my hen suddenly limping

[chickbliss7]

About a week ago, my BO hen began to limp slightly. When I had help, we looked at her leg and foot. Her toenails needed clipping, which we did. She continued to limp, and now it's worse. I can't see what is wrong with her--no blood, nothing stuck in her foot, just a slight swelling of her ankle (do chickens have ankles?) I don't know what I'm looking for in the part of the leg where the feathers begin. What do I look for? I brought her inside, but she obviously had to lay an egg and was desperate to go back to the nest box (as she did immediately when I returned her to the coop). She seems fine other than limping severely; eating, pooping, drinking and hobbling around, so I don't think the leg is broken. I taped her leg, thinking it might provide a small measure of stability. Will the others try and peck it off? She tried to do it at first, but then stopped. Any ideas as to what is wrong? Could a sprain get worse?

 

[chickenzoo]

It's kind of hard to narrow down since it could be many things. Did you check the bottom of her foot to see if she had bumble foot. It would be a like a black/dark scab on the bottom of the pad.

 

[chickbliss7]

Yes, I wiped off dirt, etc and her pad was fine--nothing between her toes either. She's having trouble going up and down the ramp and I'm afraid she'll hurt herself more. Also jumping up and down off the roost. If it's a sprain, will they eventually get better? Is there anything I could put on the ramp (it's a little steep) to make it easier to climb?

 

[chickenzoo]

Chickens legs are like peoples, well in a way, it takes a while for fractures or sprains to heal. You could perhaps put a board with a slower angle on top of the ramp. Aspirin in her water might help the pain. I don't remember the dose of aspirin, but I know it was like 3 baby aspirin to a gallon of water. You can do a search on here and find it. You could also keep her contained for a few days if it doesn't stress her, to give her leg some time to rest. I have a turkey hen, that when she was a older poult, jumped down from a fence and fractured her ankle. She walks with a limp as the ankle has fused, but otherwise is perfectly fine.

 

[chickbliss7]

Thanks, I will look up aspirin dosage. She doesn't seem to be less mobile, but it looks like it hurts, since she has a very bad limp. She did alright in the house (I don't have an extra pen), but I don't have chicken diapers and the feedstores thought I was putting them on when I asked if they sold them. I ordered a pair from My Pet Chicken, but it will be next week before they come. I put an old sheet on my bed and she got up and snuggled up under my arm for a while. I just kept thinking people (except on this website) would think I've lost my mind to be in bed with my chicken! I'll see what my husband can rig up to the ramp tomorrow.

 

[chickenzoo]

Poor girl....

Puppy pads are good for them to lay on, I often use them.