4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[alexgirl73]

My silkie cross Snowball is limping. She was fine this morning, but have just gone to put them away for the night and she is limping, doesn't want to put weight on one of her legs. When I picked her up I can't see any damage, and she lets you pull it out straight. My OH will not take her to the vet, to him they are chickens, not pets If she is suffering he will 'do the deed' Does anyone have any ideas? Could she just have jarred it jumping down off the garden table or something?

[helenmb]

Did her leg feel hot (hotter than her other) as this could mean she has injured it. I think its quite easy for them to have this happen, just as it is for any animal. Is she walking at all on it? If so then maybe you could give her some Arnica (in case it is bruised) there was a post recently about Arnica which might be of interest. Sorry your OH is not sympathetic towards your girl, could you not sneak her out to the vet if things don't improve?

[SueChick]

Hi. There is a sticky on here somewhere about chickens limping due to lack of calcium. Do have a read because we nearly lost one of our ladies due to this last year and she started limping as her first sign of anything going wrong. We didn't suspect it as she had not even laid a softie.....we thought her calcium levels were fine because of that but apparently they use their muscle/bloods supply of calcium to form the shells if their diet is lacking in it. Hence, the limp. We now add limestone flour and they are great now.

[alexgirl73]

Did her leg feel hot (hotter than her other) as this could mean she has injured it. I think its quite easy for them to have this happen, just as it is for any animal. Is she walking at all on it? If so then maybe you could give her some Arnica (in case it is bruised) there was a post recently about Arnica which might be of interest. Sorry your OH is not sympathetic towards your girl, could you not sneak her out to the vet if things don't improve?

 

She was trying to walk on it, but was obviously in discomfort from it. It didn't feel any hotter, well not that I noticed anyway. I will try and hunt down some arnica tomorrow. Thank you

 

Suechick thank you, I'll have a look, but not sure if it is this tbh, as we haven't had any eggs from her at all yet. but definitely worth having a look at.

[helenmb]

There is another post on here at the moment with a similar situation, might be work taking a squizz at this.

[Egluntyne]

If she will let you ull the leg straight, it might be just a sprain. Have a good feel along the length of the leg. Any obvious deformity? If not, then there is probably nothing much to worry about.

 

If she is trying to run about with her pals, it might aggravate it, so I'd bring her in and keep her warm and allow her to rest for a couple of days. Pop her back into the nest box with the others overnight so that they all remember each other.

[alexgirl73]

Thanks all for your advice. I'm happy to say that she has been using it a lot more today, although still hopping slightly, but seems as if it was just a small sprain. Phew

[helenmb]

Thanks all for your advice. I'm happy to say that she has been using it a lot more today, although still hopping slightly, but seems as if it was just a small sprain. Phew

That's good news, hope she continues to improve.