What to do for a limping chicken

[dhp316]

Hello everyone,

I have 7 new chickens that I’ve had since they hatched in early March. I came out other day and noticed that one was limping. It could still walk and run if it needed to but it was with a limp or a hitch. I’ve examined the bird twice the past couple of days since and haven’t noticed any issues (broken bones, cuts, thorns). I flipped her over and checked for Bumblefoot and didn’t see anything that showed signs of that either. She’s a little young for laying but I checked her to see if she was egg bound and didn’t find any evidence of that either. I’m thinking it’s a soft tissue injury she had one day and it just has been bothering her. She walks around and eats and drinks fine but after a little bit she will pick the foot up and stand in one spot and then lay down for a while before moving around again. She lets me feel around all over her leg and doesn’t flinch, but it obviously bothers her when she walks

is there anything I can do besides wait it out (I saw somewhere that 1/2 an Advil in the morning is one thing that someone did that helped With inflammation and it cleared in about a week). Any other remedies? And after how long should I wait until I should do something more intensive (2 weeks?) any helps is greatly appreciated!

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

If she has no other symptoms I would assume it would just be a soft tissue injury. It lasts for another week or so I would treat. For now I would just let her heal herself naturally, as it doesn’t seem too severe.

 

[aart]

Chances are it's a sprain/strain.
Have had a few limpers before, it can take weeks for it to completely go away.

If limp is really bothering them by inhibiting their normal activities too much, I will isolate them in a crate to 'force' rest for a day or two. Letting them out late in day, an hour before roost time, to give them a stretch and evaluate their mobility, then decide if they need another day and put them back in crate off roost after dark. Repeat stretch and eval the next day until they are better.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[dhp316]

Thank you both for the help! I greatly appreciate it.