Medical advice

[Cpb1974]

please help.... my 10 week old SLW hurt her leg. She’s limping really bad. It doesn’t look broken , no scrapes of any kind. Should I put her in a small cage to limit her exercise ? Or is putting her in a cage and separating her from the rest of her flock going to cause unnecessary stress therefore make the whole situation worse? Should I just let her be?

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you place her in the cage with food and water, and place it in the shade where her flock is for company? Leg injuries can be several weeks in healing. If possible, you may want to get her leg xrayed by a vet, in case of a broken bone.

 

[Cpb1974]

Can you place her in the cage with food and water, and place it in the shade where her flock is for company? Leg injuries can be several weeks in healing. If possible, you may want to get her leg xrayed by a vet, in case of a broken bone.

I believe I could manage to create a location for her in the chicken yard and then move her back to the coop at night. She can stand on it but she does sometimes fall over because of it. I’m just very confused and worried for her. Is there anything I can give her for pain that you might be aware of? My farm vet isn’t open until Monday

 

[Eggcessive]

The vet might give her meloxicam for pain and inflammation, but you can give her some aspirin. Put a 325 mg aspirin in a liter or quart of water.

 

[Cpb1974]

The vet might give her meloxicam for pain and inflammation, but you can give her some aspirin. Put a 325 mg aspirin in a liter or quart of water.

Ok thank you

 

[Chickenguy6373]

Hi I have the same problem my Silkie chick is limping really bad for the last 2/3 weeks he is not moving the foot he holds it up in the air and all his toes are straight no movement @Eggcessive @cbp1974

 

[Chickenguy6373]

 

[Eggcessive]

View attachment 1616561 View attachment 1616558 Hi I have the same problem my Silkie chick is limping really bad for the last 2/3 weeks he is not moving the foot he holds it up in the air and all his toes are straight no movement @Eggcessive @cbp1974

How old is your silkie? Was it vaccinated for Mareks disease? I only ask about that, since we always like to rule out Mareks. Injuries are the most common reason for limping or holding up a foot. Look at the foot pads for any bumblefoot scabs. Do you see any swollen joints on the legs? Does she act like the foot is numb? I would place her in a dog crate inside the coop with food and water for a few days to force her to rest it. You may also try to post a video to YouTube with a link posted here if possible, so that we can see her walking. It can take several weeks for a leg injury to heal. I would also get a bottle of vitamin B complex tablets and crush a 1/4 of a tablet daily onto some feed, or put a whole tablet into her water daily.

 

[Chickenguy6373]

No it was not vaccinated for Mareks disease I never new could vaccinate them for such a thing he doesn’t have any swolen joints no she just a acts like she can’t walk and stumbles if lifted up and set on floor

 

[Eggcessive]

Time will tell whether it is an injury or not. I have had two different hens limp for a period of time. One held her leg up for 6 weeks, and got better with no treatment. Another limped for two years, but she fiercely wanted to travel all over my chicken field with her friends, eating, and roosting normally. But eventually, she would only go with the flock and lie around, losing weight, and I never knew the reason she died. I suspected a spiral leg fracture that never healed, but without xrays or a necropsy, I could only guess.

It is controversial whether to medicate of not, but many give aspirin in the water to help with pain. Some believe that pain relief might have them overuse the painful leg. Meloxicam from a vet is also used for pain and inflammation. Please let us know how she does after resting her leg if it gets better, or if her symptoms get worse.