Help!!!!! There’s something wrong with my hen!!!

[Farmgirl283420]

So two days ago my marigold was fine in the morning but then at night she was limping. Yesterday she was still limping but seemed a little better. Then today she ran around a lot outside when I let them out and when I put them back she was limping more then ever. She means so much to me and I’m sooooooo worried!!! We do have two cockerels but they are small around three and four pounds. She is molting and I haven’t seen them mating with her. She’s a jersey giant and the roosts are low could she have hurt it that way? When she’s not limping she holds her leg up it’s her left. Please help!!!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Here is a picture of the roosts excuse the coop it’s kinda dirty. @Mrs. K @azygous @fluffycrow @Eggcessive please help!

 

[fluffycrow]

Have you checked for sores on her feet? Maybe some kind of wound or scratch?

 

[azygous]

A very heavy hen will eventually incur foot and leg damage unless a very low perch is provided for them. Some damage to legs can be lethal as I found out the hard way when a cherished rooster injured his leg jumping off a high perch. Heavy breeds should have a perch no higher than one foot, and I have a couple even lower than that. You may need to train your hen to use it.

Does she have light colored legs? You may see light green bruising if she has a leg injury. Look for bumblefoot bruising on the pads of the feet. These can get infected, so treat right away if you see signs of bruising.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Thank you everyone I will check! She is molting so I don’t think she’s laying. How can I train her to stay on her own roost? She’s acting fine other than her leg.

 

[azygous]

It's difficult to get any chicken to change a habit. Repetition placing her on the new low perch and blocking her favorite perch if you can figure out how would be a couple ways to do this.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

It's difficult to get any chicken to change a habit. Repetition placing her on the new low perch and blocking her favorite perch if you can figure out how would be a couple ways to do this.

Might be difficult but I’ll try

 

[Farmgirl283420]

So not sure why but she went on the lower roost on her own which I have never seen her do before!

 

[azygous]

It's much easier is why. Keep encouraging it, and she should be roosting there regularly in just a few nights.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

It's much easier is why. Keep encouraging it, and she should be roosting there regularly in just a few nights.

That makes sense! She was hardly limping today! Thanks everyone for your help!