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

[texsuze]

Thanks for your response. I'm also looking at pain meds as a "pulsed" intervention and not continuous. I might go back to meloxicam at some point but I know my vet will likely want me to bring Fay to the office for that.

Fay also has her ups and downs, which means I have ups and downs....! Appetite very good one day, distracted another day. My survival mantra has been: One. Day. At. A. Time.

Su-su's guardianship likely contributes a massive amount to May's improvement, since May's energy is not wasted on stress. Fay's closest sister (also Black Australorp) is Celeste, who was initially sticking near to Fay, but who's now conflicted about wanting to participate in flock activities/free ranging that mostly leave Fay waiting for her return. Heading back to the barn now for evening responsibilities and to put the girls to bed.

 

[ValerieJ]

You are doing such a great job with May!!! I would say it's a miracle if I didn't watch you work so hard for her. Well, it's a miracle anyway.

Here is a thought about the pain. Is there a cosequin equivalent for chickens? It sure helps my arthritic kitty.

 

[azygous]

May was looking at the others roosting tonight and walked back and forth under the perch with that look of intent to fly up. She sort of flexed her left leg in anticipation, but the right leg wasn't cooperating. This change of attitude regarding thinking about trying to roost is progress even though she isn't able to follow through just yet.

In between doing other chores, I popped into her run and got her up into a standing position so she would have to exercise her legs. I also manipulated her right leg encouraging range of motion. Her right thigh muscle is atrophied.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Your first sentence in your latest post says it all re May's continuing recovery, "May was looking at the others roosting tonight and WALKED BACK AND FORTH UNDER THE PERCH---" !!! I didnt have adequate phone service to comment on your post from last saturday with the picture of May huddling under Su-su, where you said May has a good day followed by a bad. (Paraphase). But wanted to say, dont think of those as bad days, but instead as recovery days. May is in esence undergoing rigorous workouts as she regains use of her legs. In human body builders or even with regular gym workouts, downtime between workouts is when bodies actually build muscle. In fact strenuous workouts cause muscle breakdown, while rest allows the body to build muscle back up stronger than before. Same theory applies to sports teams, field & track runners, etc etc. Meaning May's rest days are equally important as her days of obvious exertion. Also, high protein intake is essential for muscle repair and regeneration, so more mealworms and scrambled eggs for dinner should help!

 

[azygous]

I didn't think of "bad" days really being just "recovery" days! I should have thought of that! Of course this makes good sense! I will take it easy on her on her "recovery" days.

She is getting an egg every other day, and I will be more generous with the meal worms. I'm very grateful for this advice. Thank you.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Also wanted to comment on the pic you posted last thursday. I have gone back and looked at that photo quite a few times. I usually try not to anthropomorphize other animal species, since they are special in their own rights & have their own languages. But the pic of open-beaked Su-su looking intently at May, while May stares down at her food on the table is a photo for the ages. I imagine Su-su saying something like "Now finish your dinner May honey, it will help make your legs nice and strong." You may be aware of the ongoing official byc caption contest. The captions that members keep coming up with are hillarious. I havent had time to look through all the contest photo submissions yet. But feel fairly certain i wont see a pic of two chickens at a table having dinner anywhere else except on this thread!

 

[azygous]

I know the "table" looks funny. But they eat fermented feed and it can't be dispensed from a standard feeder. Bowls on the ground get walked through, tipped over, pooped in, and end up with more sand in them than food. The tables I built all have runners around the edges so the bowls don't get shoved off. The rest of the flock all have them, too.

I must add that, in spite of dining from tables, my chickens have never developed "table" manners!

 

[azygous]

May wanted to try to fly up to the roost this evening. Her high motivation seems to be getting out in front of her capabilities, however. I decided to head off the inevitable crash and burn and lifted her up beside Su-su. Her balance was okay, but when she decided to move closer to Su-su, she lost her grip and fell. Luckily, I had my hands under the perch and caught her.

Maybe she just wanted to remind herself what roosting is like, a goal to shoot for.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I think her goal is she just wants to be a normal chicken again. And all signs are pointing to fact she is getting there!

 

[azygous]

Well, I think May is well on her way to being a normal chicken. She isn't as bewildered by her uncooperative right leg. It's almost like seeing the illness progress in reverse now. She's using her gimpy right leg more purposefully more as a balance aid than something she has no control over. Her endurance is improving also. We did an exercise with meal worms where she had to move to a new spot to get one. Before she would move, then plop down and call it a day.