:Leg Problem: Puffy Right Back Thigh, Limping, 9 weeks old

[nicolesauce]

I have a 9 week old with a leg problem.

They went outside their run for the first time yesterday and I noticed that she was barely putting weight on the leg when the time came for everyone to go inside. Because I have been out of town and another person has been caring for all 30 of them, I am not sure if she had shown symptoms before yesterday.

She can walk, but loses her balance sometimes as if she can't quite control that leg. She lets me picke her up and touch it and eat and drinks. I can move it back and forth with no protest from her. The leg is swollen on her thigh (making her rear end look lopsided.)

They are housed with pine shavings and straw, have roosts about 30 to 36 inches above the ground, are still on chick mash, though they eat grass, clover and bugs when outside.

Sometimes she does not walk on her foot on that side but on her "elbow."

My camera is broken, or I would send video or pictures.

I have her separate from the other chickens in case they decide to smother he, though they were not being too mean to her last time I checked in.

 

[dlhunicorn]

separating her to restrict movement (and jostling from the others which might also be keeping her from sufficient feed and drink) is the best thing for her. You can also give her Polyvisol Enfamil formulation (childrens liquid A-B-D vitamins) three drops in beak for a week ... this is often helpful.