- May 6, 2009
- 5
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I've got a approx 3 mo old EE who has been in good health until we noticed her/him about 2-3 days ago suddenly having problems walking. Please read my description below and offer any ideas for differential diagnosis...what do you think this might be????
The problem seems to be isolated to one leg and there is no evidence of injury (no cuts, leg & toes seems to be in normal alignment and with normal movement when I manipulate them, no distress in the bird, no swelling, no abnormal heat to touch, no evidence of parasites, etc).
Neurological functioning and rest of the body seems totally fine.
The affected leg is best described as being able to bear weight, but fingers/claws don't appear to extend open with the walking gate such that the toes end up crunched underneath the 'foot' with most steps, causing a limp and instability in the walking.
I've been really trying to sort out exactly what part of the leg/foot is the problem and it's tricky. I don't think a picture would help (b/c it looks pretty normal when at stand-still), but willing to post one if needed. Looks like the leg itself generally extends out properly with the walking effort and that it's more the foot/fingers that seem to be the problem.
This juvenile still gets around and otherwise seems to be in good health (bright-eyed, eating, drinking, etc), but I fear that this abnormal gate makes it a target for predators (our flock is free-range on 10 acres during the day (though I have this one in our aviary now with a few other friendly hens until we sort this out) and I also worry that the foot might become injured if we don't intervene to stop the toes from curling in/dragging underneath.
Does this sound like some sort of bone or tendon injury, or does this sound like a disease process (I really don't think it's Mereks (sp?) because there are no other symptoms consistent with what I've read about it)????
Still need more info? Well, our flock is free-range during the day (exept those who need containment - those go in the attached aviary during the day) and cooped at night. We've got 12 adult (approx 1 yr) hens of 3 breeds, one sweet EE rooster, and our 6 EE juviniles hatched from our flock a few months back. There are perches in the coop at various heights and the juviniles (we hatched 6 EE of which this is one) seem hell-bent on getting the highest up (i.e., up in the rafters), so it seems possible to me that this chicken could have been injured going up or down from the high perches. Floor of the coop is pine pellets in various stages of break-down. Lots of access to fresh water (in and out of the coop) and layer feed pellets available in abundance in the coop and attached aviary. Flock is not vaccinated for anything and our property is maintained organic (no pesticides, etc.).
Thanks in advance for any advice!!! This is our first experience raising chickens and our first problem encountered.
The problem seems to be isolated to one leg and there is no evidence of injury (no cuts, leg & toes seems to be in normal alignment and with normal movement when I manipulate them, no distress in the bird, no swelling, no abnormal heat to touch, no evidence of parasites, etc).
Neurological functioning and rest of the body seems totally fine.
The affected leg is best described as being able to bear weight, but fingers/claws don't appear to extend open with the walking gate such that the toes end up crunched underneath the 'foot' with most steps, causing a limp and instability in the walking.
I've been really trying to sort out exactly what part of the leg/foot is the problem and it's tricky. I don't think a picture would help (b/c it looks pretty normal when at stand-still), but willing to post one if needed. Looks like the leg itself generally extends out properly with the walking effort and that it's more the foot/fingers that seem to be the problem.
This juvenile still gets around and otherwise seems to be in good health (bright-eyed, eating, drinking, etc), but I fear that this abnormal gate makes it a target for predators (our flock is free-range on 10 acres during the day (though I have this one in our aviary now with a few other friendly hens until we sort this out) and I also worry that the foot might become injured if we don't intervene to stop the toes from curling in/dragging underneath.
Does this sound like some sort of bone or tendon injury, or does this sound like a disease process (I really don't think it's Mereks (sp?) because there are no other symptoms consistent with what I've read about it)????
Still need more info? Well, our flock is free-range during the day (exept those who need containment - those go in the attached aviary during the day) and cooped at night. We've got 12 adult (approx 1 yr) hens of 3 breeds, one sweet EE rooster, and our 6 EE juviniles hatched from our flock a few months back. There are perches in the coop at various heights and the juviniles (we hatched 6 EE of which this is one) seem hell-bent on getting the highest up (i.e., up in the rafters), so it seems possible to me that this chicken could have been injured going up or down from the high perches. Floor of the coop is pine pellets in various stages of break-down. Lots of access to fresh water (in and out of the coop) and layer feed pellets available in abundance in the coop and attached aviary. Flock is not vaccinated for anything and our property is maintained organic (no pesticides, etc.).
Thanks in advance for any advice!!! This is our first experience raising chickens and our first problem encountered.
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