What to give older hens For arthritis

[lilofthestars]

I have a large brown Brahma. She’s about six years old. She’s been limping for a while. My husband and I soaked her foot in Epson salt we sprayed it wrapped it up she had two pockets there we clean those out a few times. But she still limping and having a hard time. I did give her a little bit of an aspirin one day and she seem to get around better. So I’m thinking it might be arthritis what do you give chickens for arthritis? She is so large and her chest sticks out it looks like fat. Three of my girls are about six years old. Then my husband and I were at a yard sale and we bought another chick and she was a year old. We watched them really good to make sure they all get along. I’m trying to get her to lay her eggs in the nesting box. After I feed the chickens and she runs up on the back porch and lays her egg. I picked her up and put her in the nesting box but she still lays her
egg on the back porch I’m not sure how to train her for that one. She also When I get real close to her she bends down and shakes, makes me feel bad I pet her let her know she’s not gonna be hurt.!Please if anybody has any suggestions about my older hen with the arthritis what you give them and also my younger hen that’s laying her eggs on the back porch lol. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this

 

[Eggcessive]

To get a hen to lay eggs in the nest box, I would put a fake egg or golf ball in each nest box. I would also confine her to the coop each day until she lays her egg, on the days she normally would lay. Maybe keeping her in the coop for a week might help with that.

Can you post any pictures of the hen’s legs, feet and her chest. Can you check the crop in her right chest in the morning before she eats, to see if her crop is empty, or if it is full and hard or puffy?

 

[lilofthestars]

Thank you for replying. I will take the pictures in the morning and check her crop

 

[lilofthestars]

Good Morning I felt her crop it feels kind of mushy. I read up on that and I gave her some coconut oil along with my other chickens I know it won’t hurt them if it needs to it will help them. I took as many pictures as I could she’s a Brahma so she does have feathers on her legs of course. I Also I had a picture of my new little chicken. And I forgot to mention they had have poultry pox. I was told through the wall backyard chickens there’s not too much you can do about that.Just try to make him as comfortable as possible and it’ll go away it comes back then it goes away.Thank you so much for trying to help me. I can’t stand any kind of animal being hurt or in pain. I have two dogs that I am trying to work with one has heart problems coughing and arthritis real bad and I have two chinchillas one is almost 19 years old

 

[Eggcessive]

There are some missing feathers from the feathered feet and legs. Nustock Cream from the feed store might be good to apply to the scales of the feet and legs. That could help if there are leg mites or if her feathers are being pulled out.

 

[lilofthestars]

Thank you

 

[lilofthestars]

Well I first tested the cream and applied a small amount last night to be sure it would not hurt her. Then a little while ago applied the nu stock to her legs and feet.I will give a update in a few days. My chickens had gotten poultry pox last year I found out not to much you can do except put Ointment on it. My three chickens were melting for a couple months but the three chickens have not laid any eggs and golly it’s probably been about four months any help there or any advice I should say. I fed them high protein while they were molting Now I have them on Organic layer pellets and dried worms. Maybe once a week I give them some scratch because I know that’s not very good for them. They have a large yard to run around and eat grass and greens. Thank you again

 

[Eggcessive]

Many hens over 1 year old will slow down or stop laying during the shorter winter days until after the start of the year. They need about 12 hours of daylight to continue laying through the winter. If you want to set a small light on a timer for about 3 extra hours in the morning to go off at daylight, they might start back laying. Many prefer to let them take a break in winter. I have done both.

Check the crops at daybreak to make sure they are empty and flat. If they are not emptying overnight, there may be a crop problem.

 

[lilofthestars]

Thank you My three girls are six years old but the new Hen
she’s just about a year and she’s been laying every single day. But the three girls that are six years old they haven’t laid in months I’m speaking probably around four months but thank you for your help you have a great day

 

[Eggcessive]

At 6 years they may slow down or stop laying altogether. I am surprised sometimes when one old hen starts laying in late winter. I have had a few 8-9 year olds lay eggs, but they kind of decide when they want to, LOL.