My hen Owl has done something to her foot. She is limping and when she steps on her left foot she does not want to unfurl her toes out to stand on (although I did she her take a few steps here or there,where it looked fine). She instead tries to put her weight her stub of the leg with the entire foot curled up. In other words, stepping on her ankle. Looking at the foot, it l doesn't seem to have anything wrong. Perfectly healthy skin, no crookedy toes, no missing toenails, no swelling. She seems to be able to move the entire leg ok, so I don't think it's broken but she kinda limps as she steps on to that curled up foot. The foot can be spread out and she can step on it but then after a step or two she curls up the foot and tries to walk on the ankle stub. I can't tell what the problem is. Is it strained, fractured, or is it higher up in her leg and the foot thing just a pain relieving maneuver? Anybody got some guesses?
This can sometimes be a symptom of riboflavin or B2 deficiency. Posting a picture or two may help. I would start poultry vitamins in her water every day, or use Polyvisol without iron 3 drops daily. Using a ground up or dissolved B Complex tablet would also work to give extra riboflavin. Here are a couple of links to read: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency Curled-toe paralysis in chicks Figure 2: A three-week-old chick showing signs of curled-toe paralysis associated with riboflavin deficiencyThree, three-week-old chicks were submitted for post-mortem examination from a group of 65 chicks delivered as day-olds, comprising a mixture of breeds. The history indicated curling of the toes under the birds and walking on curled feet, which was confirmed on clinical assessment of the submitted birds which showed marked medial curling of the toes of one or both feet (Figure 2). Post-mortem examination showed possible thickening of the sciatic nerve in the birds but no other abnormalities were noted. The findings and presentation of the birds was suggestive of curled-toe paralysis due to riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency in the diet. Histopathological examination of the sciatic nerves revealed changes consistent with riboflavin deficiency. The birds were being fed an organic diet which had no synthetic vitamin supplementation. Curled-toe paralysis is an uncommon clinical manifestation of dietary riboflavin deficiency but can occur when cereal-based diets, which can be low in natural riboflavin content, are not supplemented with the vitamin. Unless the nerve damage has been irreversible, there is usually a good response to riboflavin or vitamin B complex supplementation, as reported in this case following B-vitamin supplementation via the water.
