Leg injury?

[Chaivy]

Hello, i have 3 chickens. They are around 18 weeks old. 2 coronation sussex and one feverolle bantom.

Babs, my dominant sussex, may be a rooster we arent sure yet but since we had her she had some kind of leg issue. We got them at 8 weeks and she immediately developed a respiratory illness, while at the vet she mentioned she had some kind of tendon issue with her leg and gave her some antuinflmatories and calcium. We did the calcium for a bit but probably not long enough because then she was on all kinds of antibiotics etc.

Point is, she has gotten big very quickly and is having a lot of trouble walking. She cant support herself on her left leg and isnt roosting at night anymore, she sleeps on the coop floor. She was on the roost a couple of nights ago but couldnt settle and fell off.

I changed the roosts to flat 2x4 when i noticed the other sussex not roosting (which she is now) but babs still isnt roosting for the last 2 nights. I tried putting her on the roost and she fell off so i feel terrible for that.

Sorry for the long post, my question is, is she ok to sleep on the floor? (Its a raised coop) and is there anything i can do to fix her leg?

 

[N F C]

The good folks over on the ER forum may be able to give you some advice on what, if anything, you can do about her leg.
Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures

How high up from the floor are your roosts?

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Ditto NFC’s sentiments re: getting help from the ER folks

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. I think you should post in fullest detail at "Emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures,"thread.

 

[Melky]

Welcome to BYC! Hope you get the answers you need. If a persistent problem would return to vet. I think making an area on the floor for her is fine if can’t roost that she can just walk into.

 

[Chaivy]

Thank you. Sorry i thought i had posted in the emergency thread - im new here. Ill do that.
She just snuggles up underneath the roost of the others (seems to be away from the pooping side? Ill have to double check)
The roost is approx 30-40cm from the coop floor.

 

[Melky]

Thank you. Sorry i thought i had posted in the emergency thread - im new here. Ill do that.
She just snuggles up underneath the roost of the others (seems to be away from the pooping side? Ill have to double check)
The roost is approx 30-40cm from the coop floor.

Your roost height is fine but with a leg injury the chicken might not be able to use it. She sounds like she found her own spot ok to accommodate her disability.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[N F C]

Thank you. Sorry i thought i had posted in the emergency thread - im new here. Ill do that.
She just snuggles up underneath the roost of the others (seems to be away from the pooping side? Ill have to double check)
The roost is approx 30-40cm from the coop floor.

Your thread was moved so it IS under the ER forum now. Someone should be along to offer some help for your bird.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you post any forward facing pictures of her legs, for instance of you holding her with her legs down touching the floor normally, so that we can get an idea of her leg problem? Leg bone deformities, such as varus or valgus deformity, and TD or twisted leg are very common in all types of poultry. Some are mistaken for a slipped tendon. Most are not treated successfully, but some chickens may be able to get around with the disability in a low key flock. Just make sure that she can get to food and water. I keep a small recycling bin on the floor with pine shavings for my disabled chicken, since she can no longer roost. It never hurts to try some vitamins, such as 1/4 tablet daily of B Complex crushed onto food daily.