[curries]

Hi there,

I have noticed one of my chickens (Betty) has started limping today and I have inspected her foot tonight and it's quite warm, mabye a little bit swollen but I can't see any cuts or injuries.  I want to nip it in the bud before it gets any worse and wondered if there are any antibiotics that I can buy off the shelf that I can put in the water or something?  I've been trawling the internet for about an hour but drawn a blank.  I don't really want to have to resort to taking her to the vets as the last time I did this it cost me £30 and I came back minus my chicken (Bertha!) .  Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[ANHBUC]

If you think she has something in her foot like a splinter you can use sugar and soap softened and mixed together.  Apply the thick paste to the foot and make a shoe to cover the foot.  Leave on for 24 hours, remove shoe and bathe foot removing all paste.  Inspect foot and repeat if little or no improvement.

Instructions for chick shoes here https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/

It could also be that your hen has hurt her foot jumping off the perch and landing hard.  If so she will probably improve in a day or so.

[curries]

Thank you, I'll see how she is in the morning and give that a go if no improvement 

[Casey76]

You can't buy antibiotics off the shelf.  All need a prescription from a vet.

Heat in a foot/leg, doesn't confirm an infection, and antibiotics should only be used when you are sure you have an infection to prevent resistance in the bugs.

[kegs]

Experts:  Could Curries use Ibuprofen gel on the leg?

When my chicken started limping (I had seen her struggle to get on to a branch so did know the reason) I just left her and it took about a week for the limp to go - depending on what treats were being offered!