[laurelrus]

I've just been out to feed my animals and one of my hens (an Apenzeller) is limping quite dramatically.
I've had a good feel of her feet and legs and they look fine and nothing seemed to hurt.
Is there anything this could be other than a foot/leg problem? Is there any illness or condition where limping is a symptom?
She's around 8 months old.
Thanks very much

[waterbuffalofarmer]

http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/my-hen-is-limping-how-to-fix-it-a-gimpy-chicken/
Would this help? I hope that she gets better soon!

[laurelrus]

Thanks very much Waterbuffalofarmer, that's really helpful.
I've not dealt with an egg-bound chicken before, I'll read up about it.
I wonder if I should separate her from the others, if they're likely to turn on her?
I did wonder if one of the goats butted her out of their way which they do occasionally and perhaps she landed badly.

[fsmnutter]

While much of that article is useful, it is not advisable to give human medication to any animal without veterinary advice. Many can have very serious side effects. If isolating her is possible so she gets a chance to rest it, then do so for a few days. It may be worth a trip to the vet for some chicken friendly painkiller if she is limping badly.
Egg bound chickens will tend to look more like a waddle, and you can often feel a firm, egg shaped swelling underneath, behind the ribcage. If you have her isolated to rest her legs/feet, you will see if she is managing to lay.
As it says in the article, warm baths can help, but putting a finger up the bum usually won't! Pressure over the egg swelling towards the bum might, but they can need injected with calcium, pain relief, or even anaesthetised if it won't pass.
Most likely would be a knock or foot/leg pain, so rest plus or minus pain relief - you should be able to give an educated guess as to whether she's sore /lame enough to need this, and if not better in a few days or off her food, she will need the vet.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

While much of that article is useful, it is not advisable to give human medication to any animal without veterinary advice. Many can have very serious side effects. If isolating her is possible so she gets a chance to rest it, then do so for a few days. It may be worth a trip to the vet for some chicken friendly painkiller if she is limping badly.
Egg bound chickens will tend to look more like a waddle, and you can often feel a firm, egg shaped swelling underneath, behind the ribcage. If you have her isolated to rest her legs/feet, you will see if she is managing to lay.
As it says in the article, warm baths can help, but putting a finger up the bum usually won't! Pressure over the egg swelling towards the bum might, but they can need injected with calcium, pain relief, or even anaesthetised if it won't pass.
Most likely would be a knock or foot/leg pain, so rest plus or minus pain relief - you should be able to give an educated guess as to whether she's sore /lame enough to need this, and if not better in a few days or off her food, she will need the vet.

I quite agree about the human Med's not suitable for animals, I must admit I was rather unsure why they would do that. What Med would you recommend as a painkiller for animals?

[fsmnutter]

Whichever pain relief your vet recommends and stocks.
There are several types, and multiple brands of each type.
If you see your vet and talk to them regularly, they should be happy to advise on each individual case.

[goosepimple]

worm her with Flubanvet - we occasionally get limpers, ducks included and once wormed are fine within a couple of days.

[farmers wife]

could of just caught her leg?  I have had issues recently.  Worth giving oyster shell as it improves calcium levels.  Since I've improved this issue they have def improved.  Make sure overall good mixed diet.  Agree a good worming is an option too.

[fsmnutter]

As a vet, I can't see why worms would cause a limp.
Oftentimes a knock/sprain/strain will heal over a few days, so I would imagine any that heal a limp after worming for a few days may fall into this category?
Along the lines of a viral cough getting better with a course of antibiotics, because it was going to cure within a few days anyway.
If they need worming, by all means worm them, but I wouldn't think it would do anything for a limp.

[laurelrus]

They've all been wormed very recently so I don't think that's the cause.
She's limping the same this morning. It probably is an injury. They share the paddock with a pair of pygmy goats and it's possible that she got in the way when they were rushing around being crazy. I can't feel anything untoward and she doesn't seem to mind being handled.
So - I've separated her, put her in a small run today so she rests and she's eating and drinking fine.
Thanks very much for the input 

[devonlady]

Have you checked for bumblefoot? I dare say you have.

[laurelrus]

Devonlady - I checked her feet as soon as I found her limping and they look perfectly normal, there isn't anything at all to see so I think she must have a sprain or similar injury. She's limping but eating, drinking and got up into the house this evening so I'm hoping it's nothing more serious.

[fsmnutter]

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156652715155347&id=650440346&set=a.10150759983815347.729280.650440346
Just a wee example of why I recommend veterinary advice on pain relief.
***** Warning, don't open if squeamish when you see blood! ****

[laurelrus]

It's been a week now since we brought the 8 month old Apenzeller hen into the house and she's been resting in a large dog cage in the hope her leg would heal. She's been eating well (and pooping normally). She looks fine - she's warm, relaxed and her eyes are bright.
Unfortunately she's now struggling to stand and move. She's falling over and is uncoordinated. Our hens are vaccinated for Marek's.
Before we give up on her I just wanted to see if there's anything I could do to try and help her  or if anyone can suggest what might have caused this.
Thanks very much

[Eve]

Unfortunately the Marek's Disease vaccination doesn't offer full protection, but she could also have one of the Mycoplasma strains that causes arthritis, or an infection in the spine that affects a leg because it affects the nerves in the spinal cord.


Was this bird examined by a good chicken vet (can be hard to find, I know)?