Lame Chicken

[LilyD]

Broke a cardinal rule today and Gimpy Girl Mooch moved in the house. I noticed a little before Christmas that she wasn't wanting to put weight on her right foot and was limping pretty badly. Checked it over and didn't see anything that could have caused it. The next day noticed that three of the roosters were ganging up on her to try to breed with her, so the three roosters found a new home.

It's been about a week and a half since the roosters left and she still is not wanting to put weight on her right leg. Did a soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts and some scrambled eggs. Checked her foot over and can't see anything obvious. No bumble foot, the bottom of the foot was very dirty but when I wiped it off after her bath the skin was pink and looked good. She is still eating and drinking some but often seems to lean on her left side to take the pressure off her right leg. Anything else I can do for her?

 

[azygous]

Is Mooch a Speckled Sussex? They have white legs. If you look closely up and down the legs and on the feet, especially between the toes, you may see a very faint green bruising. That will tell you where the injury is.

Remarkably, bruising between the toes can be more painful than a bruise on the leg. I've had a hen with a bruise there not want to put weight on that foot for several weeks. (Two at-large dogs had attacked my flock and she flew into the side of the run in panic.)

Baby aspirin helped relieve her pain so she could get around easier, and it helped reduce inflammation so it healed faster. One whole 81 grain tablet twice a day.

 

[LilyD]

Is Mooch a Speckled Sussex? They have white legs. If you look closely up and down the legs and on the feet, especially between the toes, you may see a very faint green bruising. That will tell you where the injury is.

Remarkably, bruising between the toes can be more painful than a bruise on the leg. I've had a hen with a bruise there not want to put weight on that foot for several weeks. (Two at-large dogs had attacked my flock and she flew into the side of the run in panic.)

Baby aspirin helped relieve her pain so she could get around easier, and it helped reduce inflammation so it healed faster. One whole 81 grain tablet twice a day.

No she's a Chocolate Mottled Orpington. They also have white legs. I looked up and down both her legs. I can see some redness on her knees because she's been using them to take the weight off her foot. The rest of the leg looks fine physically. I am inclined to think that is is bruised muscle or tendons in the foot due to the roosters going after her. She's just barely old enough to start laying and they started ganging up on just her out of my hens. Roosters are gone now but we still need to get her feeling better. I did an epsom water bath tonight which is recommended for us when we have sore muscles to help them feel better and just let her soak in the bucket. (She loved it the crazy bird) and I gave her a little baby aspirin mixed into a scrambled eggs which she is eating. Hoping that will help her start feeling better. Will soak again three times tomorrow (can't hurt right) and keep giving her tidbits of food to make sure she eats something. Not sure what else I can do.

 

[azygous]

I think your treatment plan is splendid. I would place myself in your care if I ever hurt my leg.

 

[glassdragonfly]

x2! Rest and spoiling,just what the doctor ordered!

 

[LilyD]

x2! Rest and spoiling,just what the doctor ordered!

She is definitely taking advantage of the attention. She has had blueberries, scrambled egg and has eaten a bit of her pellets so far tonight. She is moving around some but is definitely still very sore. When she lays still she' tips to the left to take the pressure off her sore leg.

 

[glassdragonfly]

I have a pullet that broke her right leg and she did the same thing when she rested. Took awhile but she is up and about doing great(spoiled) now.

 

[LilyD]

Still hanging out and not moving much. She lays down. I try to get her up a few times a day but she doesn't want to put any weight on it at all. She was hiding her head this morning under her wing and has been doing a lot of sleeping. My husband is starting to talk about making her a harness to get her up on her feet for part of the day so that she isn't always laying down.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you tried giving her some vitamin B complex for the riboflavin, in case she is experienceping a vitamin deficiency? Some chick vitamins also contain riboflavin, but nit Poultry NutriDrench, so just check the label. You also might want to check out some of these homemade chicken slings and chairs in this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

You could also try putting a long scarf under her belly and walking her some. Does she move her legs or is one very weak?

 

[azygous]

Here are some ideas for chicken hammocks. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-sling-pic.713499/