Started with a limp, now green poop & lethargy...

[b0ckb0ckg0rl]

Hi all
My 5yo Japanese bantam hen started limping a few days ago. She seemed fine otherwise, did everything she usually does (potter around, dirt bathe, run for treats, fly up onto things) and the limp barely seemed to inconvenience her. She doesn't have bumblefoot and there don't seem to be any lesions, nor does she have mites. Her outer toe joint is a little swollen, but not warm, and she doesn't grip when we lift her foot but still has movement in it. We took her to the vet yesterday, who gave her a pain killer and an anti-inflammatory as the only plausible explanation seemed that she hurt herself somehow.

Today, however, she's been pretty lethargic. Came out of the coop a little slower this morning, still hopped up onto the flower pot (her usual morning hangout), but barely moved for the rest. She gets up and walks a few steps to readjust, occasionally, but that's all. Since I put her in their box of straw on the patio (they're spoiled, I know), she has been mostly standing or sitting, often asleep, occasionally having a little preen or a scratch and peck in the straw. She still drinks and still accepts treats, and I think she's been eating as well (crop has food in it and she ate this morning) but I haven't been able to watch her all the time.

She has been laying bright green poops since this afternoon. They do eat some grass so it's usually greenish, but these are quite a bit brighter in shade and a tad slimy with slimy urea. The chance of her having eaten poison of any kind is extremely low, so I'm thinking she isn't digesting her food very well. We're giving the vet a ring later on, but I was wondering if anyone here has had any similar experiences or has any advice.

EDITED TO ADD: She hasn't laid eggs in a while, but this usually isn't indicative of anything with our chickens. They never laid every day and when there's a cold spell in spring, they often go into winter mode until it warms up again. Now, it may be related.
EDITED AGAIN: (Sorry, I'm nervous, forgetting things and kind of all over the place.) She is also still pretty alert and occasionally makes soft noises. I just checked on her again and she laid a normal coloured but slimy poop and her crop is definitely emptying.


(Side note: I live in mainland Europe so a lot of treatments available in the UK and America aren't sold where I live :c )

 

[Yardmom]

How is she doing?

 

[b0ckb0ckg0rl]

So-so. The vet says she has an inflamed tendon sheath or something. I don't know what the exact translation is. She's been put on a round of anti-inflammatory medication, but the vet says it typically takes a few months to heal. She's still alert as ever, the swelling has gone down and the limp appears to be getting a tiny bit better.

She hasn't been moving much, though, which I guess is to be expected and the vet assured us was not abnormal in her condition. She's also not eating that well, though she has gotten a little more willing to eat and her weight is stable. She doesn't touch her pellets and even mash takes some convincing. It needs to be a certain texture before she eats it, and I need to sprinkle it with egg, sunflower seeds and wheat grains before she shows any interest. Then she starts picking out the good bits and once she gets going, eats some mash as well. She still hoovers up the treats like usual and would totally fill her crop with those, though. Her poops aren't as green anymore, though the colour is still a little off.

I'm not sure what to think. I'm a bit of a pessimist and I worry that she's on her way out. I really hope she isn't because I love the birds to bits and we lost three of them last year. All I can do is keep her comfy and fed, and see what happens.