Sahraschweiss
Songster
I have an 8 1/2 month old black sex-link pullet named Big Girl that has me confused.
Back in September she had a limp and found bumblefoot on the non-limp foot. As this is my first time with chickens, I took her to a vet. They did an exam (no x-ray). Gave me options on the bumblefoot and taught me how to clean and wrap. Also gave an antibiotic for 2 weeks. The limp they thought might be a strained muscle from compensating for the other foot. Fecal float was clear.
The bumblefoot took another round of antibiotics, but finally cleared after 4 weeks. She has nice scab free feet again. However, the limp never really went away. She got around ok, did her chicken things, ate, drank, scratched, roosted, pooped, but she would take long breaks. She had stopped laying in September, but has just started again two weeks ago.
Over the weekend it looked like she was trying to lay in run. She sitting and nesting. Our top hen started bully her by ripping out tail feathers, so I removed Big Girl.
Since Sunday, Big Girl has been in a 30 in x 48 in dog crate in the house. She laid yesterday. She didn't get on the low (6 inch tall) rooster. She didn't poop at all during the night, but had a gigantic single poop this morning. She eats and drinks, but spends most of her time sitting. Her comb is red, eyes are clear. She watches what I'm doing, and occasionally talks to me when I talk to her. She will move if I open her door. She will go for some scratch, but likes to position herself between her food and water.
I'm at a loss over what is happening. It's like she is nesting but hasn't quite figured out what she is doing. Or her hip just hurts.
Back in September she had a limp and found bumblefoot on the non-limp foot. As this is my first time with chickens, I took her to a vet. They did an exam (no x-ray). Gave me options on the bumblefoot and taught me how to clean and wrap. Also gave an antibiotic for 2 weeks. The limp they thought might be a strained muscle from compensating for the other foot. Fecal float was clear.
The bumblefoot took another round of antibiotics, but finally cleared after 4 weeks. She has nice scab free feet again. However, the limp never really went away. She got around ok, did her chicken things, ate, drank, scratched, roosted, pooped, but she would take long breaks. She had stopped laying in September, but has just started again two weeks ago.
Over the weekend it looked like she was trying to lay in run. She sitting and nesting. Our top hen started bully her by ripping out tail feathers, so I removed Big Girl.
Since Sunday, Big Girl has been in a 30 in x 48 in dog crate in the house. She laid yesterday. She didn't get on the low (6 inch tall) rooster. She didn't poop at all during the night, but had a gigantic single poop this morning. She eats and drinks, but spends most of her time sitting. Her comb is red, eyes are clear. She watches what I'm doing, and occasionally talks to me when I talk to her. She will move if I open her door. She will go for some scratch, but likes to position herself between her food and water.
I'm at a loss over what is happening. It's like she is nesting but hasn't quite figured out what she is doing. Or her hip just hurts.