Limping pullet : (

[2DogsFarm]

One of my Delaware pullets is limping.

She's eating, drinking and not acting sick at all besides holding the foot up and showing a slight limp when she walks or runs.

I examined the leg & foot and there was a very slight reddish tinge on the pad but no sign of an entry wound or foreign object.

She doesn't object to me poking around the pad (looking for a splinter or other foreign body) and was actually walking a little better after I fiddled with it.

I searched for threads on bumblefoot and there is no scabbing.

This just started last night.
Could she have bruised the foot?

What should I watch for (besides worsening limp) if she isn't back to 100% tomorrow?

 

[ivan3]

Possibly injured further up the leg? Did you by chance compare them side by side for swelling discoloration further up the leg?

Try plain Aspirin and see if this improves gait:

ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID - Aspirin (Butler; Vedco)
Available as tablets (5 or 60 grain) for oral administration. Also
available as 1.25 grain orange-flavored chewable tablets. May be
effective as an analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent
in some avian species. May be indicated to prevent clot formation
and embolisms secondary to egg-related peritonitis, granulomatous
diseases and shock. Uricosuric at low doses and may be
effective in some cases of acute and chronic gout. A five grain tablet
can be mixed in 30 ml of diluent and administered at a dose of 0.5
ml/kg, TID (or 1 tablet per pint of drinking water).

from: Avian medicine: Principles and Applications (formulary) here: http://www.avianmedicine.net/ampa.html
(most OTC Aspirin is 325mg. - could substitute 3 of the 81mg. cardiac doses if she is a little pullet).

Check out the chooks when they are going to/from roosts. Other than rude roos and bumble foot (pododermatitis) this seems to be a common source of leg/foot issues.

 

[2DogsFarm]

Thanks, Ivan
I did compare legs & feet, the problem just seems to be in the pad of the one foot - no ouchiness when I tried ROM all the way up to the thigh. Her grip on the sore foot isn;t as strong as the other either which makes me think it may be a bruise or sprain.

I'll get some kids/cardiac strength aspirin and dose her if she hasn't improved by tonight & I still see no other sign of wound on the foot itself.
She's just shy of 5mo so not that large - maybe 4#

Yesterday she flew off the roost with everyone else and just limped on landing.

 

[LynneP]

Consider proving thicker bedding or lowering the roosts. She's reasonably heavy for her age and bones are softer then. Might be a case of heavy bird bruising on landing. I have a hen limping now too, she crashed into hardware cloth when a cat leapt at the wire on the run. Trauma on the pan can eventually cause an abrasion/infection...

 

[threehorses]

I'd add that if you have rounded roosts, try flat - like a 2x6. That can alleviate pressure points on the foot.

 

[2DogsFarm]

I originally put in tree limbs - stripped of bark - for roosts.
They're about 3" in diameter and angled so they can walk up one to the other.
But:
They hardly use these - preferring to roost on a partition that is all of about 1/2" wide.

I did notice that Gimpy is now roosting on the tree limbs - maybe the thickness is softer for her ouchy foot?

She was limping a bit this morning, but not as bad as yesterday.
So I'm giving her another day to rest & I'll check that foot for any sign of worsening injury.

LynneP: is 4# really heavy for her age?
I'm guesstimating weight, could be less.
They don't look or feel fat, just solid under the feathers as compared to a couple months ago when they felt like skin & bones.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Thickness is more soft on their feet. It's also another way of keeping bumblefoot out of your flock if you keep the roost tops clean.

Great news that she's improving.

On her heaviness, how does her breast bone feel? Can you feel it protruding a bit like normal or does she have cleavage? If you can feel her breast bone out a bit from the meat of her chest, she's fine. Just maybe a big gal.

 

[2DogsFarm]

Quote:
Thanks threehorses -
If they'd just USE the roosts...but no, everyone likes to line up on that skinny edge!
I may put in a 2X4 for Winter so they can fluff over their feet better.

I'll feel her up this morning to see if she's fat or fit

Oh Lord, if anyone but a chickenperson read that line I'd get some looks.....