Limpin Chicken....

[ChickenBarn]

I have a 3 month old R.I. Red who is limping horribly. I have thoroughly inspected her left foot & leg as well as the rest of her and have found nothing, no signs of picking, injury or blood. She is very docile, and is still eating. Although she sits most of the day off in a corner I think to avoid harassment by the rest of the herd. She is a VERY heavy bird, infact I think she is my largest lady by far. My only guess is she got her leg caught up in something (wood pile, fence ??) and sprained a joint. Has anyone ever experienced this mystery limping with no sign of injury???? Any comments or ideas would be appriciated greatly

Clint

 

[happykreg]

I have a Buff Orpington that started limping about 3 weeks ago. Had no signs of injury other than the limp. A couple days later I could see a bruise on the top of her foot. She limped around for a week or so but now she is just fine.
I would just make sure she is well fed and watered and see what happens.

 

[LuannKeller]

The injury may be further up the leg - I would feel the good leg all the way up and then feel the bad leg all the way up. If something seems out of place you could possibly speed a full recovery by working it back into place. I had a young bird that seem to dislocate a hip, I moved it back and it was back to full use in 2 days from almost no use.

 

[okiehen]

I would think that sometimes things just happen. It may have been from jumping off the roost, etc.
I have a white leghorn hen that just came up lame on one leg this was months ago I took her out of the main coop as my rooster is a game and would take her out due to the weakness factor. I put her up for rest with water and food were she didn't have to work or compete for it.
She showed signs of being better in a few weeks. I put her out with a less dominant group and she was fine for a while she is lame again with no signs . I think its from jumping off the roost.
Just keep a close eye something may show up that you can see. You may need to put her up to protect her as I did.

 

[verthandi]

Quote:
Can you give more details on how you were able to help the dislocation? I have a two year old hen that became suddenly unable to use one leg this week. No swelling, both legs look the same, but she holds the foot off the ground and hops to get around. She is separated, eating and drinking fine. I have prodded and try feeling a difference between the two legs, but the only thing I notice is that the injured leg has less tension and is more elastic feeling.

 

[ChickenBarn]

************upDATE*******************

Well it seems to be a bit more serious now that a week has gone by. My limping chicken has a left leg and foot that are atrophying (shrinking) !!!! I am really at a loss as to what to do. She doesn't seem to be in pain and she is still eating and drinking. She doesn't move around much unless I carry her. If ANYONE has encountered this and has any advise, it would be appriciated. I am afraid I am going to have to cull her and she is my favorite

Thanks

Clint ( & Honeycomb the RI RED with a shrinking left leg)

 

[mipsy6]

I have a similar situation with one of my young RIR girls. She mysteriously started limping last month, at about 4 months old, and I have not been able to figure out what's wrong with her. She's eating and drinking normally, and seems pretty lively, despite her condition.

The one other thing I noticed with mine was that she not maturing like her sister of the same age and breed.

Some things I tried (sadly without success):
1) extra vitamins (first liquid children's multi-vitamins and then poultry nutri-drench) administered by dropper directly in the beak
2) extra food: mix of cooked oatmeal, plain yogurt and fruit
3) de-worming

None of these things have allowed my chicken to heal or to grow any bigger. But, they came through a lot of Internet searching and research, so it's possible they might help you. The first two treatments were in case my chicken had Rickets, and the second was because she was not growing or gaining weight, so I thought she might have a parasite.

Have you looked at your chicken's poop? Apparently, worms or cocci have been known to weaken a chicken's legs.

There are also some good posts about splinting a chicken's leg with popsicle sticks, if you think that would help.

Honestly, I have kind of given up on curing my girl. She seems decently happy and can get around by flapping her wings, balancing against things and hopping. The main issue, beyond mobility, is that her butt gets really poopy. We have to wash her off with the hose occasionally.

 

[ChickenBarn]

Another update WITH PICS

She seems completely lame..........she won't use her feet

any ideas??????????????????????

Please help if you can

 

[verthandi]

That is so odd. Is she not using either leg now? How was she holding the left leg when this first started? I don't have any answers, but I have something similar going on here with one of my hens. She has no visible injury, but holds one leg out in front of her and hops on the other. She looks healthy and is eating, just like your hen.

 

[chickenzoo]

Mareks diease is often noticed first by a limping of one leg. Their weight seems to decline quickly and they develope slower than others. They become more and more unable to control their legs(or leg) and motor skills. Was your chicken vac. for this before? I have delt with this in a few of my birds, and it is not pretty. I have saved a few, but it was tough, long process. It occurs naturally in the ground and when ingested a bird either fights it off or surcums. It is passed by feather dandruff from bird to bird, and those not imune can develope it quickly. Once shed from a survivor bird, they can not catch it again because they build a tolerance to it. Mareks chickens often surcum to other dieases brought on by their poor condition, and low immunity. Anything to help boost their bodys tolerance to diease is helpful. They will often eat like no tomorrow but will decline over time, so keep an eye on weight not food consumtion.