How often do chickens get keel injuries? Or maybe my girl has botulism?

[The_Flock]

Wet her feathers, that will make it easier to photograph the bone, then take pictures.

I'm thinking the wetting of feathers to see the keel isn't going to work right now as it's raining really hard out and it's uncharacteristically cold for August. Normally around 30C today it's 18C. A bit too cold, me thinks??

 

[casportpony]

I'm thinking the wetting of feathers to see the keel isn't going to work right now as it's raining really hard out and it's uncharacteristically cold for August. Normally around 30C today it's 18C. A bit too cold, me thinks??

Bring her inside and blow-dry when done.

 

[The_Flock]

I wonder too if a dislocated hip could move her body out of alignment?? She's been sore for a while now and she's just been in the sling for 2-3 days so far. She has no blisters on or around the skin on her keel. The only discolouration is from her poop being on her skin, which I clean off every 2-3 days, depending on how she feels. She LOVES the warm water. She will sit in it while I hold her for however long. But she spent the first few days, maybe a week laying down. I would put her in the sling but she would fuss so heavily...which also brought me to a keel injury. She's been getting a wee bit of aspirin now so maybe she can deal with the pain?

I know...I'll get some evidence for all you awesome folk. Lol. ❤

 

[The_Flock]

Here's a video of Louise. I checked that right leg and it can move without her fussing at all. There's no major heat in the leg but a bit in the hip. There are no crunching or grinding feeling or sounds in the hip either. Let me know what you think. ☺

 

[casportpony]

Which one of these is she?

 

[The_Flock]

Which one of these is she?
View attachment 1890512

Maybe a 2 in this pic. She would've been a 3 or 4 before the injury. But shes

 

[The_Flock]

Which one of these is she?
View attachment 1890512

Argh...silly phone!
She's not eaten much in days now. I haven't force fed her food and I'm not too comfy with that. But I have water with meds in it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you thought about her possibly having kinky back (also called roach back,) which is a spondylopathy or bone deformity of the spine and breastbone. It can cause compression of the spinal cord and sometimes paralysis of the legs. Spondylopathies can be common in chickens, more so in meat chickens.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/kinky-back
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

Chicken with kinky back or spondylopathy

 

[The_Flock]

Have you thought about her possibly having kinky back (also called roach back,) which is a spondylopathy or bone deformity of the spine and breastbone. It can cause compression of the spinal cord and sometimes paralysis of the legs. Spondylopathies can be common in chickens, more so in meat chickens.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/kinky-back
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

View attachment 1890676
Chicken with kinky back or spondylopathy

This is very possible as she's always pushing herself on her tail and she's got a very "U" shaped neck at the base of her neck after the injury.

 

[The_Flock]

I'm starting to think that it may be a spinal injury. She went from limping to paralysis in almost hours. I found her limping late one afternoon and then by the morning she was really affected on the right side. Then by night the same day she wasn't walking anymore and basically paralyzed with very little symptoms. She had done alot of moving while trying to get comfy in her enclosed quarters and maybe she did further damage to her spine then? She's not eating or drinking. When she does it almost seems painful with all the throwing of her head.
BUT...if I've learned anything with chickens so far, it's that they can go down very fast. I'm hoping I see improvement soon but I'm staying open to that not happening too. ☹❤