Limping hen

[SSFowler]

We just recently (yesterday) lost our rooster. A few weeks ago (maybe 3) he started limping around the same time I noticed a spur missing so I thought he caught the spur on something and injured his leg at the time. He otherwise behaved normally. Until a few days ago. He was unable to stand for more than a few seconds and could not walk far before sitting back down. The way he sat was odd, he would put his chest to the ground and his butt high in the air. We separated him from the hens in his own pen with food and water that I added vitamin supplements to as well as fish mox. He was eating and drinking well and devoured meal worms when I put them in there. His eyes were clear, he was very alert and his comb stayed red and erect. So we sort of ruled out illness. Then he sat in the rain instead of getting under the end of his pen that was covered. He barely lasted 24 hours after that. Oh, I probably should add that he was a "stray", he came from the neighbors and decided to stay so I know nothing of his breeding, history or age. The only thing I can say is he is over a year old and was a beautiful welsummer mix, wasn't aggressive but wasn't overly friendly either.
Then this evening when I went to collect eggs, check food and water before it was time to close the girls in the coop I noticed my Barred Rock is now limping. At this point her behavior is still the same, she ran with the others when she heard me, she ate and drank. I'm now concerned about what had originally caused the roosters problems and if she is going to follow suit. I only have 4 hens, they are about a year old. I am not sure what to do. I really do not want to lose anymore of them. I would appreciate advice, opinions and words of wisdom.

 

[glassdragonfly]

Have you examined her leg? Do you see any bruising,or feel any bumps on her leg. Did you look at the bottom of her feet for any signs of bumblefoot? Barred rocks are heavy birds and do better with low perches. Maybe she just jumped down wrong and has it sore? Watch her close.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We just recently (yesterday) lost our rooster. A few weeks ago (maybe 3) he started limping around the same time I noticed a spur missing so I thought he caught the spur on something and injured his leg at the time. He otherwise behaved normally. Until a few days ago. He was unable to stand for more than a few seconds and could not walk far before sitting back down. The way he sat was odd, he would put his chest to the ground and his butt high in the air.

We separated him from the hens in his own pen with food and water that I added vitamin supplements to as well as fish mox. He was eating and drinking well and devoured meal worms when I put them in there. His eyes were clear, he was very alert and his comb stayed red and erect. So we sort of ruled out illness. Then he sat in the rain instead of getting under the end of his pen that was covered. He barely lasted 24 hours after that. Oh, I probably should add that he was a "stray", he came from the neighbors and decided to stay so I know nothing of his breeding, history or age. The only thing I can say is he is over a year old and was a beautiful welsummer mix

I noticed my Barred Rock is now limping. At this point her behavior is still the same, she ran with the others when she heard me, she ate and drank. I'm now concerned about what had originally caused the roosters problems and if she is going to follow suit.

I'm sorry to hear about your rooster. Unfortunately, it would be hard to know what caused his death.

I too would be concerned about a hen that is now limping so close to the loss of the rooster.
Do you free range? Have you noticed if there is any mold/mildew or could they have gotten into anything rotten?

I agree, inspecting the hen for signs of injury/joint swelling, etc. is a very good idea. Does she lay eggs? When was the last egg? Feeling of her abdomen for indication of bloat or fluid would also be something I would do.

At this point, after examination and if you don't find anything wrong, taking a wait and see approach may be all that you can do. See if she improves. If she declines or goes the way the rooster did, then getting a necropsy to find out what's going on would give you the best answers.

 

[SSFowler]

I plan to examine the leg as soon as my husband gets home to help me catch her. She is limping but is still pretty quick and comes very close to us but no a fan of physical contact. I will also be double checking their run for anything that could have caused this. We only allow them to free range when we are able to be outside with them to be watchful of hawks. As for her eggs I believe she laid yesterday. We have 2 hens we are unsure of whose egg is whose and she is one of them. And where she roosts is going to be checked too. Today is the day we were to add more pine shavings due to them scratting around and lots of it went right out the door so it may be too thin where she hops down. I hadn't thought of that til now. Thank you.
I appreciate the input! It is always helpful because even when you think you have thought of everything there is always the possibility someone has another idea!
Thank you! Thank you!
We have been talking of adding to our little flock and I would hate to have to replace it instead.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I plan to examine the leg as soon as my husband gets home to help me catch her. She is limping but is still pretty quick and comes very close to us but no a fan of physical contact. I will also be double checking their run for anything that could have caused this. We only allow them to free range when we are able to be outside with them to be watchful of hawks. As for her eggs I believe she laid yesterday. We have 2 hens we are unsure of whose egg is whose and she is one of them. And where she roosts is going to be checked too. Today is the day we were to add more pine shavings due to them scratting around and lots of it went right out the door so it may be too thin where she hops down. I hadn't thought of that til now. Thank you.
I appreciate the input! It is always helpful because even when you think you have thought of everything there is always the possibility someone has another idea!
Thank you! Thank you!
We have been talking of adding to our little flock and I would hate to have to replace it instead.

Keep us posted and let us know if you see anything upon examination.
Having a helper is always a good idea.
For my flighty/hard to catch hens, I usually wait until they are roosting (at night or very early in the morning) - this way I can get them off the roost without much fuss. A towel can be used to loosely swaddle them if you need to do that to keep her wings close to her body - this can make it easier to control them for examination.

 

[SSFowler]

A towel! Good idea! Easier to control as well as some comfort! Thanks again!!!

 

[SSFowler]

Update. We were actually able to catch her yesterday, she's still pretty quick. But, there were no visible sores, bruises or blisters. We made sure there were no burrs in her feet and toes. There didn't seem to be any swelling or heat. She didn't even seem upset that we were messing with her legs, well, except for the dirty looks lol. I added a butt load of bedding to the coop and walked through the run to be sure there wasn't anything in there that could have hurt them. We then let her free range with the other 3 and watched her. She hobbled around best she could. This morning she was the first one out of the coop and ready for the day but still hobbling around. I'm not sure if I should find a vet for her or not. I am also concerned about whether or not her eggs should be consumed. I have to figure out how to tell her eggs from my production reds. We can tell the golden sex links due to their extra large size and our ameracauna of course are bluish.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update. We were actually able to catch her yesterday, she's still pretty quick. But, there were no visible sores, bruises or blisters. We made sure there were no burrs in her feet and toes. There didn't seem to be any swelling or heat. She didn't even seem upset that we were messing with her legs, well, except for the dirty looks lol. I added a butt load of bedding to the coop and walked through the run to be sure there wasn't anything in there that could have hurt them. We then let her free range with the other 3 and watched her. She hobbled around best she could. This morning she was the first one out of the coop and ready for the day but still hobbling around. I'm not sure if I should find a vet for her or not. I am also concerned about whether or not her eggs should be consumed. I have to figure out how to tell her eggs from my production reds. We can tell the golden sex links due to their extra large size and our ameracauna of course are bluish.

Sounds like she's alert, wanting to be active and eating/drinking well. Hopefully it's just a sprain and she will get better or the next few weeks.
As for the eggs...that would be up to you, but personally I would eat them unless she was showing obvious symptoms of being unwell.

 

[SSFowler]

I'm hoping it is only a sprain. It is sad to watch and makes me worry. But she really isn't showing signs of illness, so maybe I wont be too concerned about her eggs, yet. Thank you for your input, I don't feel quite so helpless or at a loss now.

 

[SSFowler]

Just an update. She is showing marked improvement. The limp is still there but not as bad as it first was and not always noticeable. The other hens are not showing any signs of a limp so I am pretty certain it was just an injury. The timing of it really had me worried though. But, the past couple of days have made me quite happy since I am seeing improvement. Thanks again for the input.