finding a publisher until u have a book(s) to publish!

 

[Perris]

it seems so obvious to me now that had I not assumed it was an injury and treated her with antibiotics when she first showed symptoms, she would likely be alive and recovering, as well

you mustn't beat yourself up about that. Remember that it was a long process that led to the insight; lots of things look obvious in hindsight, but they were completely opaque at the time, and Jules' struggle contributed in no small part to the discovery. When we are dealing with unknowns, only trial and error teaches us what works and what doesn't.

 

[azygous]

Update on May. Her right leg is now in perfect alignment, no longer swinging out to the side as she walks. She now thrusts the right leg straight out to the front as she walks, kind of a one-sided German "goose-step", a sign the thigh muscles are getting stronger. I'm continuing the B-vitamins and aspirin.

This recovery seems to be taking forever, but as long as she continues to improve, no matter how slowly, I'm happy.

 

[Sally PB]

but as long as she continues to improve, no matter how slowly, I'm happy.

Me too.

 

[texsuze]

Ditto, glad to hear the reports on May's "step by step" progress! And thanks so much for responding to my earlier questions. The fact that May's problems are now in reversal, for lack of a better term, is important to hear, especially to those of us in the same/similar boat.

I'm trying to keep the B-vitamins in Fay's feed + water mash, and have dissolved aspirin in her personal water cup. Yesterday, as I turned to pick up Fay to place her inside the coop (I've assisted her entry/exit from her coop for many weeks now), she stepped onto the ramp and, with wings flapping, walked unaided, one foot in front of the other, all the way up the ramp into her coop! I about fell out, as they say!

 

[Sally PB]

Yay Fay!

Hugs for both of you!

 

[azygous]

Fay is amazing. May is amazing. We're so lucky to have these two. They sure aren't quitters.

I noticed today that May's gait is smoothing out, one foot ahead of the other, and almost gone is the goose-step and lunge forward. The foot is gaining more control and plays a role now in moving her forward. Before, the foot was "baggage" that was expected to catch up.

May is also standing normally now, unlike before when she couldn't last too long on her feet and would have to lower herself to the ground to rest.

This has been rapid progress in the last few days, and I attribute it to hanging the raw carrot to make her remain on her feet and to balance herself as she stretches herself upward to reach the prize. This has encouraged her to remain standing and to stretch her body. The best thing about this rehab is that she can do it alone while I'm attending to other matters.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Where is Su-Su while May is getting p.t. from the carrot? Just curious, cause the "May with the carrot" photo is one of the few pics where Su-su isnt in pic too. Also btw, the pic of May with her right leg propped up on the dinner table, that u posted same day as May with carrot, is really cute.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Fixin to sign off tonight but before i go, realized i didnt ask my previous question the way i meant to. What i was really wondering, is since u've stated that May is rapidly improving, is she still as clingy to Su-su, & is Su-su still as protective of May?