Thumbcat Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 I've noticed for a few weeks now that one of my hens is limping and favouring one foot, but only very slightly and she can still run at 100mph to be the first to get to treats. I was hoping it would get better on it's own but it doesn't seem to be. She also has some dirty feathers around the vent. Otherwise she's behaving perfectly normally, looks healthy and is laying most days. I've had as close look as I can at her feet and legs and can't see anything out of the ordinary. Unfortunately she's my most flighty hen. She won't let me pick her up and has only in the last few days let me stroke her briefly. Can anyone advise on what's best to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Have you checked the pads for bumble foot Thumbcat? It is a possibility if a hen lands from a great height. It may also be a hip or knee joint sprain. Hips you can't do anything about, but knees that feel hot can have Arnica gel applied to them for a few days. We had a hen with a terrible limp for weeks because she tried to jump off the perch and go sideways through the pop-hole in one movement. Never did it again though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbcat Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 Just had a look at images of bumblefoot online so I can see what I'm looking for. I suppose I'll have to try and get her through the egg hole after she's gone to bed and examine her by torch light - that should be fun I'll also check if there are any hot areas on her leg. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 When one of mine was limping I gave her a bath in warm water with Epsom salts, I read on another post on here that it helps with joint pain. It also washes their feet so you can have a good look. Hope she gets better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 I tried looking at their feet just before they went to bed the other day and it was hard to see so I would suggest looking during the day. The easiest way to catch them is to drop a load of treats and then grab the chicken you need quickly and gently. If you tuck them on your lap with one hand between their feet with the same arm over the top of them they feel quite safe, you can then use your other hand to investigate their feet/legs. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 My girl Barbara has a permanent limp from her arthritic leg but I think, looking at your signature she is too young for that. I would give it a few days to see if it gets better, maybe lift her in/out of the coup morning and night if possible. If you can't see any improvement then try a course of metacam* It's a anti inflammatory and pain killer *not licences for use on poulty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Our vet suggested half a small aspirin as a 'one-off' dose only pain killer and it was very effective. We had a cockerel with a bad leg and the vet prescribed Metacam. He died a few days later from what appeared to be a heart attack, so we have never used Metacam since. Avoiding too much load on it is a good point, so as Gavclojac suggests, a lift in and out of the coop if possible. We have a cock with bad hips caused by bad breeding creating too heavy a breast (Buff Orpington) so he gets lifted out of the coop every morning and doesn't mind it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbcat Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Well we had a good look at her foot and leg yesterday (excellent advice about catching her - I swooped while she was busy with mealworms). There's nothing to see at all. No cuts, bumps or swellings and both feet and legs look the same. Having watched her closely it seems to be the back of the foot that she doesn't like putting flat, so I wondered if she could have sprained her leg further up and flexing the foot gives her pain. She spends half her day jumping up on a picnic table and then madly flying off so I'm not sure it bothers her too much. I may try a little bit of aspirin in a grape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Although it may seem not be bothering her all that jumping about will exacerbate the problem, see how you go with the aspirin but if that doesn't help then maybe try crating her for a few days thus forcing her to chill out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
