Unsecure chicken perches

[piglet]

My 4 year old Rhode Island Red started to limp last Monday, I had her in a cat carrier box over night in the house on a thick towel for comfort rather than standing on the roosting bars all night. She started to improve & by Saturday she was begining to keep up with our other two chickens running down for treats ( not quite a normal run but she didn't seem in pain or struggling much at all). Sunday she was limping worse than ever I've had her back in the house at night but today I got home to find her in the eglu all a lone. I've bathed her leg & can see no sign of bumble foot or any cuts etc, she is suffering with some scaley leg but that has improved since using sudocrem ( I'm also using it on 1 other chicken who's legs are looking much better so domt think should be the cause) but other than that can see no problems. The leg seems to have strength in it but the foot looks limp & weak.

 

Do I need to take her to a vet or do these things heal on their own?

 

She is a little fighter as had peritonitis last summer & has been fine up until now.

 

Thanks in advance for any help that can be given.

 

Edited March 15, 2013 by Guest

[Mrs_B]

Hmmm I would take your girl to the vet. Sounds like something might be broken - I had a girl who limped for a few days but it improved so she was definitely bruised, so something ongoing and getting worse definitely sounds like a vet should take a look, and then hopefully they'll be able to treat her.

 

Can she grip with her foot at all?

 

x

[piglet]

No she can't grip with it at all, it's just totally limp, she made a great improvement last week but suddenly went down hill from Sunday. I've got her on the cat box again but she won't settle tonight. Because I'm worried what food/fluids she's had today I've given her layers pellets mixed with water which she is eating happily but she doesn't seem able to stand for long on her good leg & keeps lying down.

 

I think it's definitely time for the vet, I've just not found much info about breaks etc all posts about limping/hopping seem to be about bumble foot, which it definitely isn't.

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it.

[mimi5]

You had improvement before, so hopefully with the vets knowledge and help, she can improve again I've read of badly sprained legs/feet on here recently, which healed. It may need time, anti inflamatories/painkillers. Pellet "porridge" is my pekins fav

 

Wishing your girl all the best

[piglet]

Silly question is ok to leave her in the cat box all day while I'm at work with food & water? I don't want to be cruel but feel this is the only way to ensure she rests.

[mimi5]

No, I don't think it's cruel , as you say she needs to rest. I've got a broody pekin in my anti-broody coop at the mo (wire cat carrier with galley pots for food & water) 3 days and nights should do the trick...

 

Let us know how you get on?!

[Princess Leia]

We had a similar thing, but it was down to an injury. Rest, painkillers, antibiotics and TLC was our solution.

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=91744

[Mrs_B]

I agree with Mimi - don't worry about keeping your girl inside for a while - I had to keep a hen inside a dog crate for about a week due to illness and I fed and watered her as I would normally! As the crate I had was quite largish, I did put a separate small cardboard box in there so the hen could lay an egg comfortably, but this isn't necessary. Like you say, it will also be a good way for your girl to rest her foot.

 

Good luck and I hope your chook feels better soon!

 

x

[piglet]

Just thought I'd update you on Dotty.

 

We've taken her to the vet, the vet doesn't think it's broken, so has prescribed metacam & antibiotics & continue to keep her in the house to prevent movement. She isn't eating much just little bits of at a time. My concern is that she is limping/hopping but her foot is curled back on itself & she walks on it all bent underneath her. She also won't grip with her toes on that foot. But the vet didn't seem to know what was causing it & he is a specialist avian vet.

 

Fingers crossed a few more days of antibiotics & metacam will help.

[harryissy]

I do hope that Dotty gets better.

Please don't worry about keeping her confined. We kept a chicken with a broken leg in a wire mesh cat box in our kitchen for 4 weeks until the break was healed. I am quite convinced that by making sure that she couldn't move much helped with the healing process...in fact the vet was very pleased with how well she recovered, as we were as well!!!

Good luck!!

[piglet]

Sadly we have had to put Dotty to sleep tonight. The vet now believes its a nerve problem or a tumour or mareks disease. It was hard to say good bye but I only want the best for my hens.

 

[mollyripkim]

I'm so sorry to hear that, it's always a difficult decision but at least you gave her a chance.

[mimi5]

Ah so sorry you didn't have a happy ending Hugs to you well done for all your efforts.

 

RIP Dotty

[merlina]

Sorry you lost Dotty

It sounds a little like the problem my Ena had, which the vet said was neurological and which killed her in the end

You can take comfort from the fact that you did all you could for her /hugs