There is something wrong with my hen.

[Missy020219]

I have a 4-year-old laying hen, I don't know what breed, but she isn't using one leg. She jumps around on her god leg but is laying down most of the day. I don't think anything is broken. She doesn't try and peck me or anything when I try to make her stand on it. But she's not the same. I could never pick her up before without her flapping her wings and trying to getaway. I had a hen die while we were on a trip, so I don't want to lose another. Does anyone know what's wrong?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 4-year-old laying hen, I don't know what breed, but she isn't using one leg. She jumps around on her god leg but is laying down most of the day. I don't think anything is broken. She doesn't try and peck me or anything when I try to make her stand on it. But she's not the same. I could never pick her up before without her flapping her wings and trying to getaway. I had a hen die while we were on a trip, so I don't want to lose another. Does anyone know what's wrong?

Hi Missy, Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
Do you know when she last laid an egg?
Any swelling of the foot, toes or joints?
Any scabs or swelling of the bottom of the foot?
Does she have smooth scales on the legs and feet or does she have scaly leg mites?

Feel her abdomen between her legs and below the vent - any swelling or bulging there?
With her age and some of the symptoms you describe, she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder, it can be hard to know with hens sometimes.

Is she eating/drinking on her own o.k.?

 

[Missy020219]

Hi Missy, Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
Do you know when she last laid an egg?
Any swelling of the foot, toes or joints?
Any scabs or swelling of the bottom of the foot?
Does she have smooth scales on the legs and feet or does she have scaly leg mites?

Feel her abdomen between her legs and below the vent - any swelling or bulging there?
With her age and some of the symptoms you describe, she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder, it can be hard to know with hens sometimes.

Is she eating/drinking on her own o.k.?

I'll get back to you later about how she looks. But she is eating and drinking on her own. the last time she laid an egg was probably a few weeks ago. I started to bring my goats and dogs into the chicken coop just before my hens all stopped laying. But the last time I felt her leg her ankle or whatever you call it was hotter than her other ankle.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Can you try to get some pictures of her, maybe of her legs and feet as well as full body pictures?

 

[Missy020219]

Hi Missy, Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
Do you know when she last laid an egg?
Any swelling of the foot, toes or joints?
Any scabs or swelling of the bottom of the foot?
Does she have smooth scales on the legs and feet or does she have scaly leg mites?

Feel her abdomen between her legs and below the vent - any swelling or bulging there?
With her age and some of the symptoms you describe, she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder, it can be hard to know with hens sometimes.

Is she eating/drinking on her own o.k.?

I just checked on her and noticed on the bone near her butt on her belly there were not a lot of feathers which you can see where I circled it.

This is how it looks when she's standing.

I also noticed that a bit of her foot is green. The green is way brighter in real life.

 

[BGcoop]

I recently read that green skin in chickens can be bruising. Also how long has she been electing to lay down? The sparse festering in that area could be from the laying down frequently, especially if her leg hurts so she does it awkwardly?

 

[Henry&Friends]

I also noticed that a bit of her foot is green. The green is way brighter in real life. View attachment 2009141

Could be bruised, not sure what you can do about that other than let her rest it

her feet look like they could use a wash... soak in espon salts water and give her poor toes a scrub, it could reveal more that we’re not seeing.

View attachment 2009132

 

[Missy020219]

I recently read that green skin in chickens can be bruising. Also how long has she been electing to lay down? The sparse festering in that area could be from the laying down frequently, especially if her leg hurts so she does it awkwardly?

She's been electing to lay down for about three days. When she lays down she leans all her weight on her good leg and has the wing on her bad side spread out. Which is how I noticed she wasn't feeling well. she was laying in the corner like that.

 

[Missy020219]

Could be bruised, not sure what you can do about that other than let her rest it

her feet look like they could use a wash... soak in espon salts water and give her poor toes a scrub, it could reveal more that we’re not seeing.

okay ill do that later tonight

 

[Henry&Friends]

okay ill do that later tonight

Post pictures of top and bottom of feet afterwards, especially the bad foot. She could have bumblefoot or something underneath the crud. And she’ll probably enjoy the pedicure, lol.