limping, dull comb, lightly swollen breast -- worried, advice please

[GoldenSilverLaced]

Tonight I had the girls out and noticed that Dunch was starting to limp for no apparent reason, favoring her left side. She was still running around catching bugs and eating, acting normal, but the limp got progressively worse over 30-45 minutes. Then she started panting and holding her wings out (it is pretty hot and humid right now, so that may be unrelated). I picked her up several times before and after she started limping and she didn't fight me or act like she was in any pain (no squawking or anything out of the ordinary). She jumped up on me from the ground and then jump from me into the coop. It looked very graceless like she was injured but she still did it and didn't appear to be in extreme pain when she landed. she is putting weight on the right leg, but definitely limping. Right before she went into the coop her comb looked pale to me. Also, her right breast (on the same side as the potentially injured leg) seems swollen or larger than the other side.

I searched BYC for bumblefoot, limping, broken leg, etc but haven't found anything conclusive.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm worried about her. I'm waiting for my finacee to come home so we can examine her more closely. We can take her to a vet if needed.

 

[ivan3]

Please post the results of your exam (any discoloration/bite marks on skin, etc.). I'd separate her from the flock and watch for any other changes in behavior.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Internal egg-laying?

Her right breast being swollen would be normal. That's where their 'crop' is so after they've eaten, it will be swollen there.

 

[threehorses]

Any questions from the second sticky post in this section answered into this thread instead would be truly helpful in establishing a flock/bird history. That sort of background information is always essential and the more information you provide, the more accurate we can be in our answers back.

At this point, guessing won't help you and would be pointless so I'll wait for more info.

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

Ah ok. Didn't even notice it last night. Thanks for pointing it out.

1) What type of bird , age and weight. Golden buff, 14 months, ~5-6 pounds (haven't weighed her)

2) What is the behavior, exactly. See first post for a description of last night. She is still running around and her breast is less swollen today than last night but it is still noticeable. Still has a mild limp but is putting weight on the leg. She was digging in the garden this morning and climbing on things like nothing was wrong even with the limp.

3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. Just a mild limp and swelling in the right breast...never noticed it until tonight, so maybe it is just a full crop, or maybe it is something more.

4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Nothing that I know of.

5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Pellets, yogurt, meal worms, grass, crickets, bread, water. She has been eating and drinking when I observe her, but it may be less than normal.

6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. A little runny but that happens when they have yogurt. The "healthy" chicken is also a little runny.

7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Bread with oil. She wasn't thrilled with it. The healthy chicken liked it. Figures.

8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? We will do whatever it takes. Although I planned to take her to the vet today, she was so much better this morning that we decided to wait and see. I have an avian vet for my indoor birds who is not really willnig to see the chickens but I may be able to convince him, and I also have access to the Small Farm Animal section of the University vet school.

9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Pictures forthcoming. Going out to take more now.

10) Describe the housing/bedding in use. Insulated coop with ramp, chips. They spend their days in a travel cage, a dog cage with back wheels that we move around the yard so that they have access to fresh grass. They are allowed to roam free most nights when I am outside with them. They are put in the coop every night.

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

Here are the pictures. I know it may look like nothing it outwardly wrong, but I've never noticed her right breast being swollen before last night. She was just loose and the limping was barely perceptible, and then became slightly worse the longer she ran around. She is still eating, scratching, drinking, and jumping (she jumped up to my arm to be put into the coop). She is normally a very reliable layer but we did not get an egg today from her.

Unfortunately I am going out of town tomorrow until Friday, but my finacee will be home to take care of the girls. I'm worried so I thought about canceling, but that wouldn't work out.

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

In the bottom two pics I think the swelling is more noticeable, and I will point out that in both pics she is standing on the leg that has the limp.

 

[threehorses]

Well the fact that she's standing on the leg is good. And don't worry about not having seen the sticky; you were upset.

I sometimes just ask the questions but I wanted all of the answers so rather than type them out...

I have to say - she has a wonderful face - a nice looking bird. I think her chest swelling was her crop. Feel it - see if it feels like a beanbag to you, or squishy - first thing in the morning. I wonder if it's possible that with her increasing size and weight as she reaches maturity if she didn't hurt herself coming off of the roost. Whatever the issue, her getting better without having had any treatment is a good sign. That is quite like a hen will do when she's sprained her foot for a day. I can see the bit you refer to as swelling - right at the foot above the foot, below the leg bone. That would be consistent with jumping off a roost.

I would just add to start giving her free-choice oyster shell and make sure her pellets are laying pellets. However I suspect that her missed egg was because of the stress of pain as that will sometimes put a hen off of laying for a day or two, particularly when they're new at it. If she doesn't continue to lay this week, then let us know for sure.

Otherwise I'd just give her vitamins/electrolytes in their water, watch her carefully, and let us know if anything at all changes - or update us if she's better, which we certainly hope she will be.

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

Thanks for the advice, I'm less worried about her now, although still concerned. She is doing better but still limping. Her crop keeps increasing and decreasing in size and seems to be firm-ish (we've had trouble feeling it with her squirming away). She is still jumping and running although when she runs it's very noticeable that something is wrong as she...gallops almost like a horse, a peculiar hopping run. She has laid eggs every day this week except for that one time I mentioned previously. She is eating and drinking just fine.

How long will it take to heal roughly? 2-3 weeks?

I have to say - she has a wonderful face - a nice looking bird.

Thank you!

I think she is adorable, and always try to point out how lovely her coloring is, as everyone is always attracted to my SLW Linner.

Thanks again for everyone's help and advice! I will keep updating as I monitor her condition. I was worried about her while I was gone, but my fiancée took good care of them.​

 

[threehorses]

I'd think at least a couple of weeks if it was a tear. That galloping you mention, yes - that makes me suspect it was an injury. I almost said "just" an injury but it sure hurt her, so I changed my sentence.

Sometimes 'just' an injury can keep them from doing their normal daily eating, drinking, etc - so I think she looks pretty good!!

I just seriously love her little face. She's very much like our hen here, Mama (Easter). I really like her coloring actually!