Help, hen has gone from limping to waddling.

[Critter Crue]

She is a 8 1/2 month old SLW who started limping a few days ago. She limps about, fibds a spot to peck at & lays down to peck instead of scratching. She is still laying, eating and drinking. Checked her all over, no apparent injury or any other symptoms. Thought maybe the coop roost that is 2x2 with rounded edges was to narrow to support her weight as she is our biggest bird. Promptly added a 2x4 roost with wide side flat. So change. In fact she's getting worse. This morning she is waddling more than limping and her fluffy bottom is nearly dragging the ground! She went away from other birds and laid down. Poor thing tried scratching her head and couldn't support her weight on one leg.

We are brand new to keeping chickens, like July this year new, and would hate to lose such a lovely bird so early on. Any suggestions??

 

[Eggcessive]

Pick her up and examine the bottoms of her feet for swelling and a black sot in the middle of the pad. That would be bumblefoot, a staph infection. If it's not that she may have injured or strained her leg, and may need time to heal. She might benefit from being penned up for a week. I would make sure your roosts are not too high, since that can cause problems. I would also put her on PolyVisol baby vitamins 2 drops daily by mouth or on her food. Vitamin deficiencies are notorious for causing leg and foot problems.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a thread on bumblefoot with pictures: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/236649/bumblefoot-surgery-with-pics-and-how-to

 

[Critter Crue]

Pick her up and examine the bottoms of her feet for swelling and a black sot in the middle of the pad.  That would be bumblefoot, a staph infection.  If it's not that she may have injured or strained her leg, and may need time to heal. She might benefit from being penned up for a week.  I would make sure your roosts are not too high, since that can cause problems.  I would also put her on PolyVisol baby vitamins 2 drops daily by mouth or on her food.  Vitamin deficiencies are notorious for causing leg and foot problems. 

Thank you so much. We have checked her over and she has no signs of bumblefoot. Will double check the height of the roosts shortly, have been keeping her penned & will purchase the vitamins today. I had read about a B vitamin deficiency and am making the necessary adjustments to feeding & treats to hopefully learn from & prevent this from occurring again.

 

[Eggcessive]

My speckled sussex hopped on one foot for a month with a leg injury, but got around well enough to eat, drink, and roost. Now she is fine. They are pretty resilient. Good luck.

 

[schnebbles]

I have a bantam cochin who is having major trouble with her left leg. Almost sounds kind of similar. I thought it might be Mareks but I don't think so. Can you tell if one leg is acting weak?

I took my girl to the vet and he wasn't sure either, he put her on steroids, she got really bad yesterday morning not even being able to balance to take a drink/eat, her head would just kind of fall.

She improved back to just the leg issue but still isn't walking. I've got her in the house, either in a dog carrier with towels (vs litter) so she doesn't slip, or she is on the couch with me. It's very frustrating to have no clue what is going on.

 

[Critter Crue]

R

I have a bantam cochin who is having major trouble with her left leg.  Almost sounds kind of similar.  I thought it might be Mareks but I don't think so.  Can you tell if one leg is acting weak?  

I took my girl to the vet and he wasn't sure either, he put her on steroids, she got really bad yesterday morning not even being able to balance to take a drink/eat, her head would just kind of fall.

She improved back to just the leg issue but still isn't walking.  I've got her in the house, either in a dog carrier with towels (vs litter) so she doesn't slip, or she is on the couch with me.  It's very frustrating to have no clue what is going on.  

I read over Mareks and my girl had none of those symptoms. She simply seems to be favoring one leg. She is still actively eating and laying. Just getting around well. Right now I am leaning toward the B vitamin deficiency and have adjusted my feeding and treat giving. I think she was filling up on kitchen scrapes in the morning before hitting the feeders she is lower in the pecking order. So I have since decreased kitchen scraps, am back to serving porridge made from the powdered leftovers at bottom of feeder daily as I feel there are some vitamins & nutrients that they may be skimming over when selecting the bigger bits to eat. They love the possidge and it insures they are getting all the benefits of the layer mash. We will also be giving her the baby vitamins until she shows improvement. Here's hoping anyway

 

[schnebbles]

I'm giving Penny extra vit b as well. I make that stuff too, every morning they get a big bowl of wet crumbles. They love it!

 

[Critter Crue]

I'm giving Penny extra vit b as well. I make that stuff too, every morning they get a big bowl of wet crumbles. They love it!

I hope she continues to improve. Please keep me posted.

 

[schnebbles]

Hi - she is actually starting to try walking. I can tell the left leg is still giving her trouble, but she is up and going really slow. YAY!!!

How is your girl?