Pullet Limping Badly

[micstrachan]

Good evening,
My sweet Millie (short for Mildred) started limping last weekend. I thought it might be an impact injury or sprain ffrom jumping off the roost, since her foot looks fine. She's been slowly getting better.
However, something happened between this morning and this afternoon, as she is MUCH worse and won't put any weight on it. Poor sweetie is obviously sore. However, she is determined to hobble around and roost and be with the flock. What should I do? Keep her contained to force her to rest? This morning she was almost walking normally, so I think she reinjured herself somehow. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi. Sorry she is having trouble.

How old is she? What breed? Is she being picked on?

 

[micstrachan]

She's about 5 1/2 months old and is a Speckled Sussex. She has been my slowest developing pullet... growing nice and slowly and is still a bit pink in the face, but seems robust. Hasn't quite come into lay yet, but is squatting. She is very very sweet... lower in the pecking order, but I don't see her being bullied. She has a best friend in the flock, Ruby, my Buckeye.

 

[micstrachan]

My flock is mixed... 6 new this year (same age as Millie) and three about a year and a half old. Recently lost a hen to a respiratory infection, but she's been fragile since egg yolk peritonitis in February and had started passing egg material again. She past just a few days after I got her back on hormones. I think her fragile state was more the cause and not an infectious thing. Hopefully I'm righf. Millie doesn't have any symptoms besides the limp.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Ok my main concern with limp is Marek's. And had a bird get it with NO other signs until almost 2 weeks later. But hopefully your is just an in jury.

Sorry for your recent loss.

If your Millie isn't being bullied or showing other signs of infection, I would keep her with the flock. Although rest is good, if they are stressed from being separated they may be more emotionally tired which can take it's toll.

How is she doing today?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It may be best to limit her activity to see if she improves. Placing a wire dog kennel in the run works well for confinement, this way she is still "part of the flock". She may have re-injured it jumping from the roost.

I had one that sprained her leg jumping, I would confine her everyday, let her out about an hour before roosting so she could move about/dust bathe/scratch. She had no trouble getting up on the roosts at night, but I would make sure I took her down every morning so she didn't jump and do more damage and reverse any healing that she had. I believe I had her confined for a little over a week just to make sure she healed.

Sprains/injuries can take days to weeks to heal. Provide her with poultry vitamins containing B2(Riboflavin) and see that she is eating/drinking well. If she becomes lethargic, stops eating/drinking or acts very sick, then you will need to re-access her.

Keep us posted.

 

[micstrachan]

Thank you! Today her limp is just as bad... she really doesn't want to put weight on it. However, her spirits seem god and she ate heartily when I let them out. She is now confined in what I call a "grow up coop," one of those store bought coops, which I use when they've outgrown the brooder but aren't ready for the big coop. It's in the pen and some of her flock mates are even sitting right beside her on the other side of the wire. I have her there mostly to limit activity. So far, when they're together, nobody is picking on her (except one, who picks on ALL the younger ones... forcing her to run/hop away and I wanted her to rest.)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yes, I have a ramp to my roost. And some birds use it but others don't. Sometimes I worry about them hitting the ramp and getting hurt when they are hopping down.

Those little store bought coops seem perfect for something like this. Nice that she has friends hanging around. My birds in confinement usually get company to.. though it's often just trying to steal their shade or feed.

Hope she feels better.

 

[micstrachan]

Millie seems ever so slightly better since we got home from letting the dog run on the beach. I think I'll limit her activity for several more days.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi everyone,
I know there are much more serious concerns going on than my Millie's limp, but I could still use some help. I kept her confined today to limit activity. She is still VERY sore, but managed to get up to roost (let her out so she could go to bed with the flock). I did notice one thing... when she is on SOFT ground, like the thick layer of wood shavings, she is not as tender-footed... not walking quite as gingerly. Is this a hint as to the nature of her injury? I do plan to keep her confined all week. Since her confinement is within the coop, there doesn't seem to be any issue with keeping her integrated in the flock through the wire.
Thanks!