Is she sick? 🤒

[FloridaFlock]

I have a 19 wk old, 3.125 lb, unvaccinated Easter Egger who has had a limp for a week. I’ve inspected the feet, leg, body and found no wound/abscess. When I lightly press on the hip joint she produces a small cluck, I take this to mean this is the sensitive area. I assumed one of my boys was holding her and she jumped from their arms and sprained her leg. I’ve given 1/4 of a baby aspirin and epsom salt baths early on when it was just the limp and it didn’t seem to do anything. She continues to eat and drink. She’s pooping what appears to be normally. She’s friendly and approaches me. This morning when sitting with the flock she bent forward to peck my leg to get my attention and some liquid came out of her mouth. She then proceeded to jump on my chair and sit next to me for a while and allowed me to pet and then hold her. I’m not sure if she drooled b/c she bent forward or what. She’s not acting sick (meaning lethargic, abnormally eating/pooping, etc) but the limp coupled with the drool is concerning. Her crop is not full (this is morning just after opening the coop). We do live in Florida where it’s hot even at 8am. I read drooling is never normal so now I’m even more concerned. She’s not laying yet. None of my girls are. No one else seems sick. The flock is behaving normally. She’s moving about the yard with the flock, taking dust baths with them, again eating, drinking, pooping like everyone else. If she had not drooled today I wouldn’t be concerned and continued to assume the limp is a sprain that will take time to heal. I’m not a vet but I am a nurse so watching for slight behavior changes is very normal for me and while I’m a new chicken mom I feel like I can do a through assessment so if I’m missing something please please let me know and I’ll provide the needed information to possibly diagnose. In the last pic of her u can see she has her hurt leg tucked up. Also included are poop pics b/c in nursing, poop pictures say a lot about someone’s health so I assume it also does in chickens. They appear normal to me but again I’m new at this so I’m still learning.

 

[sourland]

Sounds like a bruise or strain and will take a while to resolve. If possible you should try to limit her jumping up or down. The drooling is most likely a factor of having just had her morning drink prior to visiting with you. Pictures that you post are of an apparently healthy bird.

 

[FloridaFlock]

Thank u! I help her down from the coop each morning to prevent further injury but will also start placing her in at night to prevent undue stress on the leg from going up the stairs. Thank u for your help and time.

 

[JDChickChat]

I have a 19 wk old, 3.125 lb, unvaccinated Easter Egger who has had a limp for a week. I’ve inspected the feet, leg, body and found no wound/abscess. When I lightly press on the hip joint she produces a small cluck, I take this to mean this is the sensitive area. I assumed one of my boys was holding her and she jumped from their arms and sprained her leg. I’ve given 1/4 of a baby aspirin and epsom salt baths early on when it was just the limp and it didn’t seem to do anything. She continues to eat and drink. She’s pooping what appears to be normally. She’s friendly and approaches me. This morning when sitting with the flock she bent forward to peck my leg to get my attention and some liquid came out of her mouth. She then proceeded to jump on my chair and sit next to me for a while and allowed me to pet and then hold her. I’m not sure if she drooled b/c she bent forward or what. She’s not acting sick (meaning lethargic, abnormally eating/pooping, etc) but the limp coupled with the drool is concerning. Her crop is not full (this is morning just after opening the coop). We do live in Florida where it’s hot even at 8am. I read drooling is never normal so now I’m even more concerned. She’s not laying yet. None of my girls are. No one else seems sick. The flock is behaving normally. She’s moving about the yard with the flock, taking dust baths with them, again eating, drinking, pooping like everyone else. If she had not drooled today I wouldn’t be concerned and continued to assume the limp is a sprain that will take time to heal. I’m not a vet but I am a nurse so watching for slight behavior changes is very normal for me and while I’m a new chicken mom I feel like I can do a through assessment so if I’m missing something please please let me know and I’ll provide the needed information to possibly diagnose. In the last pic of her u can see she has her hurt leg tucked up. Also included are poop pics b/c in nursing, poop pictures say a lot about someone’s health so I assume it also does in chickens. They appear normal to me but again I’m new at this so I’m still learning.

I can't offer any advice but, I just wanted to comment that she's a gorgeous bird!!! I have a white EE and shes the sweetest, absolutely loves chin scratches, head runs and snuggles.