Limping Sussex

[btxchick]

Hello everyone-
I have a 1.5 year old speckled sussex hen that started limping a couple days ago. I don't know of any trauma she has sustained. She free ranges and very easily could have jumped off something and injured it.. She is able to walk, she just has a limp and favors the one leg. She rests alot and is unable to scratch but gets up to move when I come by her, pecks around where she is laying and gets up to drink water.
I also took a good look at the leg, moved it around, palpated hip, toes and all joints and nothing feels broken and there aren't any foreign objects that I could find that could be causing it. No swelling or other deformities either. She didn't squawk in pain or anything during my assessment
Is is possible she just sprained it and after some rest will be better? Anyone have experience with this? Any advice would be great. She's a favorite and hate to see her injured!!!

Thanks!!

 

[Erica]

Hi btxchick,

it's quite possible she injured a tendon or did something else to herself; best for her would be to be kept away from roosts and other high places, so she can't perch too far off the ground. It may be worthwhile locking her up just to keep an eye on her and make sure she heals.

Did you look at the ball of her foot to check for bumblefoot? Sometimes it can appear very subtle, i.e. not much swelling. What you'd see if it's bumblefoot is a small dent under her foot and a dark patch, quite small usually, where the wound occurred. However more commonly it swells noticeably so perhaps it's not that (just mentioning it in case).

There are some limping diseases but not too many that are common with older birds (e.g. Marek's is far more common among growers).

cheers
Erica