Mystery limping not going away

Rachelploom

Hatching
Mar 15, 2020
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Hi all,
We have a brown hybrid hen (about a year old) who's had a limp for several weeks and favours her right leg - it's been of varying severity in that time.
We checked her over for bumblefoot and couldn't see any signs, couldn't feel anything particular in her leg and a vet also couldn't tell what was wrong. They gave her some pain meds which didn't seem to make a difference.
She's able to move around but struggles with her left leg, still eats, drinks, poops and lays.
The other gals have started bullying and pecking at her feathers though which is also a concern - ideally we'd separate her but we only have the one coop in a garden with limited space.
I'm starting to wonder whether she's twisted it oddly? But I can't tell and not sure what to do with her! I just want to help her but I don't know how :(

See video of her limp:

Thanks for your time, any advice gratefully received! :)
 
Welcome to BYC. It could be an injury and sprain, or she could have a leg bone deformity, such as Varus or Valgus deformity, or it could be an early sign of Mareks disease. Do you know if she was vaccinated? Varus or valgus can happen in one leg or both, and there can be an appearance of bowlegs or knock knees. Could you get a picture at eye level of her standing still from the front or back? Here is some info about leg bone deformities:
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_ChickensHere is some reading about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
 
Varus deformity in right leg pic one, and valgus in right leg pic two:
 

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Welcome to BYC. It could be an injury and sprain, or she could have a leg bone deformity, such as Varus or Valgus deformity, or it could be an early sign of Mareks disease. Do you know if she was vaccinated? Varus or valgus can happen in one leg or both, and there can be an appearance of bowlegs or knock knees. Could you get a picture at eye level of her standing still from the front or back? Here is some info about leg bone deformities:
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_ChickensHere is some reading about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
Thanks so much for your reply @Eggcessive, she was vaccinated for Marek's. I tried to take a back-on picture and it doesn't look super askew so might be just a sprain rather than the deformities? Good to know about though, I'd never heard of that.
She doesn't often put weight on her left leg when stood still, and I've noticed the foot shakes slightly when it's up too.
 

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