Proud new owners of Bantam Chickens pose our first problem with our Brahma (limping and dragging her

[Bantam Chicken]

I need some advice about my chicken. Today I noticed her limping and hopping around the back yard. She has a difficult time lifting her foot up and sometimes her foot will drag behind her as she walks on it (walking on her foot flopped under). I am thinking it may have something to do with her ankle (sprain, strain, torn ligament, fracture) but have no experience in this. Has anyone else had a similar experience or may know what could be wrong with my chicken?

 

[write2caroline]

I had a rooster like that and he was fine after a couple of days. He was the least favorite of my chickens in fact he nailed me pretty well once and honestly, If I could catch him I would kill him, so I am not to keen on offering him any aid and I saw him limping around but he is fine now and I did nothing for him. He tries to attack me all of the time/
Caroline

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry about your hen. Lameness can be caused from a sprain or strain, eating something toxic, Mareks disease, or even something neurological. You might start with a complete exam from beak to tail. Looking for any signs of illness. When you get to the leg in question, feel all around from the hip down to the toes. Is there any swelling, heat, sensitive to movement when you move it around, redness, bumblefoot, injuries, etc...

If you can find nothing at all you can find, you might try putting the bird in a small cage with food and water right there in her face. Keep her in there for a couple weeks and see if she doesn't improve. I would offer her up apple cider vinegar in her water to help with pain and inflammation. 3/4 teaspoon per quart waterer, changed daily. Use plastic waterers only.

If there is no improvement and she gets worse, she could have Mareks in which case there is no cure.

You might want to post this in our emergency section for more help with this...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck with your hen and I hope she heals soon.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - sorry for the circumstances. Great advice from TwoCrows. Hopefully it is not Mareks.

 

[gander007]

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X3, great advice from TwoCrows, hope your hen recovers.

 

[Bantam Chicken]

Thanks everybody for your input! I greatly appreciate it. We checked her leg over last night and found nothing out of the ordinary. I had never heard of Mareks disease and am hoping this isn't the case!! I am gonna give her some time and see how she does in the next few days. Hopefully it is a strain and she will improve on her own. Fingers Crossed!! I will keep you all updated.

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! I agree if the chicken doesn't get better please post on the Emergencies thread. Best of luck to you!

 

[Annalog]

Bantam Chicken, I agree with the advice from TwoCrows. Last year one of my EE hens, Ginger, had a similar problem. It looked as if she had a problem with the hock joint (where the leg switches from feathers to scales). We do not have a local vet who treats chickens so we put her in an area that we had previously set up for growing chicks. She could see and hear the rest of the flock and they could see her but could not pick on her. She was eating and drinking well and did not seem unhappy or in pain. The main part of the space was too short for her to stand but it was close to the others and comfy for her. After a few weeks we noticed that she was coming out to the space where we keep supplies and was standing and limping a couple steps before sitting down again. It was about three months before she could free-range on her own with the other hens and another few months before she could stay with them 24 hours a day. (For about a month we left the door open between the regular coop and the isolation area so that the flock could vist her instead of them seeing her as an interloper.) Even before the injury, Ginger was near the bottom of the pecking order. Now, the only differences are that she doesn't run, she tends to be slower than the others, and she rests more often. About a month ago she started jumping up into the nesting boxes.

Hope your hen recovers completely.