Speckledey Hen sat down all day

[mitchbo1]

We have a 21 week old hen who, whilst never being excessively active, has now gone to sitting down all day. She’s begun holding one leg up like a flamingo and limping, unable to weight bear. She’s eating and drinking well, poop normal and sits awake most of day watching the flock. I’ve checked both feet and no sign of Bumblefoot. Gave her a couple of Epsom salt baths, no vent issues and not egg bound on checking her abdomen and vent. We currently have her in the conservatory where the other hens can still see her so she can rest. Her legs feel warm but not sure if that’s just cos she lay on them. Just wondered if it was a tendon issue and how likely it’ll take to heal. She did have a ‘bruise’ on her other foot last week.shouid I put her in the coop at night? Any suggestions wgat could be ? Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Does she try to use the leg at all or can she mive it? It is likely a sprain if you do not see any displacement, swelling, or bruising. But at this age when one becomes lame in one leg, Mareks disease is something to consider. Was she vaccinated as a chick?

 

[mitchbo1]

Welcome to BYC. Does she try to use the leg at all or can she mive it? It is likely a sprain if you do not see any displacement, swelling, or bruising. But at this age when one becomes lame in one leg, Mareks disease is something to consider. Was she vaccinated as a chick?

Yes she was vaccinated. Just now she’s tried to use it to hobble to food, she put it down but no weight on it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Good to hear. Well if it is an injury, and you don’t feel like it should be xrayed by a vet for a possible broken bone, I would try to limit her activity to force her to rest the leg. A medium wire dog crate or similar with her own food and water would work well. That way she could be placed where her flockmates are. I would not let her jump to a roost for a couple of weeks.

 

[mitchbo1]

Just an update. We kept her inside for 5 days resting in a box (next to door where others could see her) after which she kept going and standing by the door wanting to go out. She’s now hobbling around and eating well. Ironically the one the used to bully her now walks with her everywhere. Still no eggs but the buff barred we bought at the same time has just started so fingers crossed it’s soon. She’s still quite small but seems inquisitive and moving well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the update, and I hope that she continues to get better.