HELP!! My chicken is limping around!!

[Colton]

She is a red star about 2-3 months old and two days ago she just started to limp around. She is putting a little weight on it. (Its her right leg) I put her in a box with her best bud, a barred rock the same age. She is drinking and eating. I'm not sure if her leg is sprained or what happened. Please help!

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Look at the bottom of the foot and check for heat, swelling, and a black scab. Those would be signs of bumblefoot. It is probably a sprain, which can happen commonly from jumping off the roost and landing awkwardly. It will need rest, so it is good that you are confining her. Instead of putting the barred rock in with her, you could put her near the other chickens so she will not be stressed by the isolation.
Good luck!

 

[Colton]

Thanks BuffOrpington88,

I'm going to check on her right now.

 

[hankbenoit]

We had a Rhode Island Red with the same problem. We nutured her for several days until we found out she had a disease.
Monitor her if her other leg starts going she is getting paralyzed and best to put her down so the other hens are not
contaminated. I don't want to scare you, it might just be a sprain. Our hen had Marek or coccidiosis. You can google
for more information.

Hank @ [email protected]

 

[Colton]

It isn't swollen but she does have a black spot on the bottom of her foot. The thing is she has it on her other foot too.

 

[Colton]

what should i do

 

[Colton]

OK day 3-

I changed her bedding and gave her some oyster shells for some calcium in case she isn't getting enough. She is still limping, but her foot is hardly swollen. I tried putting the barred rock out with the other chickens but Sasquatch kept trying to fly out and was crying for her friend. The Barred rock flew ontop of the screen and sat there for half an hour and wouldn't get off, so i put her back in with Sasquatch. Is that all right? My friend is coming over this evening to check on her. Hoping shes all right

 

[Colton]

Great news!!

I checked on Sasquatch this evening and she still had the black spots on her foot. I felt them and picked at them a little. One started to come off! I peeled on off and then the other. I'm so happy!! She is getting better i think!

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Awesome! It could have just been a cut that hurt a little.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

We had a Rhode Island Red with the same problem. We nutured her for several days until we found out she had a disease.
Monitor her if her other leg starts going she is getting paralyzed and best to put her down so the other hens are not
contaminated. I don't want to scare you, it might just be a sprain. Our hen had Marek or coccidiosis. You can google
for more information.

Hank @ [email protected]

Not necessarily. Some things that cause paralysis are not contagious, such as botulism. Botulism can be resolved if treated early. Coccidiosis effects the digestive tract, it does not cause paralysis. Sorry about your hen.