you really shouldn't post an EMERGENCY please help me post if you don't need immediate help.
Thanks! we do have rather high roosts and they do do a LOT of running. so she may have sprained it. she is slightly better from this morning. also unfortunately I can not afford those tablets and vitamins and stuff, so I will maybe cast it. see how she goes...Greetings @NataliesBackyardChickens,
At this point, I would treat the leg for a sprain, as KikisGirls, suggested it could be.
She may have inured it, jumping off a high place, or even just a twisted if from running.
A dose of poultry vitamins with iron will help if there is injury.
The sprain will heal faster, if you stabilize it.
First apply some Arnica cream to the sprained area, I use "The Rub - Arnica Cream". If you can't get any of this, that's fine. You can also soak the legs in a tub of water with 1 cup of Epsom Salt, for 10 minutes. Dry thoroughly, then, stabilize the leg. Wrap a soft piece of gauze or clean cloth around the joint. Next, wrap some self stick vet wrap, but not too tight. You don't want to restrict blood flow. This will also add some compression to the leg, which will make the bird more comfortable.
It can take from 2 to 3 weeks for a bad sprain to heal, more or less. I've had bad sprains happen to cockerels, older roosters, and even hens.
However, there are several diseases that can cause inflammation and lameness, too. Symptoms are very swollen leg and/or toe joints, sometimes very hot to the touch, cream or yellow deposits under the skin, etc.
Close up pictures of the chicken's legs would be extremely helpful, also pictures of the white spots on the ear lobes.
The white spots sound like some type of yeast/fungus. Wipe the area with an epsom salt or saline solution, then apply an anti-fungal (miconazole nitrate, Nystatin or colloidal silver). There are over the counter products that contain miconazole nitrate. Nystatin usually requires a prescription. I've used them all. But, a few drops of collodial silver, in a small spray bottle of water, then, sprayed on the affected site, 2-3 times a day, worked the best!
These are my thoughts on your chicken's issues. I hope I have been helpful.
God Bless
