My father-in-law was feeding the chickens today and noticed one of our RIR hens not getting and leaning against a pile. He gave her a light push and she wouldn't move. We got her from a friend during the winter so she usually runs from us. He picked her up and put her in the food bucket and she started eating but was light. He put water in front of her and she drank. I checked her out and at first thought maybe she had a broken leg or was egg bound. Her right leg was limp and the toes curled. We got feeling her and she didn't have any muscles or meat on her. She didn't act sick and bit me. I put her in a cage by herself with food and water. We don't know if maybe the other chickens are scaring her away from the food or not. She usually goes over to get when we feed them. Any ideas of what might be causing her problems? She does eat when offered food but acts to weak to get to it. When she is laying down she has her butt up in the air. Could she may have an egg stuck? I've never had an egg bound chicken so I don't know any signs. We don't have them outside yet but are going to put them out there this week in their old area till we get the new spot ready.
UPDATE......
It's been a while since I've seperated the hen into her own large cage. She has been eating and drinking well. But she won't use her legs. She will hold herself up on her knees (where the leg bends backwards) but she won't try to stand and her toes are curled like she is roosting. I've taken her out of the cage and put her on the ground and pet her since she doesn't like it in hopes she might try to stand to get away. It didn't work. I held her and worked her legs and feet like a physical therepy session. She seems healthier other than that. She is alert, eats like a pig, has been drinking water, and will hobble around the cage on her knees. I don't know what to do with her. Her legs are still thin but I'm worried about her not using them and I'm going to be gone after the 4th for a few weeks.
UPDATE......
It's been a while since I've seperated the hen into her own large cage. She has been eating and drinking well. But she won't use her legs. She will hold herself up on her knees (where the leg bends backwards) but she won't try to stand and her toes are curled like she is roosting. I've taken her out of the cage and put her on the ground and pet her since she doesn't like it in hopes she might try to stand to get away. It didn't work. I held her and worked her legs and feet like a physical therepy session. She seems healthier other than that. She is alert, eats like a pig, has been drinking water, and will hobble around the cage on her knees. I don't know what to do with her. Her legs are still thin but I'm worried about her not using them and I'm going to be gone after the 4th for a few weeks.
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