[jhub]

Hello everyone and hope you can offer advice about my eleven week old cream legbar.

I recently integrated four pullets with two older hens and all is going well with the occasional pecking but nothing sustained or vicious and they all sleep together in the coop.

This morning when I let them out I noticed the legbar took ages to come down and I could hear her shuffling about until finally she flew out rather than descend using the ladder.

She is lame in her right leg and her 'foot' appears to lack muscle tone. It is not hot or inflamed. Her tail is down but she is eating and drinking.

I've taken her out as she can't escape the pecking and she is in a cat carrier in my kitchen with access to food and water. I plan to put her in the coop tonight to avoid prolonged separation from the others.

Does anyone have any advice please?

[joyfull]

check under her foot around her pads to see if anything is stuck in her foot. Also see if her leg is dislocated.

[jhub]

Thanks Joy
Nothing stuck and not dislocated.
Vaccinated against Marek's.
Should I keep her caged for a couple of days and put her in coop at night?
She's eating and drinking.

[Casey76]

It's possible she might have strained something jumping from a height or similar.  In such cases gentle exercise is more helpful than confinement.

Can you section of a portion of the run, so she can move around, but but not be picked on by the others?

[jhub]

Hello Casey,
Have done so this morning, she's now in a large dog cage.
There is no movement in her foot and reduced resistance in her right leg but no obvious deformity, redness or tenderness.
I've placed a perch in the cage, fairly low and covered with foam pipe lagging to give her better purchase.
I do hope it's something simple like a strain....
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate the support from members on this forum.

[Chicken star]

Hi Jhub, this has happened to me twice. It first happened when my chicken got a bit over adventurous and tried to jump on top of the shed (over 8ft). I was really worried about her and caged her up for 3 days and then gave her light exercise she was in no pain she was still eating, drinking and laying.
She's fine now still has a limp and isn't as energetic but is still happy in herself.
It has just happened again with another and i'm working on her.
I'm sure it will be fine, just keep an eye on her and if she gets any worse i would consider seeking medical attention.

[jhub]

Thanks Chicken Star for your reassurance.
The problem is she was fine when she went into the house but lame when I opened up in the morning.
Although she was supposedly vaccinated against Mareks I do worry that it might be this.
She continues to sit and walk on her right hock. She is bright eyed ( not grey) and eating and bokking but I am concerned if she remains unable to perch.
i appreciate everyone's advice. Thanks.

[jhub]

My little legbar is no better, resting and hobbling on her right hock. There is some muscle movement in the affected leg but it's very weak. The breeder examined her and there's nothing apparent- no dislocation, tenderness or inflammation. She continues to look perky,  is eating and drinking and has no new symptoms.
I've kept her in isolation within the main run.
If it's a sprain, how long does it usually take to see an improvement?
I think I shall try to find a specialist poultry vet as our local ones lack the necessary training in poultry husbandry.
Any advice gratefully received.....

[joyfull]

sprains can hurt more than a break (in humans at least - talking from personal experience  ) and can take a few weeks to ease.

[jhub]

Thanks Joy- the one thing that nags at me is the significant weakness in the whole of the leg.
I'm sure I didn't fret as much with my children??

[ANHBUC]

You could try a warm bath for her which might loosen her up a bit.  My aches always feel better after a bath so it might be worth a try.  If it loosens up she might try using it s bit more.  Good luck.   

[jhub]

I finally found a poultry vet who wasn't going to charge £80 for a consult!
Unfortunately it looks very much like Marek's - despite being vaccinated. The vet said approx 5% don't develop an immune response. The breeder said the chicks were vaccinated at the correct time and I do trust him.

The vet wants to keep going for another 7-10 days as there is movement in the affected leg but it's not strong enough to bear weight. She has no other symptoms and is eating, drinking, pooing and bokking.
I have brought her indoors and have spent four hours removing all run and coop bedding and soaking everything in Vanodine. I can't move the run, it's a large walk in one and I have no room elsewhere. The remaining chooks have spent the morning in my veggy beds decimating everything.

I suspect i will have to have her put down.

Chicken keeping is very hard sometimes!

[ANHBUC]

Sorry for your bad news jhub.  I have no experience of Marek's so can't give you any advice.   

[jhub]

My little legbar is happily ensconced in a cage indoors, making a dust bath and mess everywhere.
My question is-
Despite being vaccinated, if this is Mareks could she recover from the weak leg  on the basis she might have some immune response?  I realise that she would continue to shed the virus but as the rest of the flock are ok I assume they have immunity.
The vet wants to give her a reprieve for a week to ten days.
Anyone have any experience?
Thanks

[Casey76]

Yes, if she recovers she will be immune.

You would only have a problem if you brought unvaccinated birds in now.