Hen with a limp

[henningfeld]

I went to feed my girls today and I noticed one of my hens have a significant limp. How can I tell if she broke her leg? She let me pick her up and move her leg around without acting like she is in a lot of pain. When I checked on her tonight, she is sleeping in a nesting box which is unusual for her, she's normally perched on a branch in the coop. Any idea what I should do?

 

[seminolewind]

I guess for now I would just watch her. It could be that she injured or hurt her leg. If it gets worse, then we'll think about what else we can do.

 

[henningfeld]

How can I tell if she is in a lot a pain to where I need to put her down?

 

[seminolewind]

To know if she's in pain, well, it's something you just feel by watching her. I would say loss of appetite, sleeping alot. You can give her a baby aspirin or a 1/4 of a regular aspirin. Not Tylenol. See if she responds to that.

 

[vwgurl2]

I too just had a hen (6 months old) start with a bad limp on her right leg, no swelling or anything. Now she cannot stand on either leg and just lays there. I pick her up and feed her by holding her at the feeder, and she has a good appetite. Her feet are bunched up, and when i sit her down, she falls over and her legs stick out.

I read about Marek's disease and am not sold that its what she has. The first day I noticed the limping, I did see a little blood on her leg, but could not find any obvious injury. I hope its not Marek's since she is with our other 14 birds, and at this point it is too late to separate her.

 

[seminolewind]

I too just had a hen (6 months old) start with a bad limp on her right leg, no swelling or anything. Now she cannot stand on either leg and just lays there. I pick her up and feed her by holding her at the feeder, and she has a good appetite. Her feet are bunched up, and when i sit her down, she falls over and her legs stick out.

I read about Marek's disease and am not sold that its what she has. The first day I noticed the limping, I did see a little blood on her leg, but could not find any obvious injury. I hope its not Marek's since she is with our other 14 birds, and at this point it is too late to separate her.

I hope it's not Marek's either. I knew for sure when the 2nd one got the paralysis.