Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[hippy chick]

One of my Ex-bats Helga (now renamed Hennie) has developed a sudden limp today. She was fine yesterday but this morning I noticed her starting to hobble. As the day has progressed the limp has got more pronounced. She is now hardly putting any weight on the leg. She is eating and drinking as normal, but I'm not sure if she laid this morning.

 

A few days ago she got attacked by my pet rabbit . I don't know if it is anything to do with that or not. There was no blood drawn but the rabbit did have a mouth full of feathers She did seem fine although a bit stressed.

 

I have also noticed a small scab on the base of her tail.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Guest

[Christian]

Are you able to check down each leg to see if there are any obvious injuries or hot spots?

 

They do occasionally limp if they have landed funny or sprained themselves, but if she isn't weight baring then I would take her to a vet for a check up. Could be a sign that she is egg bound as I believe this have been a symptom with another forum members hen.

 

Good luck with her

[hippy chick]

Thanks Christian.

I have felt her legs and one of them does seem to be a bit warmer than the other one. I don't think I can feel an egg in her but her vent does look a bit dry. I think i will keep her confined to the cat box until I can get her to the vet on Monday. Things always seem to go wrong on a weekend

I do have some metacam and baytril in stock, do you think I ought to give her some or wait till I see the vet

Jilly x

[eggalp]

i have just had a chook in the kitchen in a dog crate for three days because she suddenly started with a limp. She was hardly weight-bearing and was using her wings rather that putting her foot down - no idea what happened to her! She could do nothing but sit and rest whilst in the cage (with food & water obviously) and today she is much better. Took her to the vets yesterday to be on the safe side and nothing is broken so just a sprain i think. A few days rest in hentensive care in the kitchen has done her the world of good, today she is back in the garden with her mates like nothing ever happened, could you put your chook somewhere to rest for a while? Hope she makes a good recovery too

[hippy chick]

Thanks eggalp,

I have put her in the cat box in a small pen.

Glad you chuck is back to normal.

Did the vet give her any meds

[eggalp]

no hippy chick, no meds, just a once over - had a good look at her feet and toes and a feel of her legs, she agreed it was prob just a sprain. Said to take her back if she doesn't improve but today she's good so hopefully wont need to go back

[hippy chick]

I have had a look at Hennys foot today. The one that she is limping on seems much more swollen and puffier on the pad than her other one. I have also noticed a small scab on one of her toes. I bathed it in salt water and put some antiseptic spray on it.

[hippy chick]

Could it be bumble foot, or am I just panicing

[hippy chick]

Well Hennie is fully back to normal. She had 3 days of metacam and is now running around as good as ever I guess it was probably just a sprain.

She has settled in well with Gwen and Penny.

 

I seem to be having a run of chicken illnesses at the moment. What with Fifi's wound and now another one (Piper) that ran into the patio door and seems to have hurt her leg and ended up with a limp. I have examined her and there are no breaks or hotspots just she started to limp yesterday and now cant stand up. I have her in the dog crate in the conservatory. I have given her some metacam and extra vitamins in her water. Somehow I don't think she is going to recover as quickly as Hennie has done.

 

Is there no end to playing chicken nurse

[Plum]

Heck was she jealous of the attention. Hope she picks up as well. They are a real worry but may be worth giving them a tonic and talking to.

[hippy chick]

I agree Plum I think she has been watching the sick chucks get all the special treats and being in the house watching TV

 

I have bought some Vital Vits Plus Liquid. I don't know if its any good I'm just trying everything possible at the moment.

[hippy chick]

I took Piper to the vets today. She still can not use her right leg. she hops around to get to her food and drink. But she still can't weight bear. The vet says that there is still definitely no break or muscle damage. He thinks that it is a kidney infection. According to him the kidney becomes enlarged and presses on the sciatic nerve causing lameness. He has given her Marbocyl tablets. They are ABs and are supposed to be more efficient (although they cost twice as much as my usual baytril)

Anyway I have to give her 1 twice a day but they have to be given on an empty stomach and at least 30 mins before feed This is the bit which i'm finding the most tricky. I am going to have to seclude her on AM before she has her breakie, and on an evening before tea. She will not be a happy chuck :roll: