Yesterday morning my Red Star was limping really badly when I let them out. She has done this once before - just not this badly - and got better. Today she is still limping as badly as before. She is eating and drinking and laying (she is my best layer!) but will not go too far when they are out free-range. My husband thinks she will have to be put down!! I think what happened to her (and why just her I don't know) is that she jumped down from the roost and slipped - they warned about this I remember with the chicks and splay-leg. So, I need input... does she need to go to the vet? Does anyone have any idea what else it might be besides splay-leg? Is there anything I can do for her? I do NOT want to put her down... but I don't want her to suffer either. This is my first year raising chickens and they have been healthy and happy - this is the only real problem I have had. Also, what can I put down that will keep this from happening? They tear up newspaper. This coop is one that came from on-line so it has a white floor that I can clean easily, but obviously it is slippery and if she recovers I think it will happen again. Thanks!
that's a good idea about the roosts... I just assumed they needed to be high... I brought her in the house tonite and hope she's better in the morning. I don't want to lose her!
