Injured leg

[danigirl66]

I have a hen that has turned lame. Her foot isn’t injured but the last time I checked for bumble foot, I noticed that she has a withered claw and when I touch the foot, she doesn’t try to curl it like the other foot. What can cause the claw to wither and make her limp?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Sounds like Marek's Disease. I had a hen have the same thing when she caught Marek's Disease. Is your flock vaccinated against that?

 

[danigirl66]

Sounds like Marek's Disease. I had a hen have the same thing when she caught Marek's Disease. Is your flock vaccinated against that?

 

[danigirl66]

I’m not sure if they are. I purchased them as adults from a local farmer in July. She was healthy until she started moulting, and she was the last one to moult. I don’t have a bird vet around me so how do I vaccinate the flock and how contagious is the disease?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I’m not sure if they are. I purchased them as adults from a local farmer in July. She was healthy until she started moulting, and she was the last one to moult. I don’t have a bird vet around me so how do I vaccinate the flock and how contagious is the disease?

Have you introduced any new chickens since you've had them? I've never vaccinated my birds myself, but got chicks who were from vaccinated flocks and could of been vaccinated at the Hatchery. The disease is very contagious and your whole flock could have it. I'd watch for symptoms (things like what this chicken has, weight loss, pale combs, loss of weight, diarrhea, and/or puffing up with lack of activity, etc. Every bird can be different.), in your other chickens too. (Not all chickens show symptoms, but if they've been exposed, they'll be carriers.)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a hen that has turned lame. Her foot isn’t injured but the last time I checked for bumble foot, I noticed that she has a withered claw and when I touch the foot, she doesn’t try to curl it like the other foot. What can cause the claw to wither and make her limp?

Welcome To BYC

Can you please post photos of your hen, her poop, how she stands and her foot (bottom of foot too).
Thank You!

What do you feed, including treats?

Work on hydration and keep her eating. Vitamin therapy of giving 1/4 tablet B-Complex may be helpful.

 

[danigirl66]

Have you introduced any new chickens since you've had them? I've never vaccinated my birds myself, but got chicks who were from vaccinated flocks and could of been vaccinated at the Hatchery. The disease is very contagious and your whole flock could have it. I'd watch for symptoms (things like what this chicken has, weight loss, pale combs, loss of weight, diarrhea, and/or puffing up with lack of activity, etc. Every bird can be different.), in your other chickens too. (Not all chickens show symptoms, but if they've been exposed, they'll be carriers.)

They all came from the same place and they don’t free range but I did have one bird die last month for no visible reason. She just stopped eating. That bird was only 8 months old. The other four birds are perfectly fine right now. They aren’t exposed to anything except me.