[EnviroChick]

Hi all,

Im a bit worried about one of my chickens. Since yesterday afternoon she is very unsteady on her feet and seems to be favouring her left leg/foot. I had a look at her feet and legs today and cannot see any obvious injuries or swelling, however she became very distressed when I held her (I was as gentle as possible) and she is very wary of me since. I have an appointment with the vet to have her checked out properly in the morning. Other than the lameness she seems to be in good health - nice red comb, alert , eating & drinking, however she's not as 'chatty' as she usually would be I reckon she might have a broken bone or something to that effect.

I have no idea what could have caused this injury, they have a safe and secure run and they are supervised when out and about in the garden so I'm at a loss as to how it happened The other two girls are in fine health and are nearly finished getting their adult feathers

Anyway, if she does have a broken leg/foot whatever, is it something worth fixing (she's very young, only 14 weeks) or can be it fixed (with something like a splint or a cast)?

[ANHBUC]

Sorry your bird is poorly EnviroChick.  I don't know what they would be able to do if it is a break, it would probably depend if it is displaced or not.  She may have landed awkward from a perch. 

Let us know how you get on at the vets.  If they are not sure of the cause it might just be matter of giving her time to heal (if she is not suffering).  Be careful that the other hens don't bully her as they usually do when they see a weak bird.

[EnviroChick]

Thanks ANHBUC,

I really hope it's something that can be fixed easily She's a lovely girl and it's upsetting to see her struggling to keep up with the other two. They've been racing around the garden chasing midges and she's just pottering along and not very interested in their antics (normally she's very nosy  and wants her share of the action). Thanks for the heads up regarding the other two possibly bullying her, I'll keep a close eye on them all!

Keep your fingers crossed and I'll let ye know how it goes tomorrow.

[barley]

I had this happen to one of my chickens once ....... unfortunately it turned out to be something alot more sinister

I don't want to worry you but are your chickens fully vaccinated ( this needs to be done on day one of hatching )

it turned out to be Marek's disease which unfortunately is a flock killer disease ........... I do hope it's not that but if it is there is no cure and you may loose all your flock 

hopefully it is something else but just thought I ought to warn you as I thought the same thing that my chicken had injured it's leg

fingers crossed xx

[barley]

just wondered how your chook is ? 

[jhub]

One of my pullets had Marek's disease but the paralysis in her leg and wing was not painful - it might be that she landed awkwardly and has a sprained limb which should have a much better outcome than Mareks.

[EnviroChick]

Hi gang,

Unfortunately poor Princess didn't make it as far as the vets When I went to let the girls out on Tuesday morning I found her at the bottom of the coop in a sorry state. I think she might have tried to perch and fallen off at some stage during the night. She was lying on her side and was struggling to get to her feet (and it looks like she had been struggling a long time before I found her, all the bedding surrounding her had been kicked away). The vet doesn't open till 11 am and I couldn't leave her suffering for another 5 hours, so I dispatched her myself.

I did a quick google to reassure myself of the broomstick method, and dispatched her a few minutes later. When the vets opened, I called to let them know and the vet collected the carcass. She said she would do an autopsy to detremine whether she had a break or sprain or possibly something like Mareks. She had a good look with my other two and asked that I keep an eye on them for a few weeks. The coop and run got a thourough cleaning. All bedding and litter was removed and burned, the coop and perches were scrubbed within an inch of their lives. (On the plus side, no redmite ) I should have the results of the autopsy by Friday (maybe longer if it needs serious investigation). In the mean time I rang the breeder and she confirmed that the chicks were vaccinated and to be honest I believe her. She has even offered to replace Princess free of charge but I'll wait and see what the vet comes back with first.

I'm gutted she's gone as she was my favourite  but in a way I'm glad that I got to do the deed myself. I'll admit that I used a bit too much force and ***LOOK AWAY IF SQUEAMISH!!!*** unfortunately decapitated her in the process. But it was all over very quickly and quietly (except for me sobbing after!  )

RIP Princess

xxx

[ANHBUC]

So sorry Princess did not make it.     Well done for taking prompt action so she did not suffer for long.  It is hard to gauge how much pressure you need especially with a young bird.

I was having a read about leg problems on the net last night and young birds can suffer from a slipped Achilles tendon.  Mainly it happens in chicks but it can be a problem that young birds suffer from it as well.  The tendon sits in a groove and over the hock and can slip out.  It can be treated in some cases but sometimes it is down to bad leg bone development.

I hope your vet can find the cause and it is nothing that will affect your other hens.   

[EnviroChick]

Thanks ANHUBC,

Even though I only had her for a short while, I grew very attatched. I couldn't ignore it when she was so distressed and knew I had to put her out of her misery. The way I look at it is, it's something that I probably would have had to do at some stage in my chicken keeping 'career', I just had to do it sooner than I anticipated. And as my Mum said, at least I know I am capable of doing it, and should the need ever arise again, I wont have to look for somebody else to help or intervene. I'm just thankful that I'm not overly squeamish about theses things.

On the plus side, the vet reckons it isn't mareks and Princess's demise was brought on by an injury rather than illness/infection. She gave my other two a good going over and she reckons they are in rude health and I hav no need to worry but recommended keeping a close eye on them, just in case.

[jhub]

It's so sad to lose one, especially a much loved one. So sorry for your loss and well done for being such a responsible owner.

[Sassy]

Well done. It is never easy but you know you did the right thing

[barley]

so sorry ..... people who don't keep chooks don't realise just how attached you can get to them

I sob every time we loose one 

and it's not easy to put them out of their misery but you definitely did the right thing (((( big hugs ))))

the  autopsy should give you some answers

take care

xxxx

[Elvira]

Yes I blubbed copiously in my car in the vets carpark when I had to have poor Sylvio put down ( Mareks  ). The vet was ever so nice which was what really set me off...
Well done for dispatching her yourself - fortunately I haven't had to do that yet and a kind neighbour has offered to  do the deed if it ever comes to it 

[EnviroChick]

Thanks everyone !

Heard back from the vet this evening, poor Princess had a broken pelvis Poor thing must have taken a pretty hard fall when I wasn't around. The vet reckoned very little if anything could have been done and she's better off in the big chicken coop in the sky. Poor wee thing.

In the mean time I'm considering taking the breeder up on her offer of a replacement chicken. She has 12 week old Blue Laced Wyandottes and they're just stunning birds. I've done a bit of reading regarding introducing a new bird and all the advice states to quarantine and keep them seperated (but in sight) of eachother for a few weeks. Would I need to quarantine even if the new bird came from the same breeder as my original 3?

It's just a thought though, the other two seem to be doing fine as just a pair so I'm not dead set on getting another hen just yet.

Again, thanks to everybody for their kind words and advice. Ye're all star bars xx

[ANHBUC]

So glad it was nothing that would affect your other hens.

I would leave well alone regarding replacement if you have two happy hens.  Introducing one hen is not really a good idea although it can be done.  You would probably be better getting used to keeping your hens and then if you still want more you can introduce two more in a year or so.  Then you will have more chance of them having company when one dies of old age.