luluspunky

[luluspunky]

This is my first time here and I need some help. I have 4 chickens which we let roam our back yard every day for about 4 hours. The other day, let them out as usual, no problems, but when I got them back in, one of them was limping and I can't tell if it is broken or just sprained. Any ideas?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry about one of your birds! You need to examine the leg and foot. I would get a big towel and wrap the bird around the wings, as the birds stands there, feet out and turn them over and lay them on your lap, head at your tummy. Look at the bottom of the feet...make sure there are no stones, thorns, puncture wounds or anything stuck in the pad of the foot or feet. If there is, you will need to get it out of there or if they have an infection in the pad from a puncture, (bumblefoot) you will need to do a surgery on it.

Feel for heat in the foot pad, joint and on up to the hip. There might be redness as well. If the bird can put any pressure on the leg at all, then it is not broken and most likely not dislocated. (these would be to painful to stand on)

If you can't find anything that you think is causing this bird to limp, then they may have sprained something in the leg. You will want to confine this bird for a few days to a week or more. If they continue to use a sprained leg, they can tear a tendon and there is no cure except surgery to put a tendon back on. I would cage this bird during they day but allow them to sleep with the flock at night on the roost bar. Make sure your baris not too high and the bird is flying down and injuring themselves. My roost bar is only 15 inches off the floor as I had a couple of birds spraining their legs. After confining the bird for a few days, when they start to pace around and aren't showing any signs of limping, you can let them join the flock.

You can also give them some baby aspirin, 1 a day or 1/4 of an adult aspirin. Put this into a raisin and the bird will never know they are being medicated.

Here is an article on leg and foot problems in poultry that might help you help your bird.. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages

If the bird gets really bad off, you can post in our emergency section as well... https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck and I hope you can get your bird back to good health soon!!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join us here! I'm sorry to hear about the leg problems in one of your birds. TwoCrows has left you fabulous advice and great links to check out. I hope your bird is well agian soon. Wishing you the very best of luck with your bird.

Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat

 

[drumstick diva]

Hope your bird will recover soon.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - you have some great advice already so I'll just say hello!

All the best
CT

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! I hope your bird will recover soon.