Non weight bearing hen

[Chloe Petit]

Hi, I have taken on a chicken from an organic egg farm's hospital. She has a damaged left leg, not weight-bearing. Not particularly warm warm to touch but hock and leg thicker but hard (I. E. Doesn't feel swollen as such.. As no give when pressed) getting bullied by my other 2 (one of whom she came with). Any thoughts very welcome.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she able to get up and to food and water okay? They are probably establishing a new pecking order which will cause some pecking. She might benefit from a dog crate with food and water, inside the coop with the others where they can see and smell each other. Can you check her foot pad for any scabs of bumble foot? With this only being on one leg, I would say it is from an injury healing, such as a broken bone. There are diseases that can cause enlarged legs such as osteopetrosis, mycoplasma synoviae, and gout, but those usually will involve both legs or feet. With her handicap, it might be best to be in a small flock for the time being. More pictures sometimes can help. I hope others can offer help or sufgestions.

 

[Chloe Petit]

Thanks Eggcessive, she is eating and drinking fine but not preening - presumably because she can't balance. I only have 3 chickens in total but as I'm now in a predicament of not knowing whether or not her leg will ever heal. What do you think could cause the leg to look so much larger than the other?

I don't really fancy paying a hefty bill at my vet (presuming they know what they are looking at?!) to be told she needs to be pts or culled. I do have two people who have experience of culling chickens so I know that I can go down that option if necessary but she is such a sweetie!

I don't know how to continue with introducing them all. She is currently in a dog crate and they are free ranging around her as we speak but yes, popping it in the run is a good idea. However.. I am getting an Eglu cube this evening with a view to them eventually going in that. What I don't want to do is put the other two together yet so they form too tight a bond (although my original hen is pretty bossy and keeps pecking the other one to keep her in order).

 

[Eggcessive]

The picture seems to show that he one leg is not only larger, but a much paler color, too. Check up at the top of her leg just to make sure that there is nothing constricting the blood flow, such as a string or hair that has become wrapped. I don't really have any others possible answers except the ones in my previous post, but I supposed there could be some internal reason for the swelling, such as a cyst or tumor inside the top of the leg. I would do some reading about osteopetrosis, MS, and articular gout here on BYC.

 

[Kiki]

Here is a good article you may want to read too:
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Chloe Petit]

After seeing her panting and looking at her leg again, we realised there was no way she was going to get better. She kept falling over. So our friend has done the deed. Very quickly. I feel it was the best thing, her quality of life was compromised.

 

[Kiki]

Good for you!
Well done.

 

[Chloe Petit]

Really? I thought I might get berated.

 

[Kiki]

Really? I thought I might get berated.

NO I am dead serious...
If you thought she was suffering then you did the right thing IMO.
We aren't there seeing what you are seeing..it is hard to diagnose thru the net.
If anyone complains..report the post.

 

[Chloe Petit]

You're a star. Thank you so much. It wasn't the easiest viewing, I won't lie but I made myself watch it done as it was partly my decision and therefore my responsibility.