Hen not using one leg, no other symptoms

[MentoringMom]

My production red has not been using her left leg for about 3 days. I have inspected it, and can't find any visible injuries or differences between her good leg and her bad one. Her feces appears normal, and I don't see any other abnormal symptoms on her. She is about 1 1/2 years old and is molting, so has not been laying lately. I currently have her in a crate by herself. She has been eating and drinking, although she mostly eats sunflower seeds and fruit scraps rather than the layer ration. I thought maybe she had injured her leg or foot somehow, but she has not shown any improvement.

I currently have 12 free range hens, five 2 month old pullets, and no roosters. The pullets are in their own coop and run. I also have a labrador, but she is very good with the chickens and has never hurt them. I am at a loss as to what I should do to help the injured chicken, so any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[Erica]

Hi MentoringMom,

Is she putting any weight on the leg at all? When resting, does she hold it up beneath her body, or does it dangle or stick out to the side?
If you pick her up and test the leg by pushing it toward her body or pulling it outstretched, does she resist at all?
Lastly is her footpad swollen, hot or red on one side?

If it happened suddenly I'd be inclined to think injury. Sorry I can't help further, but perhaps if you ansewr the questions above it may jog someone else.

best of luck,
Erica

 

[MentoringMom]

She doesn't seem to be putting any weight on that leg. It sticks out to the side just a bit when she's resting, and she leans a bit to the side of her good leg.

She does not resist at all when I move her leg around. I tried it both holding her and when she was standing up on her good leg. I don't see or feel anything out of the ordinary on her foot.

If it is an injury, how do I treat it? I'm not even sure if it's the foot or the leg that is the problem.