Chicken bald back

[umbrella thursday]

Please help. Ethel, our Maran bantam started limping yesterday, just holding her leg out in front of her. She is eating normally but can't put any weight on her leg. She did perch on my hand for a bit but otherwise prefers not to use the leg.

 

I have made her a cosy nest inside. She is making her usual chatty noises but I'm terrified it could be mareks. She is our newest chicken we've had her a couple of months and she's over a year old. It's only one leg, not both and it's not paralysed as such, just sort of stuck out. No obvious fractures or injuries although I can't rule out a dislocated hip.

 

I think I will take her to the vet today but just wondered if anybody had any advice. I'm so worried. She's a beautiful girl.

[Millie-Annie]

Does she still close her claws if you stroke the base of her foot?

 

I am thinking hip as well, I did mention recently, my vet, who is very chicken savvy, said if a chicken gets her leg stuck, she will just twist to try and get away tearing all her ligaments

[umbrella thursday]

Thank you so much for your reply. I tried stroking the base of her foot and she didn't curl up her claws as such but I think she can feel it. She can also kind of lift the whole leg a little bit but holds it out. She is standing at the moment. I took her to the vet who said no fractures and couldn't rule out mareks but said the symptoms aren't classic as it's only one leg. She is thin but always has been. I've got metacam and we will have to see. Very worried. I don't want to lose her or my whole flock

[The Dogmother]

Not a lot you can do at the moment as the symptoms could be any number of things. Restrict her movement by using a broody crate, the pain will be self-limiting any way. See how she gets on