She was limping on Thursday so I took her to the vet. She was examined, had an x-ray, no broken bones and suspected muscle injury so painkillers were prescribed. On Friday, she was outdoors free ranging when a fox came into the garden suddenly. We scared the fox away but she had ran on the bad leg with the limp to the point were it gave out and she collapsed with her wings stretched out. Since then, she has been unable to use the leg and she has lifted it into her wing, her foot is curled up and doesn't react to touch - like it's paralysed. She eats some of the food we offer her (layers, mash, egg, mealworms, fruit) but her appetite is not good so she's lost weight and I can feel her breast bone. The main concern is the leg, she's taking the painkillers but nothing is changing. Her paralysed foot is also hot to touch but doesn't appear swollen. I suspect she has torn a muscle or something serious has happened.
If anyone else has had this happen to a chicken, please reach out because I'm desperate to help her. Her good leg is weakening each day and now she just sits around instead of trying to stand and hop. I was thinking of making a splint for the paralysed foot or a chicken swing but not sure if it will help her considering she is holding the entire leg in stiffly and just leaning on it. I can't get to the vet until next Tuesday. Here's a photo of what her paralysed foot and bad leg currently look like:
If anyone else has had this happen to a chicken, please reach out because I'm desperate to help her. Her good leg is weakening each day and now she just sits around instead of trying to stand and hop. I was thinking of making a splint for the paralysed foot or a chicken swing but not sure if it will help her considering she is holding the entire leg in stiffly and just leaning on it. I can't get to the vet until next Tuesday. Here's a photo of what her paralysed foot and bad leg currently look like: