A few days ago, I noticed that one of my chicks, about 6 or 7 weeks old, was dragging one foot behind and not putting any weight on it. I separated from the others and put it in a bird cage by the house for a few days, and during that time, it always had one foot curled up in a ball and limped very badly - it hated putting weight on that foot. I'm still not sure what the problem is/was.
Today I took it out on the lawn and let it run around on the grass for a bit, as much as it could. My mum came out and I was talking to her when I noticed that the chick had its foot flattened out normally on the ground and was walking with only a very slight limp.
Curious, I beckoned for it to come to me. It looked up at me, and took a step forwards - immediately curling up its foot and limping badly.
Again, I looked away and watched it from the corner of my eye... absolutely fine, only a slight limp. I look at it again, it notices me looking, and suddenly it's limping around forlornly again.
Coincidence? I think not. It's now back in with the other chicks from the same hatching. Who said chickens are stupid? They know exactly what they're about.
Today I took it out on the lawn and let it run around on the grass for a bit, as much as it could. My mum came out and I was talking to her when I noticed that the chick had its foot flattened out normally on the ground and was walking with only a very slight limp.
Curious, I beckoned for it to come to me. It looked up at me, and took a step forwards - immediately curling up its foot and limping badly.
Again, I looked away and watched it from the corner of my eye... absolutely fine, only a slight limp. I look at it again, it notices me looking, and suddenly it's limping around forlornly again.
Coincidence? I think not. It's now back in with the other chicks from the same hatching. Who said chickens are stupid? They know exactly what they're about.