Limping hen! 4 days now, unknown why, what to do

sparklez

In the Brooder
May 25, 2023
11
1
14
Friday we noticed our 5 month old Buff Brahma was limping on her right foot. Its been muddy here si we washed and soaked her and looked at her feet. We saw a possible splinter but after we pulled it looked more like a tiny dead feather folical? But we found a broken feather on her foot with dried blood. No other signs of injury. I was able to touch her whole leg/foot and flex her leg without a sign of discomfort. She is walking with a limp and sometimes stands on 2 feet sometimes only on one. Please help, I need ideas and advice on what could be going on and how to help her. I have 9 other chickens who are all fine. Their coops is raised about 28-30 inches with a ramp and roosts are in a ladder formation about 24 & 30 inches above pine shavings.
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The foot pads look like mild foot pad dermatitis, a combo of damp bedding, mud, and droppings that can burn the feet. That can lead to bumblefoot. I would make sure to keep the bedding dry, and add new pine shavings often. A covered run is needed if it rains a lot and is muddy. The soaks can really be helpful. She might have sprained her foot or legs, but time will tell. Sprains may heal in a couple of weeks with resting the leg, and no jumping on and off roosts. Sometimes time a dog crate or pen with food and water may be best to force rest.
 
The foot pads look like mild foot pad dermatitis, a combo of damp bedding, mud, and droppings that can burn the feet. That can lead to bumblefoot. I would make sure to keep the bedding dry, and add new pine shavings often. A covered run is needed if it rains a lot and is muddy. The soaks can really be helpful. She might have sprained her foot or legs, but time will tell. Sprains may heal in a couple of weeks with resting the leg, and no jumping on and off roosts. Sometimes time a dog crate or pen with food and water may be best to force rest.
What are the soaks? I currently do not have a covered run and that is something we are talking about and figuring out.
I am due to clean/turn the coop shavings and the run has been pretty wet the last week or so. I will make a better cleaning schedule.
I am trying to track down a dog crate to restrict her movement. Is there anything else i can do or should look for? If it is dermatitis will this treat itself with better conditions or is there something i should be doing (i am having a hard time finding treatment info online).
 
Soaks means soak the foot in some warm water for a while.


Can you take a video of her limping and upload it to YouTube?
Did you recently add any birds to your flock? Do you know if this particular bird was vaccinated for Marek's disease?
 

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