Lame leg

[ChickenCrazy8]

Hello, I have, what I was told, is a Cochin x Americana cross and few days ago I discovered she can no longer walk properly, she is not able to hold herself up. Her leg collapses making her off balance. She's between 7-8 months old and is no longer laying, though I wonder if that's because of the time of year and reduced daylight.

I took a closer look and her feet visibly seem okay - though she may not be quite opening and closing her toes properly when she's "walking" around but I think that may be because she's so off balance. Looking closer the thing I was able to see is that her left joint seems to be bigger, perhaps swollen, and her whole left leg/foot seems to be potentially swollen/bigger, but it mostly seems to be that her left joint is bigger and more spherical whereas her right joint is smaller and straighter.

I've attached some photos but looking at then now I can see it may be a little hard to tell.

She's on the larger side of things and I wonder if she could have landed funny jumping off the perch. She's now living in the corner of the coop on the ground and she has water and food access right beside her. If you have any suggestions for how I could help her it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[azygous]

I see no noticeable difference in the legs. These symptoms are possibly from an avian disease. Marek's and lymphoid leucosis starts out often in this manner, and the age is also in the ball park for onset of symptoms.

That said, it doesn't mean you have a diagnosis. The symptoms can also be from a riboflavin deficiency, and it is easily treated with vitamin B 2.

If you wish to read through a very tense thread of mine where I had three pullets with similar symptoms and how I tried to treat them, it may give you some insight. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

I see no noticeable difference in the legs. These symptoms are possibly from an avian disease. Marek's and lymphoid leucosis starts out often in this manner, and the age is also in the ball park for onset of symptoms.

That said, it doesn't mean you have a diagnosis. The symptoms can also be from a riboflavin deficiency, and it is easily treated with vitamin B 2.

If you wish to read through a very tense thread of mine where I had three pullets with similar symptoms and how I tried to treat them, it may give you some insight. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/

Thank you so much for your input, that is my concern, especially cause I have a different hen that is also sick but displaying different symptoms. Really hoping it isn't Marek's and will most definitely check out your thread and see if treating with vitamin B2 can help.

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

Honestly though, now that I'm looking at the symptoms they could both definitely have Marek's – I hadn't realized the symptomology was so diverse. So awful if that is the case cause then there's nothing that can be done

 

[MysteryChicken]

May also be just a bad sprain, which are painful.