HELP!!! Chicken started limping and now foot is gnarled and she can't walk we..

[GitaBooks]

That's funny, I've heard its been really warm and dry all over but where we are it is raining all the time and is actually cool!
We had to bail out or chick room because it was flooded and I had to wear a sweater outside! And its summer! Its usually 80-90 degrees at this time of year.

 

[new2green]

Bad news, one more chicken is limping and one duck. So whatever it is is spreading or they all have the same deficiency. I separated them and all animals are getting vitamins.
Any ideas? I'M SCARED!!!

 

[new2green]

False alarm. Duck is better today, must have hurt her foot somewhere.
Chicken is also looking better. Thanks for the tips, I guess vitamins are working.
I appreciate your help!! have a great day.

 

[new2green]

Chicken was better with the vitamins, walking with a limp, but now we have a relapse. She is limping again and going back to not being able to walk anymore...
Don't know what to do, any ideas?

 

[GitaBooks]

If it was a sprain she could have reinjured it.
Make sure she is still getting plenty of vitamins.
Some leg problems caused by disease come and go at times (such as with partial paralysis).

I hope she gets better soon!

 

[Evergreenliving]

I have a pullet(welsummer) that has the same problem that yours has. She was born May4th. She was fine when born then at about 2 weeks old she was limping then could not walk or stand.She could not put wait on her legs and her feet were gnarled We separated her from the others, fed her and gave water by hand. Made a chick chair that she was in for a few weeks. I read online and tried the infant vitamins and they worked after a couple of weeks she was running around. At this point she still looked like a little chick. She was able to feed herself and get water finally.Then she began to grow, got her adult colors and feathers..At this point she is still separated in a separate little pen next to the flock.It was looking like she was going to catch up to her siblings soon in growth.All was fine until a few days ago. She became wobbly and could not cheep like she used to(we call her Cheepers) because she was always so vocal.She makes this little sound like she is trying to cheep and shakes her head.Now she cant stand again. We are back to feeding her by hand.We started her on poly vysol again.We put Diatemauses Earth in her water. She has a great appetite thank goodness.Her feet are looking like they did before. She is on Nutrena feed and her coop is always very clean.The only thing I can think of is she needs more vitamins then the other hens at all times. I thought once her growth took off and she looked her age she would not need the extras, I guess I was wrong. She is such a fighter, everyone said she wont make it and will probably not lay eggs anyway why let her live. I say as long as she is eating well and trying I am not giving up on her. The only thing different this time is she is shaking her head some and the lack of cheeping.She does not have any signs of upper respiratory. She was vaccinated for mercks at the hatchery and when she was younger she was on medicated feed.Your hen sounds like mine so I suggest you continue giving her the baby vitamins and some electrolytes in her water. We put the vitamins in a little dish with a little of her feed moistened with the electrolytes(save a chick is what we used). This way we were sure she got them all. Anyone have any suggestions on cause and care I would love to hear from you all. I wish you the best.

 

[GitaBooks]

I have a pullet(welsummer) that has the same problem that yours has. She was born May4th. She was fine when born then at about 2 weeks old she was limping then could not walk or stand.She could not put wait on her legs and her feet were gnarled We separated her from the others, fed her and gave water by hand. Made a chick chair that she was in for a few weeks. I read online and tried the infant vitamins and they worked after a couple of weeks she was running around. At this point she still looked like a little chick. She was able to feed herself and get water finally.Then she began to grow, got her adult colors and feathers..At this point she is still separated in a separate little pen next to the flock.It was looking like she was going to catch up to her siblings soon in growth.All was fine until a few days ago. She became wobbly and could not cheep like she used to(we call her Cheepers) because she was always so vocal.She makes this little sound like she is trying to cheep and shakes her head.Now she cant stand again. We are back to feeding her by hand.We started her on poly vysol again.We put Diatemauses Earth in her water. She has a great appetite thank goodness.Her feet are looking like they did before. She is on Nutrena feed and her coop is always very clean.The only thing I can think of is she needs more vitamins then the other hens at all times. I thought once her growth took off and she looked her age she would not need the extras, I guess I was wrong. She is such a fighter, everyone said she wont make it and will probably not lay eggs anyway why let her live. I say as long as she is eating well and trying I am not giving up on her. The only thing different this time is she is shaking her head some and the lack of cheeping.She does not have any signs of upper respiratory. She was vaccinated for mercks at the hatchery and when she was younger she was on medicated feed.Your hen sounds like mine so I suggest you continue giving her the baby vitamins and some electrolytes in her water. We put the vitamins in a little dish with a little of her feed moistened with the electrolytes(save a chick is what we used). This way we were sure she got them all. Anyone have any suggestions on cause and care I would love to hear from you all. I wish you the best.

It sounds like you are giving your chick wonderful care.

She is lucky to have such a good owner.

She may have a genetic defect that causes her to suffer with growing issues. Keep her on vitamins, especially those with riboflavin. Offer some scrambled eggs. However, it could still be a virus, or even some sort of bacteria or mold causing the paralysis. Is she on chick food?

I don't know if DE is that helpful for chickens or not. It keeps external parasites away, but I hear it isn't that helpful internally. I'm not sure though, just thought I'd add that.

Best of luck!

 

[Evergreenliving]

Hi, I was just looking at my post and thought I would leave an update on my chick. We kept her on the infant vitamins. She still takes them, I'm afraid she will have a set back without them. After putting her in a chicken chair my husband built for her and exercising her legs she was eventually able to stand and walk again so we stopped the vitamins. As she grown she had a setback and so we started her up on the vitamins again and after a couple of weeks she was fine again. It seemed like at each state of growth she had the problem so we continued to give them to her and now Im happy to say she is a happy healthy girl and even lays eggs regularly. We never thought she would lay eggs. I look at it as her gift to us for not giving up on her. We have her in a pen inside the big pen because she has some crooked toes and can be unsteady sometimes and we are afraid the roosters or other hens will pick on her or hurt her when he tries to mate with her. She has her own box inside the big coop that she roosts in with the flock of 39 birds. I'm thinking of getting a few chicks or English orpington pullets to put in with her to give her her own little flock within a flock. As long as she kept eating we never gave up on her, she has such spirit. I could not believe how happy I was when she laid her first egg. I hope this info will help someone who may have this issue.

 

[GitaBooks]

Wow, I'm so glad she made it. She is so lucky to have you.

If you do decide to give her some friends, make sure they don't bully her. I've heard that chickens with weaker legs or slower reflexes are sometimes injured when introduced to other chickens. Best of luck!