minieggs Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Hi everyone, A couple of weeks ago I noticed that Chook was limping. I took a look at her feet/ legs and couldn't see anything wrong with them, and after a bit of free range time in the garden she began running around like normal, so we left her to it. She was walking normally again until this morning, when she has suddenly developed the limp. She is standing only on one leg when still, and curling her toes up, and then hobbling around. Other than that she's eating properly, and although she is heavily moulting seems pretty happy. My question is: what do you think it might be? I've read about bumble foot but she doesn't appear to have any lumps. Should I just leave her and see if it improves again like last time? Thanks Minieggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Hi minieggs, How is your girl now? Have another really good look in the morning, to make sure there's nothing irritating her foot, and another good feel for heat etc. in her leg. It seems unlikely she'd have anything in it, if it hasn't troubled her again for two weeks. Similarly, if she'd pulled it or sprained it, a return of symptoms two weeks later, would seem less likely. I sincerely hope this isn't Mareks disease, the symptoms of which unfortunately fit your girl's, particularly in light of the heavy moulting. I lost a girl, who's symptoms started with a limp during her moult. Mareks is a virus, which, once contracted, can lie dormant until the bird's immune system is compromised by another illness, or a stressful event such as coming into lay, or moulting. Best wishes, and please keep us informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minieggs Posted January 17, 2013 Author Share Posted January 17, 2013 Thanks for your reply. After I wrote the post she got worse and just sat on the run floor and wouldn't walk around, even for the promise of food. I bought her into the house and we took her to the vets who have diagnosed a bad knee, and we have antibiotics to give her. Any advice on how to administer antibiotics through a syringe to a feisty chicken would be welcomed! Minieggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Kneeling down with feet crossed, chicken clamped in between knees gently but firmly (feet crossed stops reversing), head gently up and back against thigh, fingernail in beak to open and quickly syringe in with other hand! Our Viv struggled a lot until she felt securely held then was ok - if you got it right it was easier than I thought. Scary first time though. Keep the syringe above the tongue and don't bend the head back, tilt so a straight neck if that makes any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Oh minieggs, what a relief! A bad knee... thank goodness for that! Good luck with the antibiotics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I've just read that back... Sounds like I'm glad she's got a bad knee... I'm just relieved it's not the dreaded Mareks!.... Hope she recovers soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minieggs Posted January 18, 2013 Author Share Posted January 18, 2013 Thanks for replies. We gave her medicine this morning and after the initial worry about opening her beak she seemed to quite enjoying it. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Hi there! Good that you've got something positive to help your girl with!! I find that if I wrap the chicken tightly in a towel that also helps!!! They can be very wriggly!!! Well my pekins anyway!! You'll get more confident after a few goes! Hope she's up and back to her old self soon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
