Limping Chicken

[Isaac 0]

My new Welsummer is limping her limp is not that bad but you can defintnly tell if you look at her for a while she can walk but i think she injured it when one of them chased after her.Anything i should do or can she walk it off?

 

[mrsdelore]

I have a limping chicken checklist of things I look for.
1. Bumblefoot or other injury to the bottom of the foot.
2. Noticeable injury to the leg. I just give a quick feel to make sure it doesn't seem like a broken bone or anything out of place.


If I don't see anything during either of those checks, I usually give the chicken a soak in a warm bath (I have a little plastic dishpan I use) with Epsom salts. Try to get them to stay in for at least 10 minutes, longer if they will tolerate it.

I don't isolate them unless the limp is really bad and I don't want them moving at all. Otherwise, I will return them to the flock and keep a close eye on her over the next days to see if it's improving.

And if someone seems like they are in a lot of pain, I will give 1/4 of a low-dose aspirin - ONLY after I have confirmed there is no bleeding, including any signs of bruising which indicate some internal bleeding. But I always assume they can pull a muscle just like we can, so sometimes a little pain relief is all it takes to get them over the hump and on to healing.

 

[Isaac 0]

Ok I checked for bumble foot and her foot was a good as normal.Why exactly does a bath help just curious?

 

[mrsdelore]

Ok I checked for bumble foot and her foot was a good as normal.Why exactly does a bath help just curious?

Just like when we have sore muscles, a warm bath with epsom salts helps loosen things up.

 

[Isaac 0]

Ok, i just did it it seems to be on the bottom of the foot