Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[midori]

Our Welsummer, Wanda, is lame. I first noticed it on Weds but when I checked her over could see no obvious cause so thought I'd see how she went in the next day or so. (not least as our vets are sadly very useless and I doubt even see many hens as we are in rural Northern Ireland)

 

She was noticeably worse on Thrusday, still getting around, but she seemed to be keeping the foot on her lame leg closed/having trouble opening it. She is/was spending a lot of the day laying down, but is still coming out of the house every morning and getting herself back in at night.

 

My Husband took her to the vet on Friday as I was so ill I couldn't get out of bed sadly. The vet checked for bumblefoot, which it isn't and said he doesn't think anything is broken and that it could be a tendon problem and might take six weeks to heal. I would have preferred more 'aggressive'/over-catious treatment myself, maybe antibiotics or even painkillers?

 

Wanda hasn't laid for quite a while, but she has had a moult, so I assumed it was down to that. She never laid many eggs anyway, but the first few she did lay when we got her were odd, almost like the membrane was on the outside, then they were fine. I have read about calcium deficiencies and am going to order some limestone flour, just in case. In the meantime, the girls are on layers pellets with a handful of corn at bedtime and free range our garden all day. (Garden is a good size, but not huge). They have grit/oyster shell down all the time. I have started giving them a 'mash' of layers pellets with poultry spice in before bed too.

 

I am concerned about Wanda really though, partly as it is wet, cold and windy here. Should I just leave her out with the others whilst she can get around? I am thinking of taking her back to the vets myself tomorrow. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable? She doesn't look completely miserable, but it's obviously affecting her.

Edited November 5, 2010 by Guest

[Steve the Gas]

Observation is key, if she eats and drinks normally - she may just need time to heal a sprain/strain.

[Redwing]

I'd maybe isolate her and restrict her movement - a rabbit hutch would be ideal

 

You could ask the vet if they would prescribe Metcam which is a painkiller and anti-inflammatory - its not licenced for use on poultry so if your vet isnt savvy on chooks he may be reluctant to commit to the dosage so not prescribe it

 

How old is the bird? Mareks is a possibility but I'd try treating it as a sprain as it stands

[Egluntyne]

A calcium supplement for a few days can often help with a sprain/lameness.

 

**Click**

[Chucky Mama]

I would enforce rest for at least a week. Closely confine her and put food and water close by. If she has to get up and down a ladder, see what you can rig up to prevent her from having to climb. If giving calcium make sure that it is combined with vitamin D3 (Zolcal D is ideal). Lifeguard contains glucosmaine which is good for joints. You may have to give double the dose initially to get levels in her system high enough to had a quick theraputic effect. They can get nerve issues which whilst not painfull tend to get progressively worse. If you do go back to the vets you may have to 'suggest' the use of Metacam

[midori]

Thankyou very much. I did manage to read the replies last night, but didn't get a chance to reply.

 

She was let out as normal this morning and seemed possibly slightly better when I got home, but I have now confined her to a large rabbit hutch with food, grit and water. I thought I'd maybe let her out for a little potter in the morning and afternoon if the weather's not too bad and also pop her in with the others overnight, partly for warmth, but company too, will that all be OK? (I can lift her in and out of the house, she won't need to get in herself)

 

Redwing I am not sure exactly how old she is, but she was hatched last year and we got her in the early summer and this is her first year laying. I am a little worried about Mareks now you mention it, but she doesn't seem at all ill in herself. I am not overly sure on the symptoms of Mareks, but her foot/leg doesn't seem paralysed as some of the sites mention and it is definitely only one leg affected.

 

If it helps at all, she doesn't seem to be curling her toes up as much any more but she seems reluctant to spread her toes out so she can walk properly. She's not overly happy to be confined to the hutch. She can see the others and they can see her and go up to the hutch.

 

Chucky Mama the hens have to jumo up about 10" to get into their house (the ramp bit was useless) and amazingly she has managed just fine the whole time.

 

I will look for some zolcal D, is that instead of the limestone flour? Where's the best place to buy online and then I can order this afternoon. I did try at my local poultry supplies lace, but they hadn't even heard of limestone flour.

 

Thankyou again.

[Redwing]

I'd keep her completely confined for now to restrict her totally

[Chucky Mama]

It would be best to help her avoid the leap into the coop as it will put unnecessary pressure on the leg. She needs to be restricted as much as possible - not a bad idea putting her with the others at night Zolcal D would be instead of Limestone Flour & Vitamin D (cod liver oil). If you google either you will get a list of online suppliers. Equine shops often sell limestone flour and you can use standard cod liver oil to combine with it.

[midori]

Thankyou. I'll keep her completely confined to the hutch for now then and just lift her out of there and into the coop at night, and then out of the coop and back into the hutch in the mornings. I think she'll be safer in the coop too, as we've had a badger digging into the garden and hen run the last few weeks or so.

 

I'm off to ggogle/order the zocal D now. Thankyou.

[midori]

I thought she was looking much better, she is certainly walking better, but she didn't try and escape from the house when picked her up to move her into the rabbit hutch this morning. It is warmish and dry here today, so I wondered if it would cheer her up to let her on the lawn with the others for a bit, but she just laid there and the others were pecking her and she let them.

 

I'm not sure if she's been eating and drinking much today, so I have managed to syringe a small amount of water down her beak, and I have out a bowl right in front of her in the hutch with some layers pellets and poultry spice made into a mash, which is her favouritwe with some sunflower seeds on top. She didn't seem that interested really.

 

I am very worried about her and am thinking I need to get her back to the vet, but will he really do much? Is there much he can do? Any advice appreciated, I don't want her to suffer, but if there's anything that might help, tests or treatmentm I'd like to try it. Thankyou.

[Chucky Mama]

I would take her back to the vet. It may be possible to get a better idea of what is going on now that some time has passed. She could have some nerve damage perhaps. I think it would be a good idea to push for some anti inflammatories such as Metacam and perhaps/perhaps not, some antibiotics. If rest has not had any positive effect then you need some help.