Hen sprained leg (?) pls help!

[guest226]

Hi guys, i went out today and my laying hen Waffles looked off. She was in the corner. She looked disoriented, dropping her wing and tail, and not being able to stand properly. I suspected egg bound, but she laid a perfect egg in the morning.

Comb red, clear eyes, no cough or sneeze. Poop seems fine and normal.

I concluded it must be something with her leg. She started walking around and drinking and eating, but she has a noticeable limp and started hobbling to walk. It’s definitely her left foot as she lifts it/favors the other leg.

She’s being picked on and I think it happened when a fight broke out.

Advice on how to help a hen with sprained leg? I don’t wanna isolate her, i feel like she will be more stressed out but if she’s being picked on, it might be the best option.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you pick her up and examine the leg more closely for breaks, swollen joints, etc.?

 

[guest226]

Can you pick her up and examine the leg more closely for breaks, swollen joints, etc.?

Hi, yes I picked her up and I didn't feel anything loose or broken. No visable bruising or obvious swelling. I think the hock was the area she flinched when i touched it. Not obviously hot around the area but warm and feels similar to her other leg.

I have a cage setup I'm probably gonna put her in. My only concern is that I'm going on vacation in about a bit more than a week, and I don't know if shes going to heal. I do not want her to be in permanent pain or have a limp for the rest of her life, but this doesn't seem like a MILD sprain. It seems like a pretty decent one.

Should I cage her all day and let her out sometimes? Any advice on how to promote her healing?

 

[dawg53]

Please read Post #4 in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/limping-chicken.1243650/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, yes I picked her up and I didn't feel anything loose or broken. No visable bruising or obvious swelling. I think the hock was the area she flinched when i touched it. Not obviously hot around the area but warm and feels similar to her other leg.

I have a cage setup I'm probably gonna put her in. My only concern is that I'm going on vacation in about a bit more than a week, and I don't know if shes going to heal. I do not want her to be in permanent pain or have a limp for the rest of her life, but this doesn't seem like a MILD sprain. It seems like a pretty decent one.

Should I cage her all day and let her out sometimes? Any advice on how to promote her healing?

I'd follow the instructions linked below.

Please read Post #4 in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/limping-chicken.1243650/

 

[guest226]

I'd follow the instructions linked below.

Hello. Today I checked and both of her ankles look a bit swollen. I’m not sure if that’s her normal ankles, but comparatively to my other hens they look like they have swollen parts on the outside side of both ankles.

I see a bit of green bruising.

Although she sits and is a bit unbalanced, she walks and runs.

It happened suddenly one day so im assuming she landed badly on both legs (?)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello. Today I checked and both of her ankles look a bit swollen. I’m not sure if that’s her normal ankles, but comparatively to my other hens they look like they have swollen parts on the outside side of both ankles.

I see a bit of green bruising.

Although she sits and is a bit unbalanced, she walks and runs.

It happened suddenly one day so im assuming she landed badly on both legs (?)

I don't see green bruising in the photo, but I do see some swelling of both feet.

I wonder if this is Gout? @MysteryChicken

She does also have some raised scales, I'd apply a bit of Vaseline or Castor Oil to the feet/legs to help smother any developing Scaly Leg Mites and soothe the feet/legs.

 

[guest226]

I don't see green bruising in the photo, but I do see some swelling of both feet.

I wonder if this is Gout? @MysteryChicken

She does also have some raised scales, I'd apply a bit of Vaseline or Castor Oil to the feet/legs to help smother any developing Scaly Leg Mites and soothe the feet/legs.

She doesn’t have a high calcium/high protein diet and she is very active. She also drinks a lot of water all her life.

Her comb is bright red and has been for a long time!

If she has gout, how can i treat it other than a diet change?

I’ll do an epsom salt soak on her legs and feet tomorrow. She has been slowly getting better at walking so I’m taking that as a positive sign.

 

[guest226]

She doesn’t have a high calcium/high protein diet and she is very active. She also drinks a lot of water all her life.

Her comb is bright red and has been for a long time!

If she has gout, how can i treat it other than a diet change?

I’ll do an epsom salt soak on her legs and feet tomorrow. She has been slowly getting better at walking so I’m taking that as a positive sign.

Also, her toes didn’t have bumps and were much smoother a couple months ago. It’s so strange, is this normal for scaly leg mites. Her scales aren’t super lifted i just feel hard bumps and her feet look more lumpy