Young hen with limp for 3 days now has yellow poo

[flatiron70]

I have a young (18wks) Cream Legbar hen, she has had a bit of a limp for about 3 days. Discovered the limp Fri if I recall, yesterday not limping so much but this morning while everyone was outside, she stayed on the roost, so I collected her up an inspected but find nothing on the foot or leg. I put drawing salve on all the skin of her leg and between toes and put her in the brood box in the same coop with all her sisters and friends. My thought is keeping her from jumping or mucking about as my girls free range into the cow pasture. But then I saw two droppings of yellow poo, one where I put her in the brooder box, and another near where she had been perched before I picked her up.

Not lethargic, or droopy, but comb is a wee bit pale, she isn't laying yet so can judge that (bought 5 at the same time months back, none laying yet) Big coop, lots of space with 20 chickens in there, none seem to have any issue right now all out doing their morning worm hunt right now.

I am in full panic mode though, I have been very lucky over 3 years of chicken raising, learning new stuff every day! Had one go gimpy on me like this, did many soaking sessions, never found a bumble sore, would heal and re-injure repeatedly. Dealt with my first prolapse last month. Knock on wood or praise the heavens but no diseases YET. I just cleaned that coop last week, should I go full biosecurity clean and isolate her? Or accept that they all free range and what she has been exposed to has likely already been shared by all? Or chill and keep watch, she is in some way injured, or it's early bumble foot sore I can't find, or muscle injury, and this new yellow poo is her body saying "help me". I did give her starter grower medicated when I put her in the brooder space, as well as a bit of Nutra Drench in her water, both are freshly sanitized feeders, and brooder has fresh bedding. I keep two flocks in separate areas, opposite sides of the property, one free ranges my garden space and the other gets the cow pasture, separate coops and secure runs when not ranging. I think at the very least I use change boots for now when going between coops. But if its coco don't make me spell that word, but the cows can get that from the chickens if I remember my reading. Everything I've read about Coco, is scary and Dr internet always puts people in a panic.

So chill and keep watch or full biosecurity and wash down?

 

[Yardmom]

Posting a pic of the poop might help more experienced keeps tell if the poo is just the result of the diet change or something more serious.

 

[Eggcessive]

What is coco? Do you mean coccidiosis? Coccidiosis affects many species, but each species has their own strains. Chickens can suffer from 9 or more strains. Cows, turkeys, ducks, and dogs get other strains.

Limping could be due to an injury. Does she try to put weight on the leg or hold it up to her body? Does she curl her toes under or try to walk on her hock? I would keep her from jumping or running, and force her to rest it in a dog crate with her own food and water and bedding. Look at her foot pad for any possible bumblefoot scab.

 

[flatiron70]

What is coco? Do you mean coccidiosis? Coccidiosis affects many species, but each species has their own strains. Chickens can suffer from 9 or more strains.

Limping could be due to an injury. Does she try to put weight on the leg or hold it up to her body? Does she curl her toes under or try to walk on her hock? I would keep her from jumping or running, and force her to rest it in a dog crate with her own food and water and bedding. Look at her foot pad for any possible bumblefoot scab

I did secure her in the brooder so she can't jump down from a roost bar. She will walk on the leg but gentle, definite limp. I also looked at the pad this morning and gently put pressure, didn't feel anything and no visible wounds or undersurface lumps leading me to suspect bumble. I will continue to observe. Unlike previous experience, I want to us an in-coop area rather than separate chicken hospital to reduce re-integration issues. Unless it's an illness. While I had her on her back to inspect foot, both feet had curled toes, but she didn't mind my opening them to inspect.

 

[flatiron70]

This was for this morning. Still learning how to use this site. I'm tech challenged!

 

[Eggcessive]

Cows mainly get 2 types of coccidiosis strains that chickens do not get. The dropping has a lot of bile in it, and the dark green may be because she is not eating much. I would hand feed her some mushy wet chicken feed and some egg bits up to her beak from a bowl. It is always best to keep the chickens with the flock, even with separating in a wire crate.