[Mrs Bee]

I am in need of some  advice please from you experienced, clever hen herders, as this is one that I haven't seen before.

One of our black rocks, one of the first we had who is about 3 to 4 years old is poorly. She is eating, she is alert, eyes bright, feathers bright, no nasty discharge from beak or eyes but she has difficulty walking. Her legs look fine and on examining her feet there seems to be nothing untoward and she was not in pain when I felt her feet. Her vent is OK but she passed a loose sandy muddy looking poo.
 Her feet are pointing inwards and she is shuffling about with her tail down and one wing stretched out.

She was like this yesterday but she got up the ladder at bedtime.
She couldn't get out of the cube this morning so we have put her in isolation from the other hens with food and water in a box in the warm.

I don't think it is Marek's as she was inoculated for it and she is too old, as I believe they develop an immunity to it as they get older. Don't think it is Bumblefoot.

Could this be arthritus because of all the cold wet weather? Do chickens suffer from strokes?

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks Di

[joyfull]

yes chickens can suffer from strokes, one of my appenzellers had one. However she couldn't stand up after it for a few days (she did make a full recovery though).
Feel your girls legs - are they warm to the touch or not. Is there a full range of movement? She may have dislocated one and it could need popping back in.

[Mrs Bee]

Thanks Joyfull, will go and check the movement and warmth now.
Di

[Mrs Bee]

Legs and body temperature are normal.

She has full range of movement in both legs but the right leg is stiffer. It is definately not dislocated. I have boned enough chickens in my time to know if it was.

 It is the left wing that she holds out and down when she moves.

She seems perfectly happy in the box and bright eyed and bushy feathered.

[joyfull]

could be a sprain, just keep her warm and comfy - you could give her a tonic to help boost her up such as acv, critical care or rescue remedy. I would try and separate her from the others for a while as she could be attacked.

[Mrs Bee]

Thanks for the advice. Will do that.

At the moment she is warm and comfy in a box in the garage, sat there like lady muck, bright eyed as you like.

I keep going out and checking. Hope it is only a sprain, pretty sure I can count anything else out.
Di

[Mrs Bee]

You were right Joyful. She had a dislocated leg.

Took her over to our chicken lady who showed me what to look for. Like a right idiot I was looking at the wrong leg

She also said that it was too bad to save her, so she did the dreadful deed, but.....
She also showed me how to dispatch a hen who is in pain so in future I will be able to act swiftly with any injured hens.

She didn't show me on our hen tho'.