My silkie hen is favoring her right leg

[DWilkins]

My little silkie hen Macie is favoring her right leg. It's not broken, no bumble foot.She will walk on it but with a limp. I see no injuries .She will stand at times holding the leg up. Could she have "sprained" her it? Tendon issues? Does anyone have any idea's what can be causing this? Any help would be greatly appreciated Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How old is Macie?
Photos of her
Is she eating/drinking o.k.?

If she is holding it up, then she may have sprained or injured it somehow. You may want to restrict her activity for several days to see if that makes a difference. A cage or kennel set-up in the run or coop works well, this way she is still with her flock.

 

[DWilkins]

Hi.. Yes.. she is eating and drinking like normal.I have three silkie hens.One is newer and not used to being able to free range, so she stays close to the coop and Macie anyway.The other one comes and goes all day. She has been staying inside the past few days, which seems like a good idea ? She will come out in the run to get a drink and eat her treats.I did bring her out to get some sunshine today...She has since gone back in.She is acting normal in all other respects.Thank you for the reply

 

[DWilkins]

Macie..She is so little...Doesn't even weight a 1/2 pound.

 

[rebrascora]

Have you researched Marek's disease?
Silkies are particularly prone to it, she is lame without an obvious cause, she is seriously underweight and you recently added a new bird.
All those things are red flags for Marek's

 

[DWilkins]

I had a silkie with Marek's that I had to put down from it a few years ago. She moves this one, has full rang of motion ,and does walk on it. Just holds it up at times. I have researched where the tendon on the knee cap can roll off to the side.It's like luxating
patella in dogs.She has always been a tiny girl.She is a good eater, just a little bird.Lays eggs too.We have added birds before and recently gave up a silkie rooster and a Se Bright.Her nails were long so I trimmed them. She may have gotten one caught in the feathers on her foot.I held her the other night to examine the leg. When I was feeling near her knee, she let me know she wasn't real pleased. Will be watching her closely . Unfortunaly there are no vets in this area that know anything about birds. Sad, as there are so many that are having Silkies and other birds as Pets.I had a rooster that I lost last November. He was 9 years old plus... Broke my heart. The best boy I ever owned.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her nails were long so I trimmed them. She may have gotten one caught in the feathers on her foot.I held her the other night to examine the leg. When I was feeling near her knee, she let me know she wasn't real pleased.

Did the hock feel like it was swollen. I wonder if the tendon slipped out and popped back in. Since she is holding it, but indicates the leg/hock is tender, I would still lean toward injury. Sprains/injury can take a while to heal, so restricting her activity may help that along.

It's always possible she may be suffering from symptoms of Marek's. Since there is no cure and supportive care is the method of treatment (just like you would with an injury) I would continue to do as your doing.

Hope she gets better soon.

 

[DWilkins]

We had a large Silkie rooster that seemed to always mate with her. We have since gotten rid of him because we live in town and he was getting very vocal and he was pretty aggressive. I wonder if he may have injured her....ummmm.. Thank you for all your responses. Will be keeping a very close eye on my girl