Help! Possible broken leg?

[GrantKazSpaz]

My chickens seem to be getting hurt left and right. I posted a thread a few days ago talking about my chicken hurting her comb. And today, all of the sudden, another one of my girls has an awful limp to the point she can barely walk. I checked the bottom of her foot and she has no cuts. Could this be a break? What could’ve caused it? What should I do? Should I just leave it? Should I separate her? I’ll post two videos of her below walking. Please help!
https://youtu.be/RCDoJ_0Y8X8

It doesn’t look too bad in these videos, but I think she was trying to be tough around the rooster. She was literally hopping.

 

[coach723]

She seems to be getting around OK. Probably a sprain or strain. They can sometimes just 'tweak' something by landing awkward, or catching it on something. Also, roosters can 'help' them tweak it when mounting them (I see your roo after her in the video). I would be inclined to either just keep an eye on her, or to put her in a wire crate with food and water for a day or two in the run with the rest of the chickens to minimize her activity and let her rest. A bit of time and rest may be all she needs. If it gets worse, look for swelling, redness, then reassess.

 

[GrantKazSpaz]

I just saw this thing in her right leg.

Could this be swelling, or could it be a bone sticking out. This is in her right leg and she seems to be keeping pressure on her left leg. But when she is standing still, she lifts her left leg up and stands on her right. The lump also feels hard, and a little warm. If the leg were broken, would she be able to walk? I am so confused!

 

[coach723]

Very hard to tell in a picture. She was definitely favoring her left leg in the video. I still think give her a bit of time, rest and observation, and see what happens, and if things improve.

 

[GrantKazSpaz]

I’ll try to get a better picture later. I’m the only one home and it’s hard to hold her and take a pic at the same time. Check in on here again tonight.

 

[GrantKazSpaz]

Here are some better pictures:

The lump doesn’t feel like bone, it’s hard but if you put enough pressure on it it’ll go down. It is also warm in that spot.

 

[coach723]

I really don't know. Could be a cyst or an abscess, or maybe nothing to worry about.
I tend to not intervene if it's not bothering them or causing an issue, to see if it resolves on it's own. If it gets bigger, is bothering her, causing pain etc. then maybe something. Do you have a vet that can look at her? I don't think it's broken, just based on the picture and your video, but if it gets worse rather than better it could be hairline fracture, those can sometimes get worse over a few days. When a fracture heals there is a callus that forms around it which can cause a lump, if that's what is going on an x-ray would confirm. Here's more info on that: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/bone-healing

 

[GrantKazSpaz]

Ok. Would a cyst have appeared all of the sudden, or would it have gradually appeared? My girl was just fine and the next thing I knew she was limping.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

It looks like a welt to me.....maybe she bumped her leg pretty hard on something. I would definitely keep an eye on it and keep us posted with her progress. Bear hugs to you and your sweet hen!

 

[GrantKazSpaz]

She seems to be doing a lot better today. She isn’t limping a s bad when she walks, and she is starting to run around. The welt is still present however. But we got our first egg today, so some good news!