Old hen with odd gait

[PastaChickenBoo]

6 almost 7 year old light Brahma, she lifts one leg really close to her body while walking. Still normally puts weight on it, and she eats/drinks normally (just doesn’t lay anymore). Cause for concern or is she just old?

 

[PastaChickenBoo]

Update. I wasn’t able to get a picture but I checked that foot and there’s the beginnings of a scab (nothing I could pry off) and the foot is red but not swollen, so probably bumblefoot. How would I treat this non surgically?

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

She might have a thorn or something stuck in her pad so I would start with a long warm foot soak with epsom salt if you have it. Then disinfect with an antiseptic. If there is any sort of cut or opening in her pad I would wrap her foot to help keep it clean and protected. Check it and rewrap every day or two. If there is no cut you might not have to wrap it and can just soak and clean it and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse.

Here is a link on how to wrap a chicken foot if you need it (the only really important thing is not to wrap too tightly!!!): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-correctly-wrap-a-chickens-foot.77028/

 

[Certified Chicken Lover]

Here's a helpful video on using prid to cure bumblefoot:

Here is another article how to cure bumblefoot with homeopathy:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumble-foot-cured-with-homeopathy.1607135/

There are a lot of other great articles on this on byc if you don't feel comfortable with either of these too. I personally would recommend prid that is what I do for my girls, but everyone's situation is different so it may not work for you. Something to consider though, is that some cases of bumblefoot get so bad that they require surgical removal hopefully your doesn't. Good luck! keep us updated